Letrozole and higher BMI

[Journey2022]

Hoping for some advice or success stories with letrozole with a higher bmi (of 33+ BMI).

NHS had told me to get my BMI down to 35 or under to take letrozole. Has anyone had success being just over this BMI or around this BMI?

I had two failed clomid cycles a year ago and the last 8 months I've really made an effort to be more active and healthy, and lose some weight to be allowed further fertility treatment.

@Journey2022 Exactly that! Really takes the ‘fun’ out of the whole situation!

That is really giving me some hope! My BMI is currently 33.7, it was 35.3 when I was given the let so that’s one good thing. My BMI was 31.7 when I got pregnant (without trying) with DD. I’m going to try and control my blood sugars.

Hi @Journey2022 congrats on your pregnancy how are you feeling?

@Pcosttc i only used the cheap ovulation tests just once in my previous cycles I didn’t monitor I BD from day 11 onwards every other day if you keep checking for ovulation it’ll stress you out you need to make it enjoyable and I used pre-seed lubricant. I concieved on my 4th cycle.

@Sweet211 Hi, that’s great news! Congratulations! I’m only on my second cycle fingers crossed this is the one. The only reason I test for ovulation is due to my pcos I’ve have ovulation as late as CD30!

I hit my peak yesterday/today on the clear blue. Currently CD14, earliest I’ve ever hit my peak hoping to ovulate tomorrow on CD15, started BD everyday since CD12.

@Pcosttc thats really good 🤞 have you got a child already? If so how old? Sometimes letrezole can make you ovulate early and shorten ur cycles so hang In there!

@Sweet211 yes my LO is now 3. Been TTC 18 months. I only managed to BD CD12 and 13 and ovulated and 14. Didn't get to BD 14 or today 15 as DH has been away for work sadly. Not getting my hopes up for this month.

@Pcosttc stay positive sperm can live up to 5 days I didn’t even BD every other day and try and BD early morning they say high sperm count too.

@Sweet211 how many times did you BD on the month you conceived? Did you BD on O day? Gutted as I O early too at CD14 so was a good chance of conceiving but only BD twice.

@Journey2022 how are you doing? Any updates?

@Pcosttc no I didn’t even track ovulation properly as I was getting faint lines you know what It’s like with pcos I just bedded atleast 4 times a week from day 11

Apologies both I've been terrible at responding!

@Sweet211 congratulations!! How far along are you now?!

@Pcosttc agree with @Sweet211 don't discount yourself this month! On average letrozole takes 3 to 4 cycles (was the same for us conceiving on these cycles also!) So you still have tome for it to work. Honestly when it didnt work my first cycle I genuinely thought if it didn't work the first cycle why would it work the 2nd/3rd/4th - but it did! Stay positive.

I'm okay thank you my HCG tests last week were doubling every 48 hours. I'm now waiting on my scan on Thursday which I will be estimated 5 weeks 4 days so super early for a scan I've been warned I may not see much but I'm hoping it confirms I've atleast implanted in the uterus and gives me some hope it's a feasible pregnancy. My anxiety had been very bad but gradually better, I'm trying to stay positive and hopeful.

I've been absolutely exhausted and napping most afternoons and in bed early every night. Boobs are so sore and a bit itchy. Also cramping most days. Luckily no sickness or nausea yet. But the symptoms make it feel a bit more real!

@Journey2022 Yes you are right I need to stay positive. What day did you guys get your positives? I think I will test on 12 DPO (next Friday).

Ah that’s great news! The hcg levels sound good :) Don’t worry about the symptoms just rest as much as you can and take it easy for the next few weeks ❤️ So happy for you both, I just need to stay positive it is only my second cycle x

@Pcosttc I got a very faint on 11dpo then gradually got stronger. Babyplan ones from amazon were the only ones I had but gave me an early positive then used frer from day after. So highly recommend stocking up on these two. Clearblue was useless it was a barely there faint and the digital took about 5 days to show up! I did about 20 tests....

@Journey2022 how far are you? I’m 13 weeks i think nearly 14 weeks now

Hi all,

I have pcos and hypothyroidism. I am trying to get my bmi under 35 and then due to be prescribed letrozole.

How many cycles would you recommend? Or works effectively?

Im 36yrs, 37 later in the year and don't want to waste too much time , but want to give it a good enough go.

Thanks

Hi @MrsBiddy I was in the exact same position told to get my BMI under 35 for letrozole (and under 34 for my chosen ivf clinic as my plan b was ivf with egg sharing).

Firstly i highly recommend keto particularly if you have pcos. Getting your blood sugar helps loose weight quicker but also helps to concieve. Keto the weight comes off quickly! I had been keto for 6 months when I concieved and had done 3 rounds of letrozole across 4 cycles. 3 rounds were all at 7.5g a day days 3-7.

It's pretty normal to concieve between cycles 3 and 4. Although it can happen before of course everyone is different.

Also if your consultant is offering you phone appointments in between your follow ups and your near the bmi 35 goal then lie a bit to get the letrozole sooner - I was loosing weight well so knocked a bit off on my phone appointment and the letrozole was put in the pharmacy for me to collect. But next time he saw me I was at a BMI of just over 34 (2-3 months later).

If you are interested in keto I can give you some groups or tips but it's worked for me this time but also did a few years ago too. I lost about 3 stone the first time and 2 stone this time.

@Sweet211 oh so you've had your first scan and midwives appointment how is it going? I'm only 6 weeks still very early!! I have a private scan booked for Thursday in hope it will help my anxiety that everything is okay.

I think having such a long ttc journey I now think everything will go wrong and it won't be a successful pregnancy. The mast couple of weeks since I got a positive has dragged so much while I wait to get to the 10-12 week mark hoping it's a viable pregnancy.

@Journey2022

Thank you for replying 🙂. I have been losing weight via the 1:1 diet, I've lost 2st so far but I have 7lbs to go but want to lose as much I can before I start. I have previously done low carb and seemed to work well for me too.

Yes that would be helpful to have some tips or places/groups that might help. As once I'm on letrozole, I would be on higher steps on 1:1 diet, which involves more calories. So it would be handy to keep to low carb/keto recipes etc.

I was considering 4-5 cycles and then ivf, so it's good to hear it's 3-4, as I didn't want to waste too much time.

Yeah, since I'm 7lbs away, I could tell a little white lie. I have a month till my phone call with the consultant. Just hope they don't make me wait too long to start.

Once again thank you for replying xx

@MrsBiddy 7lb away is so close we'll done! I know how hard it is to get the weight down and how much mentally it takes out of you.

If your next appointment is a phone one definitely fib a bit about your weight if your not already there (you may well be anyway!) Just work out what would make you about 34 and half bmi! And tell them that. When you go to collect your prescription it's highly unlikely they would weigh you as its normally there ready to collect without an appointment.

The groups I like are -
https://www.facebook.com/groups/351834995622833/?ref=share
https://www.facebook.com/groups/135385027328248/?ref=share

Also really recommend Heylo bread (also a group on fb) and deliciously guilt free for sweet treats. They both kept me on track! Plus with doing keto inkept to around 1600/1700 calories which helped.

Annoyingly like with any diet when you come off you will put on water weight and bloat. Since getting my positive I've gradually added in sugar (initially went mad with sugar!) And carbs. I've already put on 6lb in about 3 weeks!! I am also on progesterone and feel so bloated which I know can happen. Very frustrating after the hard work I put in!

Have you done your ivf clinic research already? I had set myself a goal of 3 rounds of letrozole and literally booked my IVF appointment in the tww of my third round as it was a 4-6 week wait for the appointment anyway I also really didn't think the letrozole had worked on 3rd round yet I had concieved and had to cancel IVF appointment! But definitely have a plan in mind to save the waited cycles in between!

@Journey2022

Thank you, definitely takes it out of you and sometimes is a struggle to keep going.

Did you have scans? I've been told that they will scan me to make sure it's the right dose etc. then once its correct then they wouldn't need to scan.

Thank you for the Facebook groups, definitely be having a look on there.

Congratulations, I bet it must be frustrating but worth it 😊 I'm sure you will find a balance. Gives me hope that letrozole can work ☺️

We have, it's abit of a mind field really. I think by 3 rounds we would probably book an appointment in, we have had scans/ tests done privately and did have the option to do letrozole privately but I thought I'd see how long it was on the nhs first (cheaper too). I don't qualify for ivf funding too old at 36 🤪🙄 so would have to pay for ivf privately.

Fun and games this infertility malarkey 🤣😖

@MrsBiddy we also don't get IVF funding due to postcode lottery in my area 🙄 its so frustrating! We actually did 2 rounds of clomid privately last year while on nhs list for more stims (when I got letrozole) as the wait to be seen my gynaecology was about 8/9 months and then when they did see me they sent me away for another 9 ish months to loose weight before they would even let me have the letrozole. So its been about 3 and half year journey for us and I genuinely had given up.

Scanning we did get privately with clomid so we could see if follicles were growing and then did a trigger shot etc. But NHS just gave me the prescription and sent me off and gave me 2 slips for a 21 day progesterone test on 2 of the cycles just to check that it was working. I then ended up having further bloods on my 2nd round as I got a cyst on one round (common with letrozole) it caused me quite a bit of pain and I had to take a cycle out for it to resolve itself a bit.

I really recommend watching Alex Jones Making Babies its all about IVF based at King's fertility. It's all available on catch up now ad the series finished a couple of weeks ago.

I did lots of research into my preferred clinics and went against the option of using my closest one (who I also dis clomid with). Its such hard work though!

Stay positive letrozole may still work, honestly I had really written letrozole off in my mind if it hadn't worked 1st or 2nd time there was no reason for it to work another time.

@Journey2022

I've had my phone call and did tell a little fib but (got 4/5lbs to go) and I have been prescribed letrozole 🙂 and also provera, as I'm currently on cycle day 58 😫

Hopefully my period comes after taking provera, then I can start letrozole on day 2-6.

What time did you take letrozole? As I can't remember who or where I read to take it before bed because of headaches?

How are you doing? Xx

@MrsBiddy oh I'm so glad that worked for you to get the letrozole quicker!!

I took it in the evening every day. I have also heard any side affects are better if you take it later.

Oh good luck to you! Please don't get disheartened if the first or second cycle do not work (I honestly believed if it didn't work the first cycle it wouldn't work on another!)

Key things that helped me -
Try not to stress!!
Use clear blue ovulation tests to get your biggest peak window and then BD daily when you get a smiley!
Make sure your both taking pre conception vitamins! If you can add in probiotic and all the good veggies it's good to now!

I'm good thank you! I'm 12 weeks on Saturday which is my biggest milestone (or my 12 week scan is which isn't until Thursday next week!). I last had a scan at 9 and half weeks and all was fine then, have had no actual cause for concern the last couple of weeks I'm just super anxious something is going to go wrong!

Good luck and keep me updated!! If you need any support during the cycle drop me a message on here!