Anyone on Letrozole?

[rubywoo24]

Hi everyone

I have been prescribed 3 cycles of Letrozole and I have just started AF after a very very long few months. So quite excited to finally getting things going!
We're currently away and I do have my medication with me but not the leaflet that came with it. So just want to double check that I am taking it correctly:

• do I count tomorrow as CD1 as AF only started at 9.30pm today
• is there a specific time that I have to take the tablets, I think night time is recommended?
• do I take both tablets together?

Any other help or advice would be much appreciated!

@Carleyxo , @Sylva123 @CCPP
Thank you for your welcome! I am new to all this, have only done private MOT and was told my AMH was very low for my age they could only see 5 and then 2 follicles, and IVF maybe difficult and asked for an IVF appointment to get more information. Meanwhile I also did tests on NHS (heightened FSH levels) and waiting my first fertility appointment in 2 weeks. When I asked the private doctor if there is anything I can do to help my ovaries as even the ovulation sticks do not show ovulation regularly in my case, I was told there was nothing I could do that I should keep positive and try naturally or go IVF. I was not aware of the medicine mentioned until I reached this forum. Would you advise I wait for my NHS appointment to get advice on these or you guys go ahead on your own and buy these? I am surprised the private clinic told me that medication would only be offered if I am on IVF as part of the prep stage. Thank you so much

@Carleyxo god not stupid at all sure we are all learning new stuff on this journey xx you got a super positive opk test so defo dtd tomorrow and Thursday I would say! My dr said once husbands semen analysis is good that dtd daily during fertile window is ok.

I've never heard of progesterone cream I must look at that!!!! I am worried that low progesterone wont hold a pregnancy!

@leala20 I had to get letrozole prescribed by my dr I only got 3 months prescription then shes referring me for ivf if the medication doesn't bring on ovulation. I am new to all this myself but I am learning loads from @Sylva123 and @carleyxo. It's a hard journey it's not easy is it!

@ccpp because they weren't sure if I was ovulating or not it wasn't clear whether the progesterone was low cos I wasn't ovulating, or if I was ovulating but the progesterone was low for another reason. So the idea is that the letrozole will make me ovulate and then hopefully make the progesterone higher, but if not then I've got cyclogest as well. I take that during the luteal phase and that increases progesterone. Might be worth asking for that?
Sorry that sounds confusing - basically they're trying both cos they're not 100% sure what's causing the low progesterone

@Carleyxo sounds like you've done it on the perfect days so far. I always over think it when it comes to dtd on the right days and I get in a right flap over it. I'm trying that sperm meets the egg plan (SMEP) this month (but I've kind of messed it up). I reckon either do that plan or do what @ccpp said and try to do it daily maybe until Friday just to be sure?
Yes you'll ovulate 24-36 hours after your positive test so it'll be happening soon!!!

@Leala20 I reckon ask your doc why they didn't think clomid or Letrozole could be a good option for you. Maybe if you have low AMH they don't want to waste your time with the drugs if you've got a higher chance conceiving by going straight to IVF. I'm not sure, but I reckon they'll have a reason for saying go straight to IVF.
It's good that you have an NHS appt as well as the private one, as it's like getting a second opinion.
I'd recommend reading "it starts with the egg" book. It's a bit overwhelming but she recommends lots of vitamins that can help with egg quality. It's worth starting the vitamins now as they can take a couple of months to kick in. I find it useful knowing I'm trying the vitamins, it makes me feel a bit more in control of it all. There's a lot online about fertility nutrition as well. It is all SO confusing and the docs don't always give us much info sadly

Hello,

I would love to jump on this chat. I have been diagnosed with PCOS and started metformin last month and started taking letrozole yesterday! So far no side effects and have my follicle tracking app on Friday 🤞 even though from my last bloods apparently I have ovulated on my own, so it's all very confusing.

Morning all!
@ccpp
@Sylva123 thank you - I have ordered the book and will educate myself. I felt really helpless as the private consultant in a fertility clinic focused on IVF as an option based on the results ( still with very few % success) but in the first clinic I was told I would not qualify for IFV there as the chances are too low. This is when I opted to go to GP and it's been a 3 month wait for the first appointment via NHS with the fertility clinic so looking forward to getting third opinion as at this moment I feel I am on my own and need working it all out. I am 39 but I still have chances despite the results. I will mention the medication with the doctor.

@ccpp I will mention this in my first appointment in 2 weeks, thank you. I was first advised to monitor ovulation using Clearblue, worked one month but never reached Peak was in High for 7 days that was strange and second month did not work at all so this all added to more stress and the second doctor told me to ditch it and focus on wellbeing and destressing. Reading all messages here I am overwhelmed by how much you guys know and how much support by your doctor you have been given. I hope this appointment will help as my time is ticking!

@leala20 it is all so foggy in the beginning and it's hard to know what to do. You're doing great by getting all the different opinions though. Yeah all of it was a mystery to me but it's amazing how quickly you learn about it all! I've got so much info off of here, book recommendations, questions to ask at the appt etc.
Good luck.

@MrsF1989 welcome! Hope the cycle goes well for you! Glad you've got no side effects yet! And yes it's so confusing! Hope the follicle scan goes well. Fingers crossed for you. Let us know! How many rounds have they given you?

I called the hospital today cos I'm on day 19 still not ovulating and I always ovulate on day 14. Feeling so gutted that the thing that was meant to help seems to have made things worse :-(
My doc is on holiday and they can't fit me in til the end of February. I can't believe it.

@sylva123 thanks for the name of the progesterone thing I'm going to see can I get that if my progesterone is low after these blood tests.
Maybe you missed your LH surge? Could that be possible? Cant believe they wont fit you in until end if feb that's crazy!!!!! Can you ask to see another doc while your doc is away?

@Leala20 I had months too where the opk's were pointless as I have PCOS and dont ovulate. So I'm giving this a chance and praying it works!!! Definately discuss trying these drugs first with your doctor! It's all so stressful sometimes I find it hard coping with it all it's so overwhelming!

@MrsF1989 welcome 😊 I have also been diagnosed with PCOS but haven't been given metaformin I wonder why 🤔 glad you're getting on good so far with letrozole 🤞

Hello,

Thanks for the welcome 😁. I've been given 6 months worth. I'm not really 100% what the metformin does, I believe it's based around controlling the androgens and my insulin levels, which are high in people with PCOS. It's an off the shelf medicine (also made me feel rather poorly to start with). Day 2 of taking letrozole and my period has totally stopped. So I only had a 2 day period this month, is this normal? 🤔

I completely sympathise how frustrating having to wait for appointments. We ended up paying for private consultations because was becoming impatient!!

@ccpp I hope they do give you cyclogest if your levels are low. From googling it seems like a common treatment for those of us with low progesterone. But the letrozole could have fixed it for u anyway. Can you believe there's no one available to cover my doc whilst she's away. I've been testing since CD9 so I don't think I missed it, unless I ovulated super early? Maybe I did but if that's the case my period will be here any day now cos we didn't dtd before CD9. It's weird that the cheap tests are still totally blank and the Clearblue is on the 3rd day of flashing smiley. I feel really worried the letrozole has had the opposite effect of what it was supposed to!
Can't believe I have to wait til end of Feb. I actually have my consultant appt on Feb 6th to talk about stopping letrozole and starting IVF... I so believed I would be pregnant before this point. It's so disappointing. I never thought it would get this far.

@mrsf1989 I think a couple of people on here have said their periods were short / light on letrozole as well. Mine were normal but it seems like a common thing. I think we should have gone private like you...

I didnt mean off the shelf drug I meant off label 🙈 I had to be prescribed it. Going private is definitely worthwhile, it just adds up as additional cost. 😥

Hey @Leala20 if it helps on my appointments I was told they wouldn't bother with Clomid or anything else if my AMH was low as they basically wouldn't want to waste time. My SIL AMH was really low and she went for IVF and was successful on her second round :) we have all only learnt so much through research and talking to each other :-) x

Oh gosh @Sylva123 that's bloody horrendous how can they justify that and why do these doctors have such long time off!??? How weird that your appointment is beginning Feb to review and then they can't get you in till end to discuss it. I'm so sorry x

I apologise in advance for the rant but I'm so upset right now.
Had reflexology this morning and apparently she was shocked the NHS implied 2% morphology was ok as apparently it will make it very hard to get pregnant. My husband does regular weight lifting at the gym and she said this could be majorly affecting the morphology. I spoke to him and said about her suggesting a small break and he's basically turned around and said he thinks we need a break from it all and that we're getting obsessive over it and how there needs to be a line.

I don't know what to do or say 😢

Awe @Carleyxo rant away you have every right to be upset 😔
Men just dont get it at all!!!! All the stuff we go through in all this and they react to things so unfairly at times!
Maybe just give him time to think about it he might have a think and realise how unfair it is on you he will hopefully come around xxx

Oh my goodness @Carleyxo that is awful. A double shock in one day - firstly hearing that about the morphology and then your OH not willing to take a break from the weight lifting, after everything you've been sacrificing and doing to get your body to a good place. My OH keeps doing things like this (eg hasnt taken his vitamins AGAIN today) and in the end I had to write him an email listing all the things I've been doing to get my body to a good place for us to have a family, and what it was that I was needing from him. I think an email is a bit extreme, hopefully you'll both calm down a bit tonight and be able to talk it over tmw?
You know what, it's so hard not to get obsessive over it cos we're so aware that all these little choices add up and each month is another chance... And it all feels on our shoulders.

How are you now?? Have you been able to talk to him any more? So sorry x

I'm just in bits, he's gone upstairs and we probably won't talk tonight because I'm so angry and upset I'm going to stay in the spare room. I just can't do it anymore it's so hard. It's as if we're on different pages for him to even suggest that... he's really good at taking vitamins etc but this one things which I've always said I think has an effect and now it's confirmed and he's just shrugged it off.

He said he doesn't want all this obsessiveness to effect our relationship the way it's going, but how are you supposed to turn away from something when you want it so bad? It's as if he doesn't want it like I do otherwise why would he suggest it. X

Hes shrugged it off cause its something he has to sacrifice!!!!! Like all the sacrifices you have had to make you would think he would at least even consider cutting down instead of throwing it back at you. That's how men deal with things though. I bet he will have calmed down and think things through tonight and hopefully talk it through with you tomorrow. Like it's not hard enough already xxx

I know tell me about it @CCPP I mean i already live a healthy lifestyle so I'm unsure what I've had to give up except money for all these tests and vitamins.... he suffers with anxiety and low moods so the gym helps massively and that's what he tried to use back at me. He wasn't getting the point that I wasn't saying no gym I was saying no stress eg crazy weight lifting like he does. I don't know what to do anymore because there is no point me taking letrozole of his morphology wont help it. The reflexologist said the nhs are so easy to just keep giving medication than getting to the root of the problem and she's so right xxx

Oh @carleyxo that's so so so awful and I know you wanted to dtd tonight as well. Is there any way you can make up so that tomorrow you're not angry that you missed a day of dtd as well? Or do you think it's just too much tonight to get things back on track? It is so frustrating, I really feel for you.

It's different, but me and my OH argue all the time cos he won't stop vaping and I find it really selfish and hurtful. We've nearly broken up over it several times, because I don't understand why he won't change something that could be impacting our chances. I think they just see things differently to us. It's not that they don't love us or don't want it, they're just not quite getting it.

And your OH saying that he doesn't want the "obsessiveness" impacting the relationship, well stopping trying will impact the relationship too. Is he lashing out cos he doesn't want to quit the gym? I'm sure deep down he still wants to be a dad. Do you think? xxx

That's interesting what she said about the NHS just dishing out the drugs. It's sad to give us all that extra hope. Is it definitely true that 2% morphology won't be ok with the letrozole? Could you get a second opinion?

When my nutritionist said that my OHs vaping could be impacting things he called her the C word behind her back. He never, ever uses language like that. It's like they feel personally attacked by it and lash out. Maybe it's a masculinity thing.

I gave up weights at the gym cos I was told it could impact cortisol / progesterone and I've swapped it for yoga, which is amazing. Would he consider that instead or is it a girly thing to do?

I definitely think men go on the defensive as they feel personally attacked! That could be why he reacted this way and he might feel his manhood is now being questioned if the morphology isn't enough, if that is in actual fact true as @sylva123 said maybe look for a 2nd opinion?
My husband vapes too and will not quit I've given up going on at him over it its fallen on deaf ears! He thinks cause his semen analysis came back ok that its all fine ugh men!!!!!!

No he's asleep now and I'm still so upset I can't even talk to him so that's tonight off the mark. You're so right I just don't get them at all, I think he does but he's certainly not acting like it at all. I would give up everything so I don't get why he isn't willing to? It's ridiculous 😩😢

I think what she meant was 2% is actually very difficult to work with and letrozole will only induce ovulation and realistically there is only so hard a egg will work. She described it as if there isn't decent sperm around then it just won't work and so that it all boils down to the morphology.

That makes me feel better about his reaction maybe it is a masculine thing 🙄🙄🙄
He literally is obsessed with weight training so I highly doubt it unfortunately @Sylva123 x

Just saw your reply @CCPP I mentioned below basically the sperm needs to be decent for it to work with the egg. All letrozole does is encourage ovulation it doesn't do anything with the sperm if that makes sense? :(