Letrozole first cycle

[ChipAndDip]

Hi ladies,

I’m due to start taking letrozole next cycle for the first time, just waiting for my period to start. I’ve got some spotting so reckon it will be in the next couple of days.

I wanted to see if anyone else is at a similar stage and wants to join me on the journey? Or if you’re already taking it I’d love to hear your experiences!

I’ve been reading all about the side effects so I’m a little anxious, but generally just excited to give it a try! My cycles are very irregular, and although I always get a peak OPK recently this hasn’t happened until around CD32, so I have a lot of waiting to do! Really hope the letrozole speeds things up 🤞

Hey @ChipAndDip they are the ones I used. When I got a smiley, I got to work and then tested every morning and late afternoon until I just got a circle. I got 2 days of smileys and on the morning of the 3rd, I got the plain circle so I think they work and are worth it
The pack I got had 20 sticks in it, bear in mind they take AGES to show a result so bear with it but they were better than the strips I was going through. This round I also ovulated early - day 12, so I would trust it. Go go go!

Thanks for sharing @bstrong0805 and @Obione1 😊 I should have added that I have used them before on normal cycles, one month they worked perfect (4 days flashing followed by static on the 5th) and the next month I had like 10 days of flashing and gave up! 😅 So interested to see what happens this month! Good to hear that they were accurate for you @Obione1 so I shall stick with them 🤞

@bstrong0805 hope you’re feeling a bit better. To be honest I struggle with all the medication. Headaches, bloating etc. onto month 2 here & just fed up!

@ChipAndDip I’m no good to you. I’ve just used the cheap easy@home ones. I’m being monitored with a scan & trigger shot again so I’m just going to go with that I think. Although you all have me thinking maybe I should use those!

@Lovemusic2015 to be honest I don’t think they’re worth the money (they’re SO pricey!) so you’re not missing out. It’s fun to see the flashing smile face, but the other strips are fine. And your scans will be much more accurate anyway!

@Lovemusic2015 thanks for asking - still feeling really rubbish and I’m about 11DPO I think now. Did an easy at home test today (mid day)and got a BFN so not super hopeful but officially have been asked to test on Friday. Keeping fingers crossed. Have lower back pain, stomach feels rubbish and feeling exhausted !

I caved in and did a test today instead of tomorrow - ClearBlue early test and got a BFN. I am wondering if I still have a chance. Did any of you have a change in your period length after letrozole? I have long cycles and usually ovulate on day 19-21 on a 32-33 day cycle but this time we did the IUI on day 14 (given the scans on day 11 showed 2 16mm follicles and then we did a trigger shot on day 13). So tomorrow is day 29 for me when they have asked me to test - which sounds super early to me in my head given all these years I have tested for pregnancy on day 35. Don't know what is going on or maybe I am holding to hope that I ovulated slightly later day15/16 and still have a change for pregnancy ?

Hey @bstrong0805
I did a clearblue early test on 9 DPO (as I was going to a wedding that day) had BFN, so thought fine, it's not meant to be this time. I tested again on 14DPO - the day my period was due & got a positive. I also ovulated early and my cycle was all over the place. Breathe, try and do something to take your mind off it, and I'd keep testing until AF shows up

@Obione1 thank you - tomorrow is the day they have asked me to test so let’s see ! I think I ovulation about 24 hours after my IUI so tomorrow is 14 days post IUI but probably 13DPO. Keeping fingers crossed !

@bstrong0805 you might just be a bit early, as @Obione1 says try and relax and test again in a day or two (easier said than done!) Good luck!

I got my solid smiley today (CD14), so ovulation is a couple of days earlier for me this month. Crazy to think before Letrozole I wasn’t ovulating until cycle day 30 plus!

Hi all, I know I’ve missed all of your first cycles but I’m just having my first letrozole cycle and hoped I could join? ❤️

We’ve been TTC a long time - 1yr with temps and opks, 1 yr before that just ‘seeing what happens’ and I’d been off contraception 3 years before that (using withdrawal method 😳 which in a fertile person would probs have failed at some point!).

Had first nhs appt last week, and fortunately already had tests and HyCoSy privately over last few months (all fine). The nhs consultant was… difficult. Didn’t really listen. Kept interrupting. Appt was very slow and disjointed. She could only type with one forefinger so everything we said was followed by a minute long gap where we couldn’t speak as she was typing and correcting mistakes. Other staff members kept coming in to the room to talk to her. She left the room twice. Her pers phone kept ringing and she answered it once. Kept calling my DH by his surname even though he said three times “my first name is…”. My referral letter was left on a table outside for everyone to see which fortunately my DH spotted and grabbed.

Felt so let down by the whole experience, given how importance this is.

She wanted to refer straight to ivf which we’re very open to but I’d expected a more experimental approach to start with. Haven’t even told friends or family, maybe we’ve been in a bit of denial. Maybe seeing all my bloods she quickly determined ivf would be best option as reason for our subfertility can’t be determined.

Anyway - I had to bring up option of medicated cycle and she said yes and gave me letrozole (with a clomid info sheet lol - I know they’re same protocol but just update the heading?! 😂 ). I’m on day 4 of my dose - have been so hot, tired (like a hangover), dizzy and foggy! Could just be the weather tho 🤔😂

The scanning process was really unclear to me as she said 1 maybe 2 scans (she sort of drew a process on sheet of paper then threw it away…, and nothing on scans on the clomid sheet) so I’m just going with the flow. Called to book my 1st scan and the clinic only runs twice a week and on one of those days the team are off on study leave so the day I’m booked in for might be too late in my cycle. Anyone else had this issue with appt availability?? Maybe this is why she didn’t suggest Let cycle in first place…

Thanks for reading if you’ve made it this far! Looking forward to following your journeys x

PS does anyone use CBAD ovulation tests with letrozole? Im wondering if the oestrogen suppression will confuse the flashing smiley stage (does oestrogen still end up rising?). I’ll use the cheapy ones too anyway. Another Q I’d have loved to ask my consultant had she not booted me out the door!

Hi @Sierra26 welcome! 👋🏻 Sorry you had such a bad experience with the consultant, that all sounds infuriating. If it makes you feel any better I’ve never actually seen my consultant, everything in my clinic is done through the nurses who relay the information back to him. But then again based on your experience maybe I’ve had a lucky escape!

Your symptoms sound fairly usual I think, I definitely had the hot flushes. The good news is it goes away when you finish your dose, so only one more day to go! I was only able to get a scan in CD16 due to availability and luckily that was the day before I ovulated. Which day is your scan? I think the reason why they don’t say exactly how many scans you’ll have is because they won’t know u til your first. I only had one because my follicle was nice and big and I was about to ovulate. But if you have a smaller follicle or more than one they they might get you back in for a scan a few days later.

I used the CBAD tests this month and like you I wasn’t sure if they would work, but they worked perfectly. I had 3 days of flashing on days 11-13 and then a static on 14. I also had one last spare cheapy which I took on CD 15 which was positive, so I must have ovulated around CD16.

Good luck with your first cycle! How many rounds have you been given?

How is everyone else getting on?

@bstrong0805 did you get your period?

@Obione1 when’s your first scan? How are you feeling?

Hello!! Just wanted to jump on and say I’m in the same boat! I’ve been given my norethisterone to start and once that's done I’ll be on letrozole,

What dose are you on?

Have you been ovulating up until now? Have you had AMH and AFC tests? X

Thanks for asking @ChipAndDip and yes got my period on Sunday so was disappointed this weekend ! We are moving on to the second cycle immediately so starting on 5mg of letrozole today and keeping’s fingers crossed for this cycle. If it doesn’t work I think we will take a break till Christmas and then decide how move on. I’m actually not too keen on IVF so need to sit down and think what it means for us as a family.

@Sierra26 welcome ! I didn’t have any symptoms with the letrozole really, so can’t share much insight on how you are feeling. Hope you feel better soon !

Out of curiosity, what had everyone been told about the number of letrozole cycles you can do ? I’ve heard 6 is the maximum but have also heard others say that it is better to do 2 or 3 then take a break and then try again for 2 or 3. It is a cancer drug at the end of the day so I’m sure it is best taken in smaller proportions!

@ChipAndDip thank you so much for all of that! I’ll go with my usual CBAD plan and see what happens. My scan will be CD 12 and I usually peak day 12 …. Its just the booking nurse initially said that would be far too late and then back tracked when she realised she couldn’t get me an earlier appt.

Not really sure what I’m expecting as I don’t have PCOS and I’m a regular ovulator anyway, I just wanted to try something else before ivf. I’m convinced I have a progesterone issue as I get a lot of pre AF spotting but day 21 pg test was fine so consultant wouldn’t hear it. I’ve bought Proov pg tests so I can self monitor this month.

Ive only been given meds for 1 round but she said we can try 3 and if that’s not successful we’ll go back to ivf referral (@bstrong0805 answers your Q too). I’m in London fyi. She didn’t say what max was but I was happy with 3 given it was me who brought it up in first place and I’m not a typical PCOS candidate. And gives us some time to start telling family ahead of potential ivf… we’re quite private so I’m sort of dreading that, even though our families are wonderful. I don’t want our journey to become the core topic of conversation.

hi @Ellierose666 , I’m first cycle and my AMH and AFC all normal for age.

Hi ladies, just went in for my day 12 scan on my second cycle of letrozole and my dominant follicle is smaller than what it should be at this point of my cycle at only 12mm this time last cycle I was at 18mm, I’m going to go back in on day 16 for another scan to see if there is any changes and if i haven’t ovulated yet I’ll be given a trigger shot and if I have ovulated and still unsuccessful then next cycle I’ll be going up to 5mg… what a journey!!! I did leave a bit deflated from the appointment as I felt like I’ve gone 10 steps backwards but onwards and upwards!
hope you are all doing well 💕

Ah sorry that you got your period @bstrong0805, I guess at least you can move into a fresh cycle. Good luck for round 2! 🤞🤞 Re number of cycles, I was given 4 month’s worth of the drug, but I’ve been told to only do 3 months and then if not successful they’ll check my tubes (hycosy?!) So not sure if I’ll be able to do another few rounds of let after that test is done. I think I might ask because it’s made my cycles so regular, I don’t want to go back to my 40+ cycles!

@Sierra26 I don’t have PCOS either and I also get pre AF spotting so suspected a progesterone issue, but my day 21 levels came back fine so it must be something else. I’m actually spotting even earlier since taking let - both cycles so far I’ve spotted from 5dpo! I’m either 3 or 4 dpo today so will see if it starts in the next couple of days… Has your doctor suggested you could have endometriosis? I’ve decided to get a laparoscopy to see if that’s the cause of my spotting. I also have super heavy periods so there’s other reason to suspect.

Hi @Ellierose666 👋🏻 I’m on 5mg which made me ovulate successfully on around day 17 on my first round (confirmed by scan and blood test) and I seemed to ovulate the same time in my second round(no scan or blood test, but my OPKs and other symptoms aligned with the date). Just at the beginning of my 2WW of 3rd round now 🤞 This month I peaked on CD14/15. Before let I always used to get a peak OPK but it ranged from day 17-33! So this drug has been amazing at regulating my cycles. No AMH or AFC tests, my docs don’t seem to offer them. All other tests have been normal.

@Gkb90 hopefully you’re just a couple of days behind this cycle! My first 2 cycles I seemed to ovulate on exactly the same day, but I think I was a couple of days earlier this cycle, so it can definitely change a bit. Hopefully you’ll have a nice juicy follicular ready to pop at your next scan! 😊

@ChipAndDip it’s so strange because my LH levels were high and I got my peak on day 13 but my follicle didn’t seem like it was ready so I’m not sure what is going on 😩 I got my next scan on Thursday hopefully will get some answers on what’s going on! How are you getting on? Xxx

Fingers crossed @Gkb90 day 16 is more successful for you. Confusing that your Lh peaked. Makes me wonder how variable the time from peak to ovulation actually is.

I bbt too and usually that confirms within 1-2 days but but it’ll be good to have more data now.

Does your clinic do scanning clinics every day? Mine just does Mon & Wed so I’m a bit f*cked if dates don’t align.

@ChipAndDip it’s so interesting how many people experience the pre AF spotting! No endometriosis has never been suggested, but periods aren’t too heavy and I very rarely get cramps so don’t think I have the traditional symptoms. I might start pulling at that string though if I’m not successful on letrozole. Will you be going crazy in your TWW or will you manage to distract yourself? I spent first few months TTC obsessing over it but Im so disheartened that I barely notice it now as I’m not expecting good news. I might feel differently this month though as first month with new plan!

Im cd7 and had some spotting this morning and more CM than usual. Anyone else had that this early in month on letrozole? Also had some sharp pains yesterday in right side, obv I’m wondering what it all means!

Hi,

Really pleased to find this thread. I'm about to start my first IUI cycle using Letrozole - tomorrow I take my first tablet! So nervous about it as this is all a new world to me so trying to read everything I can about it which is how I found this thread. So reassuring to read everyone's stories on here. Hopefully I can join in following your journeys. Sounds like one of you has already got a BFP so that's hopeful!

Can I ask do you all do the trigger shot, or monitor your natural ovulation? Originally my doc suggested doing it naturally (as I ovulate regularly each month) but I have now said I would prefer the trigger shot as I think it can increase chances of pregnancy and I was getting stressed at the thought of trying to catch the right moment myself. Anyone got thoughts on this?

@Sierra26 - I had a similar stress about monitoring scans only being available on certain days at my clinic. At the consultation, I was told to call as soon as my period starts to book a first monitoring scan for day 8, but then when I called to make the appointment they booked me for day 7 instead. When I queried it, I was reassured that the first monitoring scan can be flexible between days 7-10, and they can do more later in the cycle if needed. She also said that anything that is dependant on specific day, i.e. the actual IUI procedure then I will be seen regardless of the day even if it's a Sunday (which it probably will be for this cycle). Are you with an NHS clinic? It seems strange to only have 2 days out of 7 available for scans when timing is so crucial in a fertility clinic!

@Sierra26 fingers crossed for tomorrows scan! It’s so odd I just don’t understand what’s going on with my LH levels, I tested again yesterday evening and my levels started to rise again! Me and my doctor went back to look at all my blood results and everything seems fine so no idea what my body is doing lol. I just think I need to be put on 5mg and hopefully will see better results. My clinic does scans throughout the week but they are closed on Tuesday and Sunday.

How are you getting on with your letrozole journey? Xx

Hi ladies, hope you’re all getting on well & welcome to the new ladies - great to hear everyone’s experiences.

I'm onto cycle 2 & took letrozole days 2-5. Have a scan Friday (day 11). Was day 12 last month but no scans at the weekend so we shall see. The plan is for trigger shot again this cycle if all lines up. At least that nears I know I’m definitely ovulating - pcos. Have some cm since yesterday so all looking good in terms of heading into an early fertile period due to the letrozole.

Hey ladies
Sorry been a bit MIA,
@Lovemusic2015 I would push for 5mg, I went straight to 5mg

I think there was a question about how many rounds you can have? My consultant said 6 before going to IVF because it's not worked in that time, it's unlikely to, but that's just her opinion. We asked, whilst we wait to be on the IVF list on the NHS can you do more rounds and she said yes, it's not going to hurt your body.

@ChipAndDip how are you doing with your 2WW? It's such a shit time and I've been thinking of you all.

I'm ok, trying not to get excited because it's so early - I'm 6 weeks on Friday, so still very much in the danger zone. Pregnancy symptoms have been fine, bloating every now and then, and a bit of nausea. I started bleeding about an hour ago, so I'm obviously panicking slightly, but I can't change any course of nature, so watching shit TV and online shopping. My first early scan with my letrazole consultant is on Monday morning, so I'll know either way. Who knows, I might be back for round 3.

Sending all my hugs to you all xx