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!

Hmm...my clinic were quite specific that I shouldn’t try on my first cycle with letrozole or when I increase the dose until I’d had a scan that cycle so I didn’t risk it.

I know the risk is that you might miss your opportunity for this month but I think it’s better than the alternative...

It does seem strange that your scan is on day 15 though... mine are usually days 11-14 (which are usually too early for me we’ve found out eventually...!)

@PuffinPippin thanks so much for your reply. I've decided to wait! I think the scan was booked in late because whenever I do ovulate I usually have a 32 day cycle xx

Good luck @roxyfoxy89 ! It's probably best to wait until you've had the scan just in case! I've just started a new cycle of Letrozole today as well

@rubywoo24 thanks! I managed to get in for a scan and they've said there are two follicles measuring a good size and there's a lot of blood flow around them so hopefully they're mature. Not entirely sure what it all means but they've said to BD for a week so that's what we'll do 😂

@roxyfoxy89 ooh even better! Well done for getting in for the scan!

@rubywoo24

Sending you both good luck vibes!!

I’m having the month off from all of that as I have my hycosy scan booked...actually quite nice for a change not to be worrying about what day I am, have I ovulated etc etc! I’m sure we underestimate how much brain space this all takes!

@PuffinPippin thank you 😊 good luck with your hycosy, I had mine last month! Xx

@roxyfoxy89 thanks! I’ve heard some people say they had success soon after having a hycosy ...so fingers crossed!!

Thanks @PuffinPippin !
Has anyone been on a higher dose than 5mg of Letrozole a day?

@rubywoo24 yep- I moved up to 7.5mg last cycle and will do 2 more cycles at that dose after this hycosy....then ivf I think afterwards.

No mention about ovarian drilling as an option though

Thanks @PuffinPippin did they up your dose after one cycle? And do you know why?

@rubywoo24 - I had 3 cycles at 5mg before I went up, although I think if I hadn't ovulated in one of the first 2 cycles I probably would have gone up earlier...

My first 2 cycles I ovulated but took quite a while... approx day 20-22.

Then in my 3rd cycle it seemed to be going even slower than the previous two, and then no signs of ovulation at all on my second scan of that cycle.

Last month when I took 7.5mg I had a much better response both on the scan and then the progesterone blood test done later in the cycle...I think it was 47.

What's your current situation with the letrozole?

I've done 3 cycles on 5mg of Letrozole. I only got a scan on the first one which showed I ovulated. All 3 of those cycles were unsuccessful. I then has a hycosy which showed my tubes were fine. And I was prescribed another 3 rounds of Letrozole again on a 5mg dose, of which I am currently on cycle 1 and won't be getting any scans to monitor ovulation. I've just been thinking whether perhaps I need a higher dose, as on the one scan I did have I only had one follicle which seems a pretty weak response..

Hmm... I don’t know the answer to that. I’ve only ever had one follicle too. With my clinic they just seem pleased as long as there is one!

Can you call your clinic and ask?

Do you do the ovulation sticks? I do...but they don’t seem to help! Not sure if that’s because I don’t check it often enough (I check it once a day usually at about 6pm after work) and I miss the right time!?

Hi everyone. Sorry to jump on this post and I haven't managed to read all 900+ replies 😅 but I'm in the letrozole club right now and I'd love to hear if anyone who's been diagnosed with unexplained infertility has gone on to get pregnant after taking letrozole. We've been trying since August 2018. Never had a BFP. On cycle day 23 of my first cycle taking letrozole 5mg. Currently waiting on results from blood tests taken on cycle day 2 and 21 this month. Its so sad but I just can't get hopeful anymore and have resigned in my head to the fact we'll probably be going down the IVF route very soon x

Hey @lankyliscuits welcome to the thread! I can't help with the unexplained infertility I'm afraid as I have PCOS, but in a similar club as you, currently on cycle day 19 and this is the 4th round of Letrozole. How did your blood test results go x

Hi everyone - thought I'd check in to see how everyone's doing x

Hey, just spent the night reading these replies. It's always late when i'm supposed to be asleep that my brain just goes LETROZOLE, OVULATION, TUBES, SPERM, DATES, WHY, WHY, WHY. I was encouraged to hear that letrozole has helped lots of women get pregnant, and hycosies too as that procedure helps clear the tubes. But, here I am, 5 cycles of Letrozole later, 3 months since my hycosy, 2.5 years of TTC every month, and nothing. 😟 My period this time arrived on Mother's Day of all dates - marvellous! Do you think I need to ask them to increase the dose? They gave me 2.5mg, then a blood test to check I'd ovulated (I had), but that was over 4 months ago now 🤷

Hi,

I’m starting cycle 2 of letrozole 7.5mg soon. I didn’t ovulate on letrozole 5mg

Best of luck with the 7.5mg, fingers crossed it's what you need. I think I might be similar to @lankyliscuits because the Doctors can't tell for sure if I have PCOS, so the category I'm in is a bit blurred between that and "unexplained fertility". Has Letrozole helped you since you wrote in November? I've been ovulating perfectly every month with Letrozole, but just not managing to conceive. :-( Getting put on the IVF waiting list now as I'm just getting older with every month that fails.

Thanks Fingers crossed for all of us!
I have lean PCOS (diagnosed in early 20s) and I don’t have periods at all so don’t ovulate naturally. I need to take Provera to induce a bleed. I’m also taking Metformin and Myo-Inositol.
What dosage are you on and have you ovulated?
I only had day 21 and day 28 bloods to check in first cycle. No scans.

I only had bloods too, no scans. 2.5mg helped to kickstart me into ovulating and has shortened my cycle to be more "normal" too, but still no conception. I know, fingers crossed or us all. xx

Hi all
Just though I'd post a little update - unfortunately the letrozole didn't work for me , even though we tried 6 cycles altogether.
I've just started my first IVF cycle - it's pretty daunting but I'm also feeling positive about trying something different.
Best of luck everyone x

@PuffinPippin - I am SO sorry to hear Letrozole didn't work for you.
It didn't for me either. It fudging sucks.

We started IVF in January after a really traumatic (first) pregnancy and then loss on Christmas Eve...

BUT, but but but - we are SO glad we decided to go ahead with IVF.
We were offered it 2 years ago and I declined as I was only 27 and I couldn't tell my arse from my elbow by that point I was so exhausted and frustrated with the whole infertility experience.

Now, we are soon to have our FET (frozen embryo transfer), and we are really excited.

In fact, during my IVF cycle they discovered my tubes were indeed a mess (after 2 years of being told it was 'unexplained infertility' - Clomid & Letrozole...despite 4 surgeries on my tubes...don't even ask)..

So I got as proper diagnosis, surgery, support and a treatment plan that has transformed my life. I will never ever conceive naturally, and I'm ok with that...now.

I'm sharing this and telling you this because IVF was daunting for me too, and I had no idea what to expect but I really really hope you get the experience I have had & I hope you get all the answers and the baby(ies) you have dreamed of.

Without all the failed drugs, perpetual misdiagnosis, major surgeries, the loss and the closed doors...I would not have arrived here, with IVF - feeling like this is the easiest bloody bit - just surrendering to medicine and science and hoping for the best.

I am thinking of you, and I wish you all the love and luck in the world

H x

(P.S Puffin's are my favourite animals, I literally have a puffin tattoo)

Hello! Can I join please 👋 32, PCOS, been trying for just over a year and never been pregnant.

On month 3 of letrozole (I also have a trigger shot, progesterone, metformin and inositol). no luck yet but am trying to stay hopeful!

So sorry for those it didn’t work out for any best of luck with your ivf journeys

@H28MM

Thanks so much for your reply to my message. I'm sorry that things have been so difficult, but really pleased that things have really turned a corner since your diagnosis and management plan.

Best of luck with your frozen embryo cycle!
x