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Injectables vs Femara vs Clomid

AutumnSkye10AutumnSkye10 member
edited March 2015 in Trouble TTC
Hello all. I'm in the TWW of a clomid cycle now and my FS has stated that they feel the next step is injectables but didn't want to really elaborate on what would happen until we found out the results of this cycle. I've read many places where people go to Femara before injectables and was curious why my FS might skip that. Also I know what sort of visit schedule a Clomid cycle requires, but I really need to know what sort of schedules the other types generally have before I can say yes that's what I am doing. My FS is only open during the day and every visit requires me to miss work and my boss is becoming none too thrilled with my constant "appointments". 

This is what my clomid cycle looked like for comparison to Femara and injectables:
CD2 Baseline U/S
CD5-9 100 mg Clomid
CD12 U/S (found 2 follicles at 16mm and a lining of 4)
CD 15 Ovidrel Trigger shot
CD15-18 Timed Intercourse.
CD19 Begin progesterone gel daily for TWW

How different would you all think that a Femara or injectable cycle would look? I've heard that injectables need U/S every 2-3 days and that would mean nearly 6 U/S in 2 weeks at $500 out of pocket each (not to mention that is 6 times where I'll have to tell my boss I'm not at work for at least 2 hours (travel time) in a 2 week period). What are the pros and cons of each type of treatment that you all know of? I have PCOS.

I'm trying to gain as much knowledge as possible on my own before discussing with my FS because I feel like they aren't really wanting to discuss all the options at one time, but instead want to say "this is what will happen until your next appointment." I'd like to understand my options before I go and have to choose which treatment I want to use for my next cycle. They originally had suggested that I'd try Clomid then "another pill form" (I'm assuming Femara) and THEN injectables. However, it seems that as soon as my medical loan for "just enough" to cover 3 months of clomid went through, they suddenly keep recommending the more expensive options. 

Any help/tips are appreciated. Thanks.  
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Re: Injectables vs Femara vs Clomid

  • GoldenKeysGoldenKeys admin
    Your appointments for the Femara will be similar to your Clomid appointments.  You will definitely have appointments every 2-3 days on injects, and it could be even every day when you are close to ovulation with a lot of follies.   Then you will have your IUI appointment, and a followup appt at 7dpIUI to check your lining and bloodwork.

    I wouldn't do injects with anybody who was only open during the day.  A good RE/clinic has before work and after work appointment availability, plus weekend appointments.   What happens if your eggs are mature and you ovulate on the weekend?   You've just blown thousands of dollars because your FS is playing his Sunday golf game instead of giving you an IUI.

    In your place I would find another clinic with hours that work for you...  good luck!


    Married for 7 years, TTC for 4 years
    dx:  Diminished Ovarian Reserve
    2 Clomid IUI's + 4 injectable IUI's= 5 BFNs and 1 mc




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  • AutumnSkye10AutumnSkye10 member
    Thanks @goldenkeys I'd love to find a new clinic, but the next closest one is nearly a 2 hour drive away. So I'm kind of stuck with this for now. At least right now, we are doing Timed Intercourse instead of IUI so we can bd over the weekend. But that is a good point to bring up if we decided to move to IUI. 
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  • KidShrinkKidShrink member
    I'm doing Femara and Ovidrel (never went through Clomid; my lining was thin to begin with and I have a history of liver problems which is incompatible with using Clomid). I find that different clinics operate in very different ways. I've had friends who took Clomid and never had US/BW. I personally get daily US/BW from CD9 to ovulation, so essentially the same treatment as with injectibles. my FS also changed the treatment plan on me without notice which I found puzzling (he added Ovidrel without having spoken about it at my review appointment). Good luck!
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  • AutumnSkye10AutumnSkye10 member

    @KidShrink That's crazy that they can just change your treatment plan without notice. I'm going to try calling them next week before my blood work appointment to ask about the plan for next cycle. I'd like to know before it is starting, because once I go back in for my base US there isn't much time to think about and consider your options without compromising the entire cycle.

    Good news, I did find another clinic in the area. The one I am at is where my OBGYN referred me to. I have an appointment with her for my annual early April so I might ask her about this other place as well. The place I just found is advertising they have a 69% success rate for IVF and the website for where I am currently at offers no stats at all (which is worrying). I have a $2500 medical loan through this place though so I will probably use that while I am researching the other place. Then again if they don't want to let me try Femara I might just leave and skip a cycle!

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  • krick43krick43 member
    I am in the 2WW after my first cycle of Femara/ Ovidrel I know many people who have done Clomid and the schedule is basically the same Femara. I have PCOS but did not present "typically" per my RE. He recommended Femara over Clomid for that reason. I ended up with two follices on my first cycle. I am not saying it works for everyone but it certainly was promising for me. It might be a good step prior to injectables. However just remember it's your body so you should get to make the choice :)
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