Femara(Letrozole) or Clomid? Which do you prefer?

Rapunzel · 10-16-2006, 06:27 PM

If all goes according to plan, we'll be starting IF treatments in December/January. I have been on Clomid before in 2002, however it didn't do anything for me. This time, I am also on Met 2000mg, which can sometimes do the trick when paired together. I'm just curious as to whether Femara may be the better choice, regarding s/e and if anyone knows of any statistics on if one drug works better than the other.

TIA

Br@ndy · 10-16-2006, 08:31 PM

I don't have any statistics but I can say from personal experience that femara is better, for me at least. I didn't respond to clomid 4 out of 5 times, but I had zero cm and severe mood swings. This is my second month with femara and I have had plentiful cm and I have felt great. Hth

Kristie83 · 10-26-2006, 09:42 PM

Rapunzel,
I personally prefer Clomid to Letrozol (Femara), I have never had any side effects on Clomid and I have actually gotten pregnant on it 4 times (all miscarried)within a year and a half. A while later, I did try Femara for 3 months and had severeside effects... physical and hormonal. I didnt achieve any pregnancies on Femara. Actually, while I was taking it the 3rd cycle, my Dr called me and told me to discontinue use because he had just found out that Femara was causing birth defects. He will no longer prescribe that drug because the results were so shocking! I am currently taking Metformin, this is my first month of taking it, after 3 months or so my Dr is going to have me take Clomid and Metformin together.
Wishing you Baby Dust,
Kristie83

thincysterTOO · 10-27-2006, 12:22 AM

Hi Rapunzel,

I too went through the same question as you – I did not know what to do – which to choose and I agonized over it. I chose femara. I also went on the femara thread, preggos, and mommy board to ask. I got a lot of positive feedback. Many women have gotten preggers and have healthy children.

I have not tried clomid, but I am currently on cycle # 3 of femara (beta on Sunday). As for the kristi's comment (not trying to be offensive) – it is partly true. The company who produces the drug femara has not approved it specifically for fertility use. There was a study where 2 babies were born with cardiac malformations, but according to many doctors, it was not a good study, and not because of the letrozole. There was an excellent study on 911 newborns that showed clomid vs letrozole and birth defects – it’s interesting b/c clomid had more defects (but not significant), so they are considered the same with that respect .

In terms of getting preggers, they are about the same – except femara may be bit higher b/c it usually does NOT interfere with CM and cause a thin lining (whereas clomid can) – ultimately that is why I chose it. You can try to google the studies, doctor’s name is Dr. Casper. There ARE statistics.

In the end, I chose femara b/c CM and lining, and less S/E’s. I had no S/E’s cycle # 1, #2 but had a headache this time. It was amazing – I have heard clomid horror stories.

You have to make you own decision, informed on the facts AND also what feels right for you.

GL and HTH

. Loads of babydust your way!!!!!

thin

thincysterTOO · 10-27-2006, 12:22 AM

Hi Rapunzel,

I too went through the same question as you – I did not know what to do – which to choose and I agonized over it. I chose femara. I also went on the femara thread, preggos, and mommy board to ask. I got a lot of positive feedback. Many women have gotten preggers and have healthy children.

I have not tried clomid, but I am currently on cycle # 3 of femara (beta on Sunday). As for the kristi's comment (not trying to be offensive) – it is partly true. The company who produces the drug femara has not approved it specifically for fertility use. There was a study where 2 babies were born with cardiac malformations, but according to many doctors, it was not a good study, and not because of the letrozole. There was an excellent study on 911 newborns that showed clomid vs letrozole and birth defects – it’s interesting b/c clomid had more defects (but not significant), so they are considered the same with that respect .

In terms of getting preggers, they are about the same – except femara may be bit higher b/c it usually does NOT interfere with CM and cause a thin lining (whereas clomid can) – ultimately that is why I chose it. You can try to google the studies, doctor’s name is Dr. Casper. There ARE statistics.

In the end, I chose femara b/c CM and lining, and less S/E’s. I had no S/E’s cycle # 1, #2 but had a headache this time. It was amazing – I have heard clomid horror stories.

You have to make you own decision, informed on the facts AND also what feels right for you.

GL and HTH

. Loads of babydust your way!!!!!

thin

JenStoutNumber2 · 10-27-2006, 01:29 AM

I had done a clomid resistance test back in April with 100 mg of clomid with no effect. My estrogen went up, but my LH and FSH was the same as before. I did eventually get AF in July on my own, but I don't know if I can attribute it to the clomid. My new doc is starting me on Femara because of the clomid test results. He stated that they have seen an increase in ovulation with patients that did not ovulate with clomid. I have done some research on femara as well and consider myself able to make an informed decision about it. Most of the studies have shown that the birth defects are cause when a woman takes the femara while pregnant, not before conceiving. I plan on taking femara and testing everytime before I start it. Like everyone else says, it is a choice you will need to make on your own.

Jen

Kristie83 · 10-27-2006, 05:28 PM

Oh yes, I do agree with Thin. In terms of getting pregnant they are about equal. I know many women who have had healthy babies on Femara and many women who have had healthy babies on Clomid. I was just speaking from personal experience. i have been trying to get pregnant since December 2000 and have done a lot of research online. When I started Femara i expected the same results as what i got from Clomid. Every woman is different, and we each react to medications differently. I reacted to Femara the same way some women react to Clomid. I would speak to your Dr and find out which of the two he/she has had the most luck with or feels the most comfortable with. Some Drs are not willing to prescribe Clomid because of results that have come back, and my personal Dr. will not prescribe Femara because of the same thing. If one doesnt feel right I'm sure they will let you try the other. Best of luck to you all.
Kristie83

belle84 · 11-02-2006, 11:46 AM

heya just would like to put my point across everyone warned me off clomid and it was fine! i had not one s/e with it!!

everyon is different! xxxx

RenSmartt · 11-02-2006, 06:02 PM

I've never tried femara, but had success twice with clomid. I also had a few side effects with the clomid as well.

SnowFlower · 11-02-2006, 09:24 PM

Clomid was HORRIBLE for me once I got to the dose that made me O which was 150mg. I O'ed late and the side effects seemed to last forever.

sd_gower · 11-03-2006, 05:17 AM

This is my first thread on here so bear w/ me , I got prg. on my own in sept 05 miscarried though, tried till dec. 05 w/ no sucess, (had missed periods past 9 years) my previous dr started me on clomid 50 mg then went to 100 mg then 200 mg over a period of 7 months w/ NO sucess.... finally went to more of a specalist and he d/c the clomid right away, he did not like to use it as it can cause thin lining which will cause miscarriges everytime, says i wouldn't have even known i was preg.so he did a few test ..found out i have pcos, i started on femra and glouphage 500mg last month... so now i'm hoping i'm finally going in the right direction. any advice on these meds or any advice would be great. 32years old one 9yr. son married for 2 years.

belle84 · 11-03-2006, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sd_gower

finally went to more of a specalist and he d/c the clomid right away, he did not like to use it as it can cause thin lining which will cause miscarriges everytime, says i wouldn't have even known i was preg..

ok i just want to say something here - as true as this may be in SOME cases it DOES NOT cause miscarrige in every single pregnancny and to say it does could scare ppl and is irresponsible just go to the mommy board ask how many ppl conciveed and went full term with clomid pregnancys - it does happen

sd_gower · 11-10-2006, 10:13 PM

Just to let everyone know I certainly would never come on here and try to make them feel or think bad thoughts about anything i say, i just posted what "I" was told as I said thats what "MY" doctor says I hope it wil help someone maybe they ARE having miscarriges due the thin linning, and If they would try a new med. they could acheive what were all trying to .and as i said ( IT MAY ! cause this to happen) sorry if anybody else took this as bad advice. glad to see someone so new and first post got such a nice reply??

belle84 · 11-11-2006, 09:51 AM

oh hon i was more ranting at the doctor not u lol sorry if it came off that way!

xxxxxx hugs and kisses xxxxxx

alanakaye · 11-12-2006, 02:01 AM

Rapunzel,

I tried Clomid for 6 months took the maximum dose, even with Hcg injection got nothing.
We did Femara with Hcg in 4/05 and conceived the very first month. samuel was born the day after christmas

The side effects were minimal. I noticed less CF but the IUI took care of that. We are currently trying for #3 on our own until I wean Sam in March.