Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

Letrozol - Yay or Nay?

3 replies

Nickwinkle · 08/10/2021 16:16

Hi All!

Sit down and hold on tight cause this ride's a wild one! Brew I've been TTC for 6 years now with two different partners (not at the same time Wink) and I've FINALLY started to get somewhere.

I've been under the NHS for the last 6 years; ultrasounds, laproscopys, hysteroscopys, dye in tubes... you name it - I've had it. Well, everything except for hormone testing. I managed to convince a doctor 3-4 years ago to test my progesterone, which he did, and my 7dpo result came back at 0.3. AF showed 3 days later. Obviously that's a very low result, however, the doctor said there's nothing he can do as low progesterone isn't recognised as a reason for infertility on the NHS and I was therefore just told to lose some weight because I'm obviously not ovulating. Typical Envy. They've also told me that, as a vegetarian, I'm eating too much red meat but there we go.

Anyway. 6 years later here I am... still... 3 stone lighter but also a child lighter. I became a Google warrior wanting to find out what was wrong with me and if there was anything I could do; and that's where I stumbled across Ovusense. BBT tracking based off your progesterone levels - noice. I parted with my many ££'s and low and behold it actually works.

Ovusense proved I was ovulating but that AF was starting 9 days after ovulation. In addition to that, my BBT raise was insignificant and it started to drop off around 5/6dpo. Hmmm... progesterone levels dropping around 5/6dpo - explains my low progesterone test. So I scurried back to the GP with my notes in hand and gave them the results I've found. Would you believe it - apparently 0.3 is completely normal, I obvously didn't know where I was in my cycle and must've been in the follicular phase and everrryyone ovulates on day 14 (she really couldn't get her head around the fact I O'd anywhere between CD23-32). On top of that, progesterone isn't necessary to get pregnant because I'm ovulating. Uh, what? Hmm

This was it. This was my final breaking point. 6 years of being ignored, poked, prodded and fobbed off. I snapped. Well, I say snapped... I politely turned the other cheek and made my way down to the private clinic.

Gals, I must say, I'm absolutely beyond impressed by the level of care and respect you get in those places. I had a telephone chat with one of their new patient co-ordinators, got sent a price list and then went away to discuss with my partner. Oh yes, the price list Hmm. The number 1 reason why people don't go private. Well.... £400 later and we'd had all our tests done and were waiting for our consultation (also included in the £400). Not bad, eh Grin. Obviously it could end up being much more expensive than this but it was a good place to start.

A week later and the consultation's done; and the verdict?.... drum roll.... hormone issue. Low progesterone. Ovulation is occuring too late and when it does, it's too weak to produce enough progesterone which is an issue. A week. That's all it took. Why oh why oh why have I been under the NHS for 6 years who have done everything BUT test my hormones and agree that low progesterone is an issue, despite me screaming from the rooftops about it.

SO I guess short story long - We've been given Letrozole to try for 3 cycles! and I'm over the moon, scared, anxious, s**tting meself but mostly excited to be starting a new chapter in our lives; properly!

My biggest question is (and the reason I came here) ; has anyone been on letrazole before and were you successful and what was it like and how the fudge did you not stress to the point of ridiculousness because of the extra pressure knowing you could get pregnant?! Grin Grin Grin

OP posts:
Kitte321 · 08/10/2021 17:01

Hi @Nickwinkle some journey you’ve been on and how bizarre that the NHS wouldn’t have wanted to give ovulation induction a go. Unfortunately, I’ve also been on the receiving of “everyone ovulates on day 14” (yeah right) and “everyone has a 14 day luteal phase” (erm…I beg to differ!).
Anyway, I’m not as patient as you and headed straight to a private clinic with a similar, speedy result. I’m pleased to report that letrozole did work for me - pregnant round 1 which ended in MMC but then pregnant again 5 months later. I’m now 15 weeks and still praying all stays well.
If I could give any advice it would be - be patient. It can take time but if it is bringing ovulation forward and extending the luteal phase it may be worth sticking with for a few months. Good luck - I really hope you get the outcome you’re after x

Nickwinkle · 08/10/2021 20:52

Sorry to hear about the MC but grats on your pregnancy!! I'll keep my fingers and toes crossed for you. If you dont mind me asking, how long were you TTC before the letrozole?

Honestly, I take it as a blessing in disguise. My ex (husband) turned out to be a scam artist with a secret family so I guess my patience paid off! No idea why the NHS wouldn't help me out. I think, because of my age, they didn't really take me seriously. I was 22 when I started trying. I had a stable job, home owner and was engaged so it's not like it was an unreasonable request. I remember when I got married, the consultant turned around and told me 'they might take me seriously now I'm married'. Should've ran for the hills but like I said... Blessing in disguise.

Feels hard trying to be patient and I've not even started them yet. Praying my body hurries up and ovulates (CD22 now 😴) so I can get on with it. Positive vibes 🤞🤞❤️

OP posts:
LittleAtlas · 08/10/2021 20:57

Hi, letrozol worked for me first time. We'd been TTC for 3 years and tried clomid which made me depressed, had hot flushes and cramps so they moved me onto letrozol and I had no symptoms at all and got pregnant. My little boy is about to turn 2. Good luck!!

New posts on this thread. Refresh page