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Switching from Clomid to Letrozole (Femara)

DharmaChickDharmaChick member
in Trouble TTC
Since we've tried three cycles with Clomid so far, it's time that I move on to a new med. We are trying Letrozole next.  Are there any differences between the results and/or side effects that any of you have noted between the two?

I'm really hoping that, with the Letrozole, I can finally produce multiple follies.  So far, I have only had one mature follie per cycle, which took a long time to grow.
________
ME: 34, Atypical PCOS (lean, no O without meds) + unexplained; DH: 33, mildly low motility
09/2012: Start TTC after stopping NuvaRing.  No cycles seemed to occur.
01/2013 - 05/2013: Tried Provera to "jumpstart" cycles. No luck.
12/2013- 01/2014: Clomid 50mg - no big follies, stepped to 100mg; One mature follie, Ovidrel (HCG trigger), IUI #1 completed - BFN
02/2014: Clomid 100mg; One mature follie, Ovidrel trigger, IUI #2 completed, Crinone - BFN
03/2014: Clomid 100mg - no big follies on 1st round, 2nd round prescribed; One mature follie, Ovidrel, IUI #3 completed, Crinone - BFN
04/2014-05/2014: Letrozole 5mg + Ovidrel HG to prep for IUI #4 switched to TI, Crinone - BFN
05/2014-06/2014: Letrozole 5mg; one mature follie, Ovidrel, IUI #4.1 completed, Crinone - BFN
07/2014-08/2014: Letrozole 5mg; one mature follie, Ovidrel, IUI #5 completed, Crinone - BFN
09/2014-10/2014: IVF Prep - Insurance requires IUI #6; Letrozole 5mg - no big follies 1st round, 2nd round prescribed; IUI #6, Crinone - BFN
11/2014: "Break" - Letrozole 5mg to cycle before prepping for IVF - successfully O'ed, but BFN
12/2014: Extending 'break' one more Letrozole-only TI cycle for mental health break - BFN
01/2015-02/2015: Prep for IVF - BCP then Gonal-F, Ganirelex, Novarel trigger;  ER scheduled 2/11!
http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/4cf919
PAIF/SAIF Welcome.
December 3T Siggy Challenge: Favorite Holiday Movie
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Re: Switching from Clomid to Letrozole (Femara)

  • pmpknbridepmpknbride member
    I had 1-2 mature follies on 5mg of Femara. The only side effect I had on Femara was exhaustion, mainly at night - I'd sleep for about 9 hours per night, other then that it was a breeze compared to clomid. Best of luck!
    *** SIGGY WARNING ***

    Happily Married Since 10.2006  •  TTC since 07.2012
    HSG Good & SA mostly Normal  •  DX lean PCOS
    MAR - NOV 2013  •  5 Cycles Clomid + TI = 2 Late O's/BFN & 3 Big Fat FAILS
    DEC 2013 - FEB 2014  •  IUI #1-3  •  Femara 5mg + Trigger = 3 BFNs
    MAR 2014  •  IUI #4  •  Follistim + Trigger + Crinone = BFN
    APR 2014  •  Benched  •  BCPs to clear up Cysts

    MAY 2014  •  IUI #5  •  Follistim + Ganirelix + Trigger = BFP
    E.D.D. 2/18/2015
    6/11 +HPT • 6/13 BETA 447 • 6/16 BETA 1535
    6/23 U/S Adorable Little Bean • 6/30 U/S Beautiful Strong Heartbeat

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  • jaco0207jaco0207 member
    I have used both and have not noticed side effects with either, other than a thin lining with clomid, which is why I was switched to Femera. My response was good with both in terms of multiple follies, and my lining is much better on Femera. I did have one bad month on femera, but I think that was stress related, not from the drug. Fx that this works better for you!
    Me: 40, Hypothyroidism, well managed, TSH 1.99
    DH: 44 Fine except for low morphology
    TTC since 02/2013  
    08/13: Day 3 tests (ESTRADIOL 20.8; AMH 1.1; FSH 6.2)
    12/13 HSG, all clear
    11/13-5/14 - IUIs #1-3, BFNs, 
    6/14 to present: Taking a break, getting healthier, researching IVF
    Planning for IVF in late summer 2015

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  • Mozzarella13Mozzarella13 member
    I had MUCH fewer side effects on letrozole. I felt so irritable on clomid, on letrozole just weepy and bloated.
    *************WARNING CP mentioned***********
    TTC since 12/2012 Me: hypothyroid & egg issues
    DH: MFI
    IUI #1 BFN
    2nd treatment cycle: Clomid & TI BFN
    IUI #2 (injects) IUI BFN
    2/14 through 3/14 benched with a cyst
    IVF#1 CD1 came before beta. BFN. No frosties.
    Benched with cysts...
    IVF#2 beta moved up due to heavy bleeding 6dp5dt...beta was 11. beta#2 20.4! Beta#3 28 Chemical pregnancy :(
    Currently on BCPs with cysts, planning IVF#3 Everyone welcome!
    imageimage    imageimage
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  • WillCMyInkWillCMyInk member
    I much prefer letrozole to clomid. I don't really experience any side effects on it. Like PP said, it's known to produce fewer follies than clomid so I don't think it will help you in that department. I personally have to do a combination cycle (femara + injects) to get a follie big enough to trigger.
    Jan15 December Siggy Challenge: Holiday Fails
    image
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    TTC Since 4/13 | Me: 28 DH: 29 | DX: PCOS + High T + Arcuate Uterus (11/13)
    Cycle #1+2 (4/13-6/13): Natural Cycles = BFN | Cycle #3+4 (6/13-11/13): Anovulatory (Provera)
    Cycle #5 (11/13-1/14): Femara + Clomid + Follistim = Cancelled | Cycle #6 (1/14-3/14): Benched
    Cycle #7 (3/14-4/14): Femara + Follistim + Estradiol + Pregnyl + Progesterone
    BFP: 4/22/14 | Due: 1/1/15 | TEAM BLUE!

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  • DharmaChickDharmaChick member
    Thanks, ladies.  It is great to hear that the side effects are fewer/lessened. I had a feeling that it wouldn't likely produce more follies - otherwise I wouldn't understand why the RE didn't start with that.  FX that this does the trick! 

    The weird thing is that my mom was on Femara for her breast cancer, so it was strange to hear that I would now be taking it for something else entirely.

    I have a vacation coming up in mid-May.  I'm really hoping that I respond well/quickly so that we can do the IUI before leaving!  Today will hopefully be CDay1, and my trip starts on May 11 (Mother's Day, lol).
    ________
    ME: 34, Atypical PCOS (lean, no O without meds) + unexplained; DH: 33, mildly low motility
    09/2012: Start TTC after stopping NuvaRing.  No cycles seemed to occur.
    01/2013 - 05/2013: Tried Provera to "jumpstart" cycles. No luck.
    12/2013-     01/2014: Clomid 50mg - no big follies, stepped to 100mg; One mature follie, Ovidrel (HCG trigger), IUI #1 completed - BFN
    02/2014: Clomid 100mg;     One mature follie, Ovidrel trigger, IUI #2 completed, Crinone - BFN
    03/2014: Clomid 100mg -     no big follies on 1st round, 2nd round prescribed; One mature follie, Ovidrel, IUI #3 completed, Crinone - BFN
    04/2014-05/2014: Letrozole 5mg + Ovidrel HG to prep for IUI #4 switched to TI, Crinone - BFN
    05/2014-06/2014: Letrozole 5mg; one mature follie,     Ovidrel, IUI #4.1 completed, Crinone - BFN
    07/2014-08/2014: Letrozole 5mg; one mature follie,     Ovidrel, IUI #5 completed, Crinone - BFN
    09/2014-10/2014: IVF Prep - Insurance requires IUI #6;     Letrozole 5mg - no big follies 1st round, 2nd round prescribed; IUI #6, Crinone - BFN
    11/2014: "Break" - Letrozole 5mg to cycle before prepping for IVF - successfully O'ed, but BFN
    12/2014: Extending 'break' one more Letrozole-only TI cycle for mental health break - BFN
    01/2015-    02/2015: Prep for IVF - BCP then Gonal-F, Ganirelex, Novarel trigger;  ER scheduled 2/11!
    http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/4cf919
    PAIF/SAIF Welcome.
    December 3T Siggy Challenge: Favorite Holiday Movie
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  • BunnyBerryBunnyBerry member
    I hope the timing works perfectly around your vacation! And nice job scheduling a trip on mother's day. :)
    January 3T Siggy Challenge - New Year's Resolutions
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    Me (29), DH (30) TTC actively 54 55+ cycles | All BFNs
    MFI (low everything) | Endo Stage 1 & Stenotic Cervix (treated) | PCO
    Married - July 2008 | Started TTC - Jan 2009 | RE Visit #1 - Mar 2014 
    IUI #1 ICI #1 - June | IUI #1.1 Laparoscopy - Aug
    IUIs #1.2, 2, 3 - Sept, Oct, Nov (Letrozole) - BFNs 
    IUI #4 - Dec (Bravelle) | IUI #5 - Dec/Jan (Bravelle) - 5 follies + TI - BFNs
    IUI #5.1 - Jan (Bravelle) Cancelled 
    Planning to start IVF in March!
    ***All Welcome***
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  • emilykbwemilykbw member
    I don't remember where I heard/read this, but since Clomid and Femara work differently, I've heard its quality over quantity with Femara. I only had 1 follie on 5mg and 7.5mg of Femara but got 2-3 mature on 10mg. Definitely had FAR fewer s/e on Femara. Good luck!
    **siggy warning**
    3/09 Clomid 50mg - no O
    5/09 Clomid 100 mg - no O
    7/09 HSG partial blockage, SA passed with flying colors
    7/09 Clomid 150 mg - O BFP! DD 4/24/10
    1/13 off BCP
    7/13 Clomid 50 mg - no O
    9/13 Clomid 100 mg - no O
    11/13 Clomid 150 mg - no O
    12/13 diagnosed PCOS
    1/14 IUI #1 Femara 5mg, Pregnyl, IUI BFN
    2/14 SHG, all clear!
    2/14 IUI #2 Femara 7.5mg, Pregnyl, IUI BFN
    3/14 IUI #3 Femara 10 mg, Pregnyl, B2B IUI BFFN (low sperm count)
    4/14 IUI #4 Femara 10 mg, Pregnyl IUI BFN (low sperm count)
    6/14 IUI #5 Femara 10mg, Pregnyl IUI (numbers back to normal!) BFP!!
    Beta #1: 474 Beta #2: 1346

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  • DharmaChickDharmaChick member
    Did any of you "stair-step" (increase dosage within one cycle) or do any extra round with the same dosage with Femara? 
    I had to do that twice on Clomid, and I'm wondering if I'll be in the same boat with Femara.  I am starting at 5mg.
    ________
    ME: 34, Atypical PCOS (lean, no O without meds) + unexplained; DH: 33, mildly low motility
    09/2012: Start TTC after stopping NuvaRing.  No cycles seemed to occur.
    01/2013 - 05/2013: Tried Provera to "jumpstart" cycles. No luck.
    12/2013-     01/2014: Clomid 50mg - no big follies, stepped to 100mg; One mature follie, Ovidrel (HCG trigger), IUI #1 completed - BFN
    02/2014: Clomid 100mg;     One mature follie, Ovidrel trigger, IUI #2 completed, Crinone - BFN
    03/2014: Clomid 100mg -     no big follies on 1st round, 2nd round prescribed; One mature follie, Ovidrel, IUI #3 completed, Crinone - BFN
    04/2014-05/2014: Letrozole 5mg + Ovidrel HG to prep for IUI #4 switched to TI, Crinone - BFN
    05/2014-06/2014: Letrozole 5mg; one mature follie,     Ovidrel, IUI #4.1 completed, Crinone - BFN
    07/2014-08/2014: Letrozole 5mg; one mature follie,     Ovidrel, IUI #5 completed, Crinone - BFN
    09/2014-10/2014: IVF Prep - Insurance requires IUI #6;     Letrozole 5mg - no big follies 1st round, 2nd round prescribed; IUI #6, Crinone - BFN
    11/2014: "Break" - Letrozole 5mg to cycle before prepping for IVF - successfully O'ed, but BFN
    12/2014: Extending 'break' one more Letrozole-only TI cycle for mental health break - BFN
    01/2015-    02/2015: Prep for IVF - BCP then Gonal-F, Ganirelex, Novarel trigger;  ER scheduled 2/11!
    http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/4cf919
    PAIF/SAIF Welcome.
    December 3T Siggy Challenge: Favorite Holiday Movie
    image
    Report Reply
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