Letrozole first cycle

[Anon9899]

Today is day one of 5mg of letrozole for me. I have irregular cycles so really hoping this helps sort me out 🤞

Anyone else in the same boat or have happy stories to share?

@Anon9899 how are you getting on? I’m starting cycle 4 with letrozole tomorrow. Fingers crossed it works this time

I conceived DD after 3 cycles of letrozole. She's nearly 2 now and we are now thinking about doing some more rounds for baby #2. Good luck and don't be disheartened if it doesn't work immediately.

Hi. I hope you don't mind me asking. I'm on my first round of Letrozole. I took it and ovulated 26th March. I'm now 14dpo with a negative test and no sign of period coming. I did lightly bleed on 8dpo and 11dpo but only when I went to the toilet and on wiping blood was present. Sorry for tmi but I'm worried either the meds aren't working or what else could be wrong? Any help or advise is so welcome. Please and thank you.

@WafflesNCream only day 10 of first cycle, haven't had a peak OPK yet but having a scan on friday to check follicles so 🤞🤞🤞 that there is one ready to pop. Were you scanned for your previous cycles? Hope this is the lucky one for you!

@CrispAppleStrudels thanks so much for sharing your happy story! Hope it works just as well for you second time round if you do go for it.

@shoegirl36 are you being scanned to confirm you ovulated when you think you did? I had an anovulatory cycle in February I think before starting letrozole and my period was SUPER light, just two days of bleeding when I wiped only and that was it. Our bodies play mean tricks sometimes 😔

@Anon9899 no I'm not scanned by doctors while I take Letrozole, I just use LH strips to check what's going on. I had bleeding on 8&11 dpo do you think that could have been classed as my period?

On my first cycle of letrozole too! Finished taking it last Saturday (1st April) and had a positive OPK today (CD15). Feeling hopeful! I don’t have monitoring scans, just Day 21 bloods. Fingers crossed for us all!

@shoegirl36 it does sound more like spotting if there was nothing on the days inbetween... have you spoken to a doctor at all? Who prescribed it for you? It's horrid when our bodies do weird things and we have to try to figure it all out for ourselves.

@Booklover88 oooh exciting!! Good luck 🤩 I guess it's time to get busy!! I would love to get an opk that early, my last two cycles I've ovulated day 35 and 32 and am really hoping this brings it forward 🤞what dose are you on?

I’m on 5mg however I do have PCOS so OPKs aren’t always that reliable for me. I’ve had positive OPKs before and my Day 21 progesterone test have then indicated that I haven’t ovulated so it’s all a bit of a mystery!

@Anon9899 good luck with your scan, so exciting!
I was scanned in all cycles, but only ovulated once. Two cycles were a bust, the follicles managed to grow to 14-15 mm but then shrunk. I’m on an extended 7-day protocol, we’ll see how it goes.

@Booklover88 I'm on 5mg and have PCOS too! Only diagnosed after coming off the pill after many years and my hormones just not settling down. I'm glad my clinic are going to be monitoring me, since coming off my pill in December 22 the whole thing has been a huge guessing game trying to work out what's going on and whether I'm actually ovulating or not.

@WafflesNCream gosh that sounds like a bit of an emotional rollercoaster, really hope this is a lucky cycle for you.

It seems so unfair that some of us have to go through this just to try and get into a normal rhythm with our bodies which is just a basic requirement for TTC that most women take for granted. But thank goodness that drugs are out there to help and really hope this is what works for us all!!

I wish we could have a little window to see what’s going on in there as it’s all such a guessing game! Hope the letrozole helps balance things out for you. I’ve certainly ovulated earlier than I ever have on a ‘natural’ cycle. I tend to have a short luteal phase so I’m hoping the letrozole will help with that too. We’ve been TTC for almost 2 years and I turn 35 very soon so it’s been a very anxious time but feel so much better for actually being on treatment. Other than a suspected chemical pregnancy a few months ago, there’s not been a hint of a BFP.

What’s everyone’s side effects been like? I’ve been really tired and a few headaches but was expecting it to be a lot worse. I was worried about mood swings but if anything I’ve been in a better mood than usual-feel more hopeful than I have done in months. Think I’ve been lucky to escape the worst of the side effects.

let’s hope there’s some positive news for us soon 😘

@Booklover88 will be very intetested to hear if it does lengthen your luteal phase, I'm concerned about the length of mine too! And also about the thickness of my lining because my periods have been really light compared to the pill withdrawal bleeds I used to get...

Totally hear you about the age thing too, I'm a little younger at 32 but always thought I'd have my first at 30 and can feel time slipping away each month. I just keep telling myself that now I'm in the system I'm in the system and if a few months of this doesn't work then it'll be on to the next thing.

No major side effects here either. I did have a slight headache day one which is unusual for me and felt a little flat emotionally while taking the pills but that could just be the wild ride of TTC!

@Anon9899 thanks for your reply. I'm just under my gp and they did scans before starting Letrozole and all was fine. Tbh I've had not much help from any doctors whether their gps, gynae specialists or otherwise. I've definitely been more dependent on you ladies on all the forums and apps. I always just hope there's someone who can guide me in the right direction really.

@Booklover88 your ‘little window’ idea made me giggle. Can you imagine? Haha
I don’t get any side effects on letrozole apart from the tiredness. I was really scared to take it, but it’s been ok so far.
I’m 34 and can literally hear the biological clock ticking! So nerve wracking.
Is everyone getting scanned this cycle? I have my first scan booked for next Tuesday. Fingers crossed it goes well!

haha it would make things so much simpler!

Good you’ve escaped most of the side effects, I felt exactly the same. Really nice to hear from other people in the same boat.

I’m not being scanned this cycle, don’t think my clinic offer it. We’ve also been referred for IVF so the letrozole is a last ditch attempt before that-really hoping it works. I’ve got my day 21 bloods next week. I’ve never had a conclusive progesterone result so I’m really hoping my levels are higher this time.

The biological clock is real isn’t it?! Good luck for next week. We got this! 💪

@Booklover88 same here, we’re doing 3 more cycles with letrozole or injectables if letrozole fails and then moving on to IVF if that doesn’t work. Good luck with your day 21 bloods 😊

@shoegirl36 sorry to hear you haven't felt very supported by medical professionals 😔 it's so hit and miss. I'm really lucky in my area I think as the clinic seem really thorough and my referral was really quick too. Seems it's not the case everywhere!

@WafflesNCream I have my first scan on Friday! Will update then, hope yours goes ok next week 🤞

@Booklover88 good luck for your bloods next week too! Hopefully we are lucky and this is the month for us all.

@Anon9899 honestly when it comes to doctors I feel like I've been pushed from pillar to post and everywhere I've been has been really bad.. I'm definitely in a position where I feel like I have to do this for myself and not rely on medical professionals. I'm hoping by the time I get referred to a clinic I won't be on year long waiting lists and can just get on with it. My goal was to be a mum at 30.

Had my scan today! I seem to be responding as one nice follicle of 19mm ready to pop. Apparently they can go any time from 18mm onwards so could be any moment, likely some point between now and Monday (no positive LH yet.) I'm having bloods done in 10 days to confirm I actually ovulate and don't just reabsorb the follicle which is all good.

Bad news is my womb lining is still very thin (I suspected this because my periods are very light) at 3.4mm. Hoping it has a bit more thickening to do before ovulation especially if we are still a couple of days off and then she said it will thicken a bit after ovulation too. Apparently they will do embryo transfer for IVF from 5mm upwards so not a million miles off that figure...

@Anon9899 got to definitely take the positives from that, I wish you all the luck in the world. Hope your little miracle comes along sooner rather than later ❤️

Thanks @shoegirl36 I hope the same for you too!! Really hope you get the support you need. I found the hardest thing was just waiting until it had been a year for me to be actually be referred (I was on metformin at that point but knew it wasn't working for me.)

Once I was referred I got in to the clinic quite quickly and the process felt much more positive like something was actually progressing. Will cross my fingers for you!

@Anon9899 thank you hun.. this cycle I've had to end of provera type tablet I can't remember the exact name but then next cycle for me is 5mg Letrozole to see if that helps, apparently that dose is proven to be more effective in ladies with PCOS. I'm covering all bases and I've got tablets for the medical route but I'm also a massive spiritual believer and I have someone who is using their abilities to wish me luck from the spiritual side too which is nice.. I know a lot of people will be like what a load of sh*t but it brings a comfort to me ❤️ x

@Anon9899 Great news about the follicle but sorry there was some not so great news as well. The rollercoaster that is TTC! Sounds like you’re staying positive and I’ll be keeping everything crossed for you. Sounds like a busy weekend is on the cards!

@shoegirl36 the endless waiting is the worst part of infertility for me. I’m quite predisposed to anxiety anyway and I find waiting so anxiety inducing!

I’m in the two week wait now and feeling nervous. Trying to distract myself so lots of long walks and Married At First Sight Australia! Hope everyone has a restful weekend xx

@shoegirl36 I'm on 5mg and seem to have responded so hope the same is true for you too.

I think that stress is a huge factor for all of us (I'm sure we've all heard that if we relax it will happen 🙄) so it's important for us to find what works for us! Glad you've found comfort in your spiritual beliefs.

I've been a bit reckless and gone too far the other way by putting my house on the market today!!! Put it off last year thinking we would do the baby thing first but that's not happening any time soon so bit the bullet... hoping it's a welcome distraction if nothing else!

@Booklover88 good luck for this TWW! MAFS is a great shout for distraction, my guilty pleasure too!! Busy weekend starts now for me... my husband has been ill but is over the worst now and understands his duty 😂