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!

@unknownscot good luck with the IVF

Does anyone use ovulation sticks or something like the Clearblue fertility monitor?

I’ve not used them before given that I’m told they are pointless with PCOS and my irregular cycles...but now that hopefully letrozole will start to bring my cycles back...maybe...and if not then it might be useful for IVF etc. I’ve been looking at them on Amazon and there’s a lot of mixed reviews...I don’t want to get something that isn’t going to be helpful and might just stress me out even more trying to understand the results etc!

@PuffinPippin I never use ovulation kits - best thing is to measure BBT and also just to learn your cycle. It takes time - I use three apps and use them to figure out an "average" for my cycle.

Hi @PuffinPippin, I use the Opk strips, cheap and cheerful they do the job. Saying that the nurse told me off for using them she said it just creates unnecessary anxiety. Partially I agree with her I only was doing it to see how long my luteal phase is.
Tracking BBT didn't work for me,I just kept forgetting to measure my temp first thing in the morning but many ladies swear by it. So whatever works for you

@PuffinPippin I have PCOS too. My consultant said, because my cycles are all over the place, not to bother with them when trying 'naturally'. But she did say to get some cheap OPK strips during letrozole cycles as they're more likely to be accurate. Obviously this is on top of the scans which are checking follicles etc... too.

@unknownscot very best of luck with IVF. NHS often feels like you're jumping through hoops to get to what treatment you feel you need.

Hi everyone, it's been a long time since I posted on here but it's great to see the thread so active and everyone being so supportive. I thought I'd provide an update, we had 3 cycles of Letrozole (all unsuccessful) although the one scan I had on the first cycle showed that I ovulated. We were then told I had to have a Hycosy scan to assess my tubes. This took absolutely forever, because of my irregular period, then the doctor being on holiday and then Covid! I finally had the test this week which showed no issues with my tubes, which is great. And now I've been given Letrozole again for another 3 months. Trying to stay positive but it's hard, especially when I saw I started this thread nearly a year ago and we seem to be in the same position! I'm going to try and kickstart the healthy eating and exercising again which will hopefully improve my mood. Does anyone else feel tired all the time with PCOS?

@rubywoo24 - I don't tend to feel tired with PCOS...it tends to be if I'm more stressed or not exercising or sleeping as well. If it's been going on for a while have you spoken to your doctor about it?

I just went for my scan today, day 12 of cycle having had to have norethisterone to start my period, and then took letrozole 5mg days 2-6

Quite a lot of follicles on both ovaries...but the biggest one was only 10mm. They said ideally the mature one should be at least 18mm. They think it might just being slow as it's my first cycle....I've got another scan for next week to see if they've got any bigger

@puffinpippin are they asking you to go back in for another scan later in a few days?

@Rg1987 yeh in 7 days time...they were debating 5 days but thought it would be too soon

Sorry for the radio silence....so my second scan showed that they were 16mm...but my progesterone blood test about 9 days later showed that I did ovulate.

2nd cycle has started without needing norethisterone to kickstart it this time...so I'm seeing that as a positive.

How is everyone else doing?

Hi all. Hope you re all doing okay?!

@PuffinPippin I'm glad you're feeling positive.

I had my appointment with my consultant yesterday and after surgery for mild endometriosis, TTC for just shy of 2 years and 7 months on clomid/letrazole they have started my referral for IVF. So my journey continues and feeling okay about it. Xx

Hi all,

Haven’t been on here in ages! Hope everyone doing ok. Got redeployed with Covid but back to my clinic now. I did try Letrozole for 5 months (TTC 2 years) with no success - had to take a break with COVID. Had my IVF cycle last month and got 6 blasts frozen, waiting to start my first FET this month. Wishing everyone success 🤞🤞

@puffinpippin great you got confirmation you ovulated! Expecting my period tomorrow so looking forward to starting new cycle on 5mg this time. 2.5mg did nothing! Really hope that I at least ovulate this cycle 🙄

@AfterGlow87 that's amazing. All the best with your FET 🤞🏼 xxx

@JadeS174 and @AfterGlow87 good luck with the IVF!

@Rg1987 hope your period came as planned and you’re getting on with the 5mg letrozole

I went for my scan today day 13 - 2nd cycle of letrozole at 5mg, although my last cycle was still quite long at 36 days.

No dominant follicle yet though which is disappointing because day 12 of my last cycle there was a dominant one. I’ve got to go back again for a scan next week so hopefully that will be more promising...

The specialist nurse said something really odd to me though...she said “do you think these scans are helping?”

What a weird thing to say surely!? I’m only coming for the scans based on what they are advising?

@PuffinPippin That is so strange! Not exactly a vote of confidence! What did you say? Sorry to hear you didn't get a dominant follicle. Fingers crossed for next week. How big was your follicle on day 12 last month?
Yep I'm on CD4 so just trying to be patient (!)

@Rg1987 thanks! I just said um I think so? Isn’t it helpful at the moment to see if I’m responding to the letrozole or not?

Really random! Last month it was 10mm on day 12 last time, this time no dominant ones but similar in size at 11mm. Will just have to wait and see next week...

It’s hard trying to stay patient isn’t it!!

Hi eveyone 👋
Sorry to gatecrash but Im a Letrozole newbie and would love to hear your experience of side effects from this medication. I cant decide whether to take it or not.
Bit of background - I have had 3 consecutive losses in exactly one year. These were unmedicated normal conceptions. Until my last and most recent loss which was found at 7.5weeks to be an ectopic which had ruptured requring removal of my right tube.
During this op, the also found lots of endometriosis in random areas and removed most but there remains some on my left ovary - which worries me alot now.

I already battle with my weight and am afraid the letrozole will make me even heavier as i try to loose it. Also worried about low mood effects. This a prob for ny of you?
Sorry for the essay, il be better I promise! 🤣

Hi @Babytobe and welcome!

Sorry to hear you've been through such a difficult time.

I've only taken the letrozole for 2 cycles so far - 5mg on days 2-6. First cycle was fine, didn't notice any problems. Second cycle I had quite a few headaches.

I haven't noticed any problems with weight gain or low mood, but I guess at least it's only for a few days of the cycle? So at least with my headaches they settled soon after I stopped taking the letrozole...hopefully that would be the case for you if you developed any side effects as well.

Have you discussed your worries with your doctor? It might be worth trying it for at least one cycle and seeing how you get on with it? Do you have PCOS too?

@Rg1987 hope you're doing well and your cycle is going ok!

Has anyone had a HyCoSy already to check your fallopian tubes yet?

How was it? At my last cycle of letrozole (2nd) they suggested doing one after my 3rd cycle, although when I first saw the fertility doctor he suggested doing it after 6 cycles. I guess it makes sense to know if my tubes are open rather than keep trying without knowing!?

Do you know if you can try the same cycle after you've had the HyCoSy? Sorry for all the questions!!

@puffinpippin hey! Thanks for your msg. Good news is that I defo ovulated this cycle so 5mg seems to have done the trick. Just in the dreaded 2ww now. I've felt a little crampy and some lower back twinges but i get that with my period too so trying not to symptom spot. Do you do pregnancy tests before your 'missed period' date? Can't decide whether to torture myself with trying to spot a line on a frer..

@Rg1987 - that's great news that ovulated this cycle...finger crossed for you

It's really tempting to symptom spot isn't it! I haven't yet had a "missed period" date - but I've decided that I won't test before then as I don't think I could take the uncertainty with a positive or negative result then anyway! I know there are tests you can get which are more sensitive before your missed period date...but not as good as testing later I think.

I've just started my next cycle - I was hoping it was an implantation bleed but no such luck...maybe next time! I think I'm going to try and track my ovulation with the cheapie ovulation sticks this cycle too

@puffinpippin thank you :)
Sorry to hear about your cycle thus month :( but fingers crossed that this is your month.
Yeah, lots of people tell u not to use OPKs if you have PCOS but mine clearly showed ovulation with a peak etc.. and blood tests backed it up. So they for sure helped me this month. I guess everyone is different though...