TTC with Letrozole/Clomid

[acaciabluebell]

Anyone else here on Letrozole or Clomid for ovulation induction?

I'm on my 2nd cycle of Letrozole and looking for others in a similar situation.

Info about me:
26 y.o
Been TTC for just over 2 years.
Dosage: 5mg of Letrozole on days 3-7.
Diagnoses: Male factor (0% morphology), low AMH, low progesterone

I'm currently on CD10 and using OPKs to track for ovulation. I'll be taking a blood test on 7dpo to check if I ovulated.

@Loz365 haha I’d be the same! I just can’t see it happening now. I can’t believe I got pregnant twice the first time trying and then 17 months of nothing! I know the spotting has been going on since last July so now I’m worried what’s causing the low hormones or if it’s just my age. I know some people say well your getting medication support but I’m just worried it’s crappy ovaries and eggs.

what cycle day did you ovulate on? Like you said it either thickened you very quickly or you got pregnant with a thinner lining. Like I said I’ve only ever had my lining done properly at 5 dpo and it was less than 7mm.

Congratulations @Loz365 !!!! So pleased for you!

I'm taking this month off - we've got a holiday coming up and lots of other stuff. I'll be glad of the break. And then I've got 3 more funded cycles when I come back.

@Loz2467 I ovulated on CD16, so I had 5 days after the scan but I'm not sure how quickly the lining thickens up.
What cycle day are you now?

@Hopeislost thank you so much! Enjoy your holiday, where are you off to?

I did a digital - no confusing this one! 🥰

@Loz365 eeeek so exciting! Congrats again! Ah yeah so like you say a good few days to thicken I’m not sure if I read around 1mm per day or slightly more. I don’t even know what it should measure after ovulation for me but I’m assuming better than 7mm. I’m gonna stick with the estrogen. I could of had a higher read because I likely ovulated 2 eggs also. So that’s 2 corpus luteum plus progesterone supplement. I’ll still email Monday but I’ll start my estrogen tomorrow still.

@Hopeislost i hope the break does you good and you have a nice holiday. Funded cycles as in medicated cycles? Xx

@Loz365 Thanks, just a UK break with family for a week.

@Loz2467 Thanks! Yes I have NHS funding for 6 cycles and have already used 3.

@Loz2467 huge congrautlations!!! 🤗 lovely looking lines you have there. That's so exciting, I'm delighted for you! 🎊 I hope all is still going well and it's starting to sink in after the (exceedingly nice!) surprise!

@Loz365 my clinic says their target for lining thickness is 7mm for around implantation time. I talked to the doctor as my lining is on the thin side too - I triggered yesterday, CD14, 5.3mm lining. He told me that the evidence about lining thickness is mixed. There are better outcomes with thicker lining, but lining around 7mm and even below can have fair outcomes. He said there can be a big difference between different ultrasound operators' measurements and even with the same operator, and showed me on my scan that he could either measure me at 5.3mm, or if he applied gentle pressure, 4.3mm. He also reminded me that people (unfortunatley, of course) can fall pregnant with ectopics, which means some determined little blastocyst has implanted in all of about 2mm of tissue! He said the most important factor was that the lining had the right structure, which is three layers (trilaminar).

That and @Loz2467 's success has been reassuring for me, at least! 😊

So I'm CD15 today and hopefully ovulating right now. Delighted it came a little earlier this month than last (especially as it means avoiding fertile days falling over a group camping trip - awkward 😅) and that I only needed one scan. Feeling lot more relaxed than last month too - I think getting accustomed to all the intervention put me in a bit of a spin. I'm sure the nerves will resurge in the TWW but here's hoping it's helped so far 🤞

I hope you have a lovely staycation away from it all 💐
@Hope

@AprilMayAnne thank you! It's still feels a bit surreal although I'm getting some symptoms now which makes it seem more real.
The infertility clinic have booked an early scan on 12th August to check everything is okay, so that'll be 6+6 weeks then. I'm so glad they do the early scan, not sure how people wait until 12 weeks!!

Yay for early ovulation! Fingers crossed this is your cycle 🤞

@AprilMayAnne that’s really helpful and interesting thank you! I’ve never had a lining scan pre ovulation to check the trilaminar pattern but I’ve asked for scans maybe next month to try and see because if things aren’t right I feel like I need to move to IVF sooner. I’m waiting for a call from my Dr at Care fertility to discuss next steps and how many more medicated cycles I can have. Seems strange from last July I started having a “weak ovulation” and the progesterone issue after no issues convincing before :( it brings so much sadness!

im glad your ovulation has come at a good time and you know the works done now and just sitting tight. What meds did you have this cycle? I’ve done the same as last.

100mg clomid days 2-6
estrogen 7-11 (last day tomorrow)
cyclogest 400mg after ovulation.

Fingers crossed for you!

Sorry for getting you the wrong way round before @Loz2467 and @Loz365!!

@Loz365 hope all is going really well, it's the countdown to your early scan now! Totally agree it must be so hard to wait until 12 weeks otherwise!

@Loz2467 sounds like a good plan to have scans on your next cycle so you get a clearer understanding of what's going on 😊 I had the same meds protocol as last time too, so:

5mg letrozole days 2-6
4mg oestrogen from 1-2dpo
400mg cyclogest twice daily from 1-2dpo

I had a scan this month to confirm ovulation which was reassuring, and showed my lining had gone up from 5.3mm on trigger day (Monday) to 6mm by the Wednesday afternoon, so hopefully it will have made 7mm+ by the implantation window.

I'm halfway through my TWW today (7-7.5 dpo). I've used cheapie hcg tests to track the trigger shot clearing from my system. Last cycle I know I was clear of it at 10dpo. Today there's still the slightest whisper of a line, but it's physiologically to early to be picking up pregnancy. I hope it clears tomorrow otherwise the potential crossover with a theoretical BFP will give me a headache! (and teach me to wait the full 2 weeks to test in future!!)

I missed one dose of cyclogest while on our camping trip which sent me into a bit of a spin, but the clinic said one dose shouldn't cause any major issue. Packing for a few days with family this week I must have double checked counting out my meds 100 times 😂

Sore boobs haven't kicked in yet either which I'm a bit surprised by and racking my brains trying to think when they usually start for me. Wondering if that's not a strong sign.

But! Overall still grateful that I've kept more positive and lower stress this cycle. I feel like even if its not the one we're in a better place to deal with whatever comes our way 🤞

@AprilMayAnne that sounds like a really positive cycle for you! I’m crossing everything for you and either way it’s nice you’ve felt less stressed and have some reassurance from your scans.

I had a call with my Dr last Friday and I forgot to ask him som questions! So annoying because it was £155 and I forgot things! I’m only around 5 dpo but not feeling hopeful as always but similar to you grateful for a smoother cycle so far. I’m away with work and checked my cyclogest so many times 😂 then I’m away at weekend so I need to remember it then. I got my peak ovulation test Friday which surprised me it was day 15 so started my cyclogest Monday evening. I think I felt twinges Friday and then Saturday morning. He said he doesn’t want me to do any blood tests this month as he was happy with my results last month on this dose but my twinges etc wernt as obvious this month. We’ve decided I can have 3 more months of this. Take Xmas off and see if I need to start IVF in the new year. I was hoping it wouldn’t come to that but we’ve been trying now 15 months but 13 of those I’ve had the spotting from 7dpo which is classed as the luteal phase defect.

im wondering if there is a concern with my LH because I ovulate the same day as peak now whereas before my loss it was always the day after peak and I’ve also done so much reading about luteal phase defect etc and worrying it’s an issue with my eggs / follicles as the corpus luteum isn’t doing what it should.

sorry it’s a long post from me! Just feeling so uncertain about things.

I think not having sore boobs is a good thing because it’s less PMS symptoms and progesterone might be higher. Xx

@AprilMayAnne unfortunately I started bleeding yesterday and EPU have confirmed today that I'm having a miscarriage. Absolutely devastated.

I'll be waiting for everything to pass naturally and will be back on letrozole in my next cycle. Trying to look at the positives that at least the medication worked and I was able to get pregnancy but I feel completely heartbroken right now. Taking some time off MN but wishing you all the best of luck.

@Loz365 I don't know what to say other than I'm so, so sorry 💐I'm glad you can see some of the positives and hope you are able to hold onto them through such a difficult thing. But most of all, I hope you are surrounded by love and support, and give yourself all the time you need xxxxx

Back again, another failed cycle with letrozole -2 months out of 3 months used , I can’t afford to back to the private consultant who prescribed it. Has anyone ever conceived naturally after a period of taking letrozole or am I dreaming completely?

@Loz365 I’m so sorry for your loss! Take your time and take time away from here or whatever you need. It’s such a tough time and sending hugs!

@Dimples81 ive just finished my second medicated cycle and it’s not worked 🥺 technically third but the first month on clomid I still had spotting. So it’s basically my second month of medicated where I could of had a chance at pregnancy but no :( I’ve got 3 more months left then that’s it and IVF is such a financial cost I just don’t know.

@AprilMayAnne @Loz2467 thank you both so much x

The bleeding had settled after a week which is a positive. The nurse said it could continue for up to 3 weeks so I'm glad that's not the case!
Now to see what happens with my cycles... not able to take letrozole this cycle so could be in for a long wait until my next period turns up. Back to peeing on sticks and monitoring temps again 😌

Sorry to hear about the failed cycles. We're well overdue some good news in this thread! One of us will get our BFP in the next cycle!

My cycle 2 is a bust, just waiting for AF now I've stopped the hormone supplements. She should be here over the weekend and then roll on cycle 3.

We're due to be moving to a new area in the autumn and, if we continue to have no luck on letrozole, I'm quite nervous my eligibility for referral for NHS fertility treatment might be affected. Where I am now, one year TTC will get you seen and we're not far off that. Whereas I know other areas are 18 or 24 months.

Since I might end up with a wait on my hands, I'm interested in the same as you @Dimples81 - anyone taken a break from letrozole and found they then had improved natural cycles or conceived naturally, or know of someone who has?

Or, has anyone taken letrozole privately for over 6 cycles, but going unmonitored (no scans etc)? It would be much more affordable...!

My concern is so far I've had to take a trigger shot to ovulate with letrozole (had no natural LH spike even by the time follicles were 22mm), and I don't know if I can do that unmonitored? Before I had a medically induced period to start letrozole, my previous cycle had reached 101 days, so I'm also nervous that if I have to stop letrozole I'll have no chance at all.

@Loz365 you're absolutely right, we're due some good luck on this thread! Got all my fingers crossed for all of you ladies xx

So so sorry for your loss @Loz365

DH and I have both got covid, so might have to take another month off. Does anyone know how long you have to wait after getting it?

@AprilMayAnne I never got to unmonitored cycles as I fell on the first cycle, but my private specialist said I only needed monitoring for the first cycle to make sure the dosage was correct and I didn't over stimulate, and after that I could go unmonitored. So I don't think it would be an issue for you to go unmonitored 😊

@AprilMayAnne second cycle is a bust for me too :( just waiting for my period to come now over the weekend! Literally so devastating - not going to lie I’ve had a really tough week about it and cried a lot.

Im unmonitored although I’d kinda like to know what’s been going on but if you’ve had some monitored then you know it’s doing it’s job etc so like @BritInNZ said I don’t see why you can’t move to unmonitored.

im still tempted to try a monitored but im on all the meds so it’s not likely I’ll gain any insight or change anything. What do you think? I likely released 2 eggs last cycle as 142 p mol progesterone. Had no blood tests this cycle which was a bit weird but I just have to try and trust it’s doing it’s job.

only 3 more left now - I wanted to push for another one so I have 4 because my first clomid cycle was a no because I still spotted from 7 dpo. I needed the progesterone. That would take us to Xmas then IVF in the new year.

Hey Ladies. Me again. Just going to throw something out there. The reason I thought I had thin lining is because my periods weren’t great and I only had a lining of 7.2mm 5 days past ovulation. Anyway now I’ve been told I have low progesterone wirh all the spotting that could of also been a reason of the shorter lighter periods. Before my loss I used to get 3 days fertile mucus and ovulate. Since my loss I’m getting a whole week of the stuff which in my opinion would mean the estrogen seems efficient? Or maybe too much?

A lot online says low prog = estrogen dominance but then I know you can have low of both.

Question is I don’t know if to take less Estradiol this cycle? See if it works? Incase I’m having too much estrogen . I don’t really want another day 3 blood tests. I was kinda wanting to just take these last 3 months medicated cycles and see where we are but I’m just a bit tempted to take less of it? Incase I’m dominant. Plus I’ve got a very small fibroid which isn’t hindering TTC but it’s related to estrogen.

any ideas? Xx

@AprilMayAnne my NHS clinic had said once I got the dose of letrozole right I could continue unmonitored for 6-9 cycles so definitely an option!

@Hopeislost I had Covid back in May. I hadn't started letrozole at that point but we carried on as soon as I felt well enough to DTD 😂

@Loz2467 gosh that's sounds very complicated. I know last cycle when the clinic were concerned about my thin lining they were going to give me oestrogen pre-ovulation to help thicken it. My understanding is the progesterone post-O then maintains the lining but not sure if too much oestrogen is a problem. Have they given you any advice? X

@Loz365 that’s the problem not many people have there lining measured after ovulation too but it’s just when my intial appointment was with the clinic. It was 5 days past ovulation so I thought my lining would of been thicker. I guess I need to listen to the advice of my Dr as that’s what he must think is right for me. Maybe I’m lacking in both hormones but I know 7.2m after ovulation isn’t great is it? I also wondered if clomid affects the estrogen working whether to have a month off clomid but take estrogen and progesterone in the cycle. I know clomid can thin the lining in comparison to letrozole. I just don’t know :( I feel so low. At a Childrens party today which hasn’t helped .

how are you feeling? 💗

hey all thanks for these posts I’ve been trying to conceive after my first baby which I conceived through ivf, I’ve started 2nd round of letrazole 2 tablets a day just hoping it works this time has anyone had success with letrezole?

Bump

@Sweet211 welcome!
My first round on letrozole I was taking 2 tablets but I didn't ovulate with it so they increased it the next cycle to 3 tablets, which worked and I got pregnant. Unfortunately I had a miscarriage just before 6 weeks.

@Loz2467 how frustrating for you. I've never had my lining measured post-O so I can't give you any help 😔 sorry you're feeling low, I hope you're feeling a bit better today. I feel like I'm surrounded by pregnant women or people with babies, it's hell sometimes.
But, trying to stay positive and looks like I'm 2DPO, having ovulated without letrozole, so now in TWW and praying for a miracle 🌈