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.

Hope I’m okay to join here - I’m on my first Letrozole cycle. I have a 9 year old, 1 MMC in 2018, successful pregnancy in 2020 (baby girl) but devastatingly she passed away just after her 1st birthday.
If this cycle is unsuccessful we have 2 more cycles to try at which point our consultant has recommended we try IVF.

There has been nothing diagnosed fertility wise, just unexplained - I do ovulate most months, although my periods tend to be irregular but blood work has come back normal.

Currently CD4, taking 2.5mg since CD2.

Good luck everyone. Hoping to read lots of success stories to keep my spirits up!

@ClubSandwich welcome to the thread. I’m so sorry about your MMC and the loss of your baby girl. That’s just devastating and must feel like a cruel blow. I feel like suffering with infertility after my MMC at 19 weeks is just a double whammy of crap! Everyone I met in loss groups are cradling there babies or have babies turning 6 months old and I’m here on clomid and progesterone. I’m unexplained so far however since last July I’ve been getting brown spotting from 7 dpo right up to my period at 14 dpo. So I’m not sure if that’s what’s stopped me from getting pregnant or if it’s just the unknown! It’s also the month I had my covid vaccine so that makes me feel uneasy.

Sending lots of baby dust for your letrozole cycles!!! Xxx

@Loz2467 it does feel like a cruel blow, we tried a fair while before she came along so when we did start TTC after she passed away I thought maybe life had been crap enough to us so i’ll just get pregnant straight away this time, surely! Stupid positivity 🙈😂

I’m sorry for your loss too, it can be really hard seeing others move on and you’re still stuck in a world of unknown.

Is this your first clomid cycle? Wishing you lots of luck also! Thanks for replying, it’s nice to chat to others in a similar situation. It’s not something I talk about IRL as I don’t want the pressure of constant questions!

@ClubSandwich That sounds so tough and unfair. Im so sorry and I just hope letrozole is the boost you need! Fingers crossed!

No it’s actually my 4th but I have the low progesterone issue too so I have to have cyclogest 2 days after ovulation. I think if it’s going to work it’s likely to work within 3 goes so I’m not hopeful to be honest. I ovulate anyway so it was to try and give a “super ovulation” and increase my chances. If I didn’t ovulate at all and the clomid made me ovulate I’d be more hopeful if that makes sense. I’ve priced up IVF for the new year but I’m not sure I can wait that long then I feel immense guilt that money can be spent on my 3 year old then worry when will I stop if the IVF isn’t a success. It’s just so many emotions isn’t it.

@Loz2467 I understand that, it really is an emotional rollercoaster! I’ve also had similar thoughts re IVF. I worry too that if it doesn’t work the first time where do we stop.

I know what you mean re. clomid and already ovulating, I had a similar discussion with my DH and feel that because I do ovulate most months, and we have regular sex that I’m not sure letrozole will improve my chances much.

When are you due on? Do you test or tend to just wait for it to show up? I hope so much that this month is successful for you.

@ClubSandwich Thats exactly how I feel’ I’m scared I’ll never get off the IVF roundabout and want to keep going but then I also don’t want to turn 45 for example and regret never trying the IVF. I feel like I’ll settle better knowing I did everything to try and get a sibling. I had no problem getting pregnant with my last 2 conceptions obviously lost our second but it’s just mind boggling that things can change so quickly. We started trying technically 6 months since our conception if that makes sense. Next month it will be 2 years since I last got pregnant!

I mean they’re are ladies on this thread that ovulated each month and have concieved on letrozole regardless so everything crossed for you. I never used to test - I can’t bear seeing a negative but I have to test so I know I can stop my progesterone. I get such clear ovulation signs I’ve not really used opks either but started doing them some months.

I just don’t feel like myself anymore. I struggle at home and at work xxx

@ClubSandwich so, so sorry for your losses.

Im yet to start my first letrozole cycle, picking meds up this weekend. I’m trying not to think too much into the future just dealing with everything a day at a time. We were offered to skip letrozole/ clomid and go straight for IVF but we want to give this a go.

@Loz2467 i know exactly what you mean when you say you don’t feel yourself anymore. Infertility has definitely taken my sparkle away. Gets to the point where I can’t even pretend or put on a brave face for work anymore. My minds just not in it, just need to keep at work to get the money to fund the treatment at the clinic so it’s such a vicious cycle!

Fingers crossed for everyone, stay in touch.

@Loz2467 i understand exactly what you mean. I feel like I just wish every day away in the hope that I’ll finally see those 2 elusive pink lines. AF comes and it starts all over again!
I’m sorry you’re struggling xx It’s a harsh reality and so all consuming. I’ve only just gone back to work after having a long time away on bereavement leave. I’m hoping the distraction will help keep my mind busy and give me something to focus on.

@Hedgehugs thanks for your reply. Your approach in dealing with things one step at a time is a good one, and one I could probably do with working on! It’s definitely worth giving medicated cycles a go. Lots of luck to you - when will you start your Letrozole? Do you mind me asking what dosage you will be taking, and will it be a monitored cycle?

@Hedgehugs that’s definitely a good mindset! I did feel quite positive at the start of mine but unfortunately it’s just dwindled away slowly. More so going into my fourth cycle than ever. Completely feel you about work I just try and pull myself together and think to myself it’s money for IVF. Although I wish it wasn’t coming to that but I’m willing to try. This sounds silly but I even feel guilty buying myself things, going out for lunch etc because I’m thinking that’s all IVF money! We had 2 holidays in the summer and I feel guilty for it but that’s not a healthy way to live.

@ClubSandwich i hope work is a good distraction for you! I can’t imagine how difficult your last year or so has been. I work in sales and I’m customer facing and see babies ans pregnant women all day so I really struggle with that and wonder if it will ever be my turn. Let’s hope for some good outcomes for you both going into your first cycle xxx

@ClubSandwich I’m not sure on dosages, will know more at the weekend when I pick up my prescription, have to get through my hycosy first which I am not looking forward to!

@Loz2467 i know how you feel around being guilty spending money. Don’t feel guilty about holidays or spending a bit of money on yourself. You’re going through a lot and deserve to treat yourself now and then :)

@Hedgehugs @ClubSandwich I started off at the lowest dose for my first month and I did ovulate but my progesterone was only 21 at 7 dpo and he said for a medicated cycle it should be higher so he increased my dose the following month and my prog was 142 p mol but that was also supplemented with cyclogest. So it’s hard to compare really but the pessaries have stopped my brown spotting but I just haven’t got pregnant. I didn’t have any scans so I’ve no idea what my lining is doing to be honest but I think it’s on the thinner side as I have light periods and it only measured 7.2mm after ovulation back in January. So that’s another worry for me 🙈 apparently I have low estrogen and low progesterone and I can’t find out why. Had prolactin and thyroid checked etc. my dr at care fertility is retiring so I need to see someone new so I’ll see if he has any other suggestions because I can’t think what else causes it. I know stress is a big one but I haven’t felt that stressed.

Thanks @Hedgehugs some retail therapy just makes me feel better for the moment then it’s back to square one. Xx

@Hedgehugs ah hope the Hycosy goes okay, and the results are what you’re expecting. I was definitely glad to get mine out of the way!

@Loz2467 that must be really difficult being around pregnant women and babies all day. I can imagine it doesn’t help your motivation for work. I struggle just hearing colleagues small talk about babies, let alone having to see them day in, day out.

sounds frustrating re the progesterone issues too, I really hope you get to the bottom of it. It’s really frustrating not knowing what is causing issues. I experience spotting throughout my cycle and after intercourse, but smears and blood work have given no indication of any issues. We are also with care fertility - how are you finding them?

@ClubSandwich did you have your hycosy done at care? That’s my next step to get that booked in. He said my tubes looked open during hysterscopy but that’s not to check tubes so he couldn’t be certain. I’m finding them okay so far - they’ve been pretty good and quick with my medicated cycles but I was just frustrated as after my first consultation in Jan he refers me for a lap and hyterscopy on the NHS and said it would be a few months wait. Anyway it’s like a 2 year wait hence why I paid for the hyterscopy and didn’t wait then I got a call for a cancellation but I was on hols :( which is just my luck to be honest. That same Dr also wouldn’t let me try progesterone as he said it wouldn’t create a pregnancy which I understand but I said it’s it not worth trying to see if the brown spotting before my period is due to progesterone dropping. So I could of started that in Feb and been way into IVF now rather than starting it in the June like I did.

Its so hard isn’t it and I’ll be visiting two of my friends newborns next week too. Kinda dreading it and not taking my son incase he starts asking for a brother or sister.

Do you? Could it maybe be like that cervical extrosion if it just gets irritated slightly. It’s so hard not having answers isn’t it and hard to comprehend well I’m ovulating and doing the deed at the right time and nothing is happening. Xx

@Loz2467 yes I had my hycosy at care, I didn’t have to wait long, they’ve been pretty quick with everything so far.
2 years to wait on the NHS that’s an awfully long time isn’t it.

oh bless you having to visit friends with newborns next week. Do they know of your struggles? It’s so hard isn’t it, it just makes the longing so much stronger.

It is hard not having answers, and exactly as you say, so hard to comprehend why it isn’t happening when it feels like you do everything right month after month! I kind of wonder whether it’s just something that hasn’t been picked up yet.

@ClubSandwich
Sorry I thought I replied to this! Great you had your hycosy done at care. Was it painful? It can help boost your chances I think can’t it?

Another unsuccessful month for me. I’ve got a call with Care on Tuesday but I feel impatient and almost want to start with IVF but then I work in retail so that’s not ideal on the lead up and going through IVF so something is telling me to wait till the new year. I’ll just pay for the phone call to see next steps but the Dr I’ve been seeing since April is retiring so I’m gutted as he knows us best I would of liked him to of done our protocol. I’m just worried I have a major implantation issue 😞 then it’s so frustrating because I’ve got pregnant naturally twice and I just can’t again. I’ve read so many forums when the cyclogest works for them but it hasn’t for me thinking it could be a deeper issue.

How are you getting on? Xx

@Loz2467 sorry it was another unsuccessful month for you. It will be good to hear the next steps though I guess when you speak to your consultant tuesday, I know what you mean feeling impatient and wanting to start IVF, we’ve had similar thoughts! How did it go meeting your friends with their newborns? Am sure it was difficult for you but I hope you coped as well as possible.

yes had my Hycosy at care, it was..very uncomfortable! I had read re increased fertility afterwards but no such luck here!

I’m post ov now but don’t know how many dpo as I fell out with ttc last week 😂 had the day 10 scan and there was ‘free fluid’ in my endometrial cavity or something, she said it was unlikely I’d get pregnant this cycle if it didn’t resolve. We DTD around when I thought I might ov, but I couldn’t be bothered with OPKs since she said it was unlikely it would happen. Went back this week for another scan to check the fluid and a progesterone test. Fluid has almost gone, could see the corpus luteum so definitely ov’d this month. It’s whether the fluid issue has resolved enough to allow pregnancy. I have to do next cycle monitored now as well because of the fluid issue as it could be that it returns

@ClubSandwich Thank you - it went okay and luckily my 3 year old wasn’t obsessed with the baby! I was worried he was going to start asking for one and that would really upset me as his little sister would of been 15 months this month! And here I am still empty belly and arms. It’s just awful isn’t it!

So sorry about the free fluid. I have heard of it before - and I’ve heard that the influence of progesterone usually corrects it and it sounds like it did in your case. I hope it’s a positive cycle for you seen as youd kind of lost hope and didn’t opk test and try etc. 🤞🏼 When do you get your progesterone result back?

I feel like I want another scan done but do I really need to when I’ve had a hyterscopy? He’s seen the lining with a camera and biopsies so I don’t know.

Im already worrying. What if I don’t get any eggs. What if my lining doesn’t cooperate. What if all my transfers fail. I just can’t comprehend all this 😞 xx

@Loz2467 what was the hysteroscopy like if you don’t mind me asking? Did you say it was with care? From what I’ve googled, if the free fluid is an ongoing issue I think that might be the next port of call for me.

it’s so worrying thinking about all the ifs and buts, I have had the same thoughts re IVF. When the nurse told me about the fluid I said, well can we just skip these Letrozole cycles and just do IVF?? She gave me a sympathetic smile and said no, it would still be an issue with IVF.. I spent the afternoon crying and googling surrogacy and adoption, like the drama Queen I am 🙈 it just makes you feel so desperate doesn’t it? I think the thing to hold on to perhaps, is that with IVF everything is much more controlled and they seem to have so many ‘fixes’ for so many issues so surely if all your fertility ‘problems’ are known then they can hopefully administer the right drugs etc to give you the best chance possible?

I was told I’d get my progesterone result back that afternoon but haven’t heard yet - I haven’t chased them up though because the nurse said I’d definitely ovulated and I won’t know what the results mean anyway so I suppose it doesn’t make all that difference to me. What do the results mean, what do they look for, a certain level?

I’m glad the visits with your friends went okay and your 3 year old hasn’t been asking about siblings! It puts so much pressure on! My dd got a wish bracelet recently and said “I know what I’m wishing for” .. long story short yep it was another brother or sister. I so wanted to say I’m trying babe, really I am!! I just say, maybe one day, we’ll see!

@Loz2467 hope you’re well Sorry I’ve not been online I’ve been having mini breakdowns I’m on 3rd round of letrezole this time it’s unmonitored so I don’t know if I’m ovulating and won’t know my projesterone levels so docs have prescribed me 3 more cycles of letrozole if it don’t work then I have to see consultant, I can’t afford ivf what if it don’t work for me I’ve had LO on frozen cycle after so many attempts

@ClubSandwich The procedure was under sedation so completely fine. I did feel better after having it knowing I didn’t have polyps or scar tissue etc but then I almost wanted something to be found to then help me get pregnant but that hasn’t happened!

ahh that’s so hard with the fluid but good job they have seen it before paying for a ton of treatment but to be honest I’ve seen it in IVF cycles but once they administer the Progesteone before transfer it does clear it so it’s not there for transfer. I’ve only ever had a scan done after Ovulation so things might even be pulled up at mine to do with fluid etc. The unknown is so hard isn’t it! Also come to think of it the months my spotting started I started getting a whole week of EWCM not my usual 3 days. So I do think my hormones are out of wack! Got too much estrogen and then low progesterone it kinda makes sense but it upsets me it’s literally only since my covid vaccine so I can’t understand it. Not sure if I mentioned either but my friend is only 30 and hasn’t had a period since the vaccine!

With the progesterone results they like over 30 I think to show ovulation. Mine was 61,37 and then 21! Which I can’t understand but any how that’s how it was over 6 months 3 diff cycles. The 21 one was the clomid cycle too - so it obviously didn’t help me ovulate Better.

Im hoping the IVF is controlled by all the meds it’s such a financial cost isn’t it. I’d pay anything if it works but it’s just if it doesn’t and I’m stuck on that IVF merry go round!

aw bless your DD. I’m crossing everything for you!!! How old is she again? Xx

@Sweet211 I’m so sorry. I’m the same. I have time away and have mini breakdowns! Sending you a hug. You have a plan for the next few months up until the end of the year so see how it goes and then maybe re assess. Did you say you had IVF for your first DC? Xx

@Loz2467 hey, how are you getting on? I think I’m around 10dpo now based on my resting heart rate pattern, not sure how accurate it is but it’s all I’ve got to go on for this month! The nurse at my scan said to test today to check for pregnancy but I haven’t, I don’t feel hopeful, or pregnant, so I’d rather not waste a test when I know it’ll be negative! They still haven’t rung with my progesterone levels either, I haven’t chased it up - I just can’t be arsed, feeling very deflated with it all at the mo.
It’s strange that your hormone issues coincide with the covid vaccine, and your friend who also hasn’t had a period since - how long ago was it she had the vaccine? Was your jab the first one you had, or a booster?
I caught covid earlier this year, I think I was CD20 when I started feeling ill and my period came CD24, then the next cycle was around the same length too - I definitely noticed a change in my cycles for a few months after having covid. It seems whether it’s covid or the vaccine there’s a chance it impacts our cycles. Can’t win! Very frustrating.
My DD recently turned 9 x

@ClubSandwich I’m so sorry I’ve been away with work for a week so I didn’t realise I hadn’t replied!

How was your last cycle? I’m around cycle day 12 I think and nothing happening! Haven’t taken clomid this cycle.

what was the nurse doing the scan for? I need to book in for one in the next 2 weeks for my follicle count and AMH re done but I’m already stressing because my lining will be thin and I’ll just feel crap then and feel like IVF won’t even work if I have a naff lining! I know he’s seen it with the camera but I can’t help think that’s something seriously wrong with it with the spotting and gloopy periods! Plus we miscarriaged because of an infection so I wonder what that’s done to it 😞 I’m sad today! My best friend told me yesterday she’s expecting her second and it hit me like a ton of bricks - our friendship has changed over the Years but it’s way too much to explain on here.

yeah I’ve definitely heard or covid affecting periods too. Strangely having actual covid twice hasn’t affected my periods but the vaccine changed them. I only had 2 of them. The Astra Zen last July then end of august. I just can’t think what else has caused it 😞 I wish I could figure it out. Xx

Just wondering if anyone has any experience with long cycles, using provera and starting letrozole.

I usually have loonnng cycles (was CD159 before taking 7 days of provera in prep for my hycosy). I am currently on another lot of provera again day 3 of 7, this time waiting for a bleed so I can start my first cycle of letrozole.

My question being if this first cycle is unsuccessful, am I likely to need provera again to kickstart my next period? Hoping to do back to back cycles!

Also worried that at the private clinic they want me in for a scan to see how I am reacting to the letrozole on CD9/10. If they don’t see what they need to see at that point I will need another scan a little further on (more £!) I know that cycle 1 is a going to be like a little tester to see if anything needs tweaking but I’m worried that where my cycles are usually long everything will be out of sync including them reviewing everything!

Does anyone have any experience with this?

Hey @Loz2467 how are you doing? I’ve just got back from a few days away with work - my last cycle was unsuccessful as I suspected. I am around ovulation now, still testing high on my OPK, hoping for my static smiley before Saturday which would be mid cycle, my last cycle was only 26 days with the Letrozole so perhaps ovulated a little earlier than I expected. I was told last cycle after they saw the fluid that I’d need another monitored cycle this month..when I came on my period I rang the clinic to book a scan and the nurse was confused why I needed one and basically said she had no idea why I was told I had the fluid because it’s such a non issue, she said it’s very common and usually resolves by ovulation so feeling a bit confused why I’ve had such differing advice and opinions about it. Doesn’t fill me with confidence really how one nurse basically said there was little chance of pregnancy and it was concerning, then another saying it’s no big deal and most women still have fluid at day 10.
Sorry to hear another friend is expecting, it’s really difficult and it really does change dynamics, sounds like there’s a backstory for your friendship too, hope you’re okay x

have you booked for your follicle count and AMH yet? Hope it goes okay when it happens x