Femara is actually a cancer drug. It's rather subtle the way it works compared with clomid -- it blocks the enzyme that makes estrogen rather than your estrogen receptors. Both cause your FSH to go up and make more follicles.
I haven't started it yet but I was told femara was better because there are less side effects and it leaves your system faster. Also there are less instances of twins, which my RE doesn't like because of the health problems associated with mulitple births.
I took both Clomid and Femara. The Clomid didn't work for me but the Femara is what got us our BFP this time. I think docs generally like to start with the Clomid and some won't prescribe the Femara because like pookietooth said, it's actually a cancer drug and its use for infertility is an off-label use. BTW, thanks pookietooth, I didn't realize the actual difference in how it worked!
Jenna's right, there are less side effects with Femara.
__________________
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
This is good info. I am on Clomid now and my doctor has said nothing about Femara. The clomid didn't work the first time and not sure that it worked this time. Getting frustrated.
__________________
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Nikki (35) To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Chad (37) Married 9/2/06 To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
One furbaby cat Sammy! To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
M/C 2/21/08
Waiting on AF to ttc!
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
I am starting on a 'blind' trial next cycle, with Clomid and Letronzole, basically I am to be given a max of 6 treatments of each, (unless I concieve quickly!) to try and prove the percieved benefit of L vs C, supposed to be less side effects and less likehood of multiple birth or miscarriage. Has anybody heard of this type of trial outside of the UK? Not known which I am starting with though, but I will get best attention from my consultant I hope, fingers crossed!
Clomid can thin your lining and also cause problems with your CM and sometimes you need IUIs to conceive (I've heard preseed and Robitussin/Mucinex can help offset this), but Femara does not cause these issues.
__________________ Jen (31) Mom to Lily To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. and furbaby Bailey
BFP formula: met/prednisone/femara 5mg
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
I have been taking Metformin since Oct after my lap. My body does not do well with it and my periods are either non excistance or heavy for a month. So my dr. gave me Femara to try .. so I will try it next month and let you know. Haven't tried Clomid. He said women with PCOS have a higher risk of getting cancer and Femara unlike clomid had less side effects and it should prevent and cancer. So it couldn't hurt to take it. He said most women he's given it to... get pregnant after the first month. So I go back in 3 months.
I would like to also add that clomid gave me a late ovulation CD 16 (OPK test). Femara made me ovulate on CD 14. I did not get pregnant with either of these ,but the side effects of clomid included vag. dryness, very sore breasts, and painful periods. I tried clomid for 4 mos one year and then 4 mos another year. I only tried femara for a month but the side effects were nowhere near SE for clomid. I am thinking about trying femara again next month. Advice needed: Should I try femara for a few more cycles? I'm already 36 and getting nervous about the number of fertile years I have left. I've also tried gonal F shots once with IUI--BFN.
__________________ Me-36 DH-36 DD-6 Thin with pcos--My daily regimen: prescription iron, GNC Ultra Mega Vitamins, fish oil, borage oil, dha, walking at least 30 min-1 hr a day, pilates, and doing weights
My RE seems really reluctant to put me on Femara even though Clomid doesn't make me O. His reasons have been a little unclear, but from my own 'google research' I've found many doctors won't prescribe it because it's not strictly a fertility drug. Clomid has been tried and tested for decades and Femara is a cancer treatment which just happens to induce ovulation in some women. Different women react differently to both drugs from what I've read, although the general consensus from a lot of reading, is that Clomid has more side effects. Still, what works for one may not work for another, which goes for both drugs.
Femara vs. Clomid? 
