Letrozole vs. Clomid

andysmom · 02-08-2006, 05:01 PM

My doctor told me that Letrozole was more effective for PCOS patients trying to get pregnant, but we have been through 3 cycles with no success. I am wondering if Clomid would be a better bet. I have a couple friends with PCOS and they used Clomid and got pregnant. Any suggestions or advice?

NahNah · 02-08-2006, 08:53 PM

Hello. When were you dx with PCOS? I was dx last year and my husband and I have been ttc since August 05. Can you tell me the route you took?

andysmom · 02-08-2006, 09:11 PM

Nah Nah,

I was diagnosed in 1997. We waited a while before trying to have kids because we were young. When we started trying and were unsuccessful we decided to adopt a child. So, that took a while. Now that our child is 4 we decided it was time to get serious, so I went to see a Reproductive Endocrinologist and told him that we wanted to try and get pregnant. I am 34 and told him I wanted an aggressive plan because things (insurance, etc) change when you get to be 35. I have done 3 months on letrozole without getting pregnant so our next step is IVF or IVM.

I was just curious about other people's feelings on clomid.

Find a doctor and tell him what you want. If that doctor isn't in agreement find another one. That's just my 2 cents.

Good Luck!

kimal1 · 02-09-2006, 07:55 PM

Hi andysmom,

I looked up letrozole and found it's a treatment for breast cancer,,I'm not sure how it would help you concieve?I'm supposed to go on clomid but I want to temp first,because if you are already ovulating ,clomid won't really help cuz that is what it's specific purpose is...I mean if you don't need help ovulating why would a person take clomid...any insights??

..Kim

saxygirl25 · 02-10-2006, 12:06 AM

My fertility clinic just took Letrazole off of their offerings for fertility treatment due to the fact that it is a breast cancer drug and the makers of Letrazole said we don't even know why this is being used as a medicine to help people ovulate as it wasn't tested for that. Just passing on what I heard today from my RE.

saxygirl25 · 02-10-2006, 12:08 AM

Oh and Kimal - if you temp and find out you're ovulating, Clomid may help give you a stronger O than normal.

kimal1 · 02-10-2006, 09:23 PM

saxygirl~~~really?..That would be good,Is that where the risk of multiples comes in?..I mean if you have a stronger "o" does that mean more than 1 egg..Thanx in advance...KIm

saxygirl25 · 02-10-2006, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kimal1

saxygirl~~~really?..That would be good,Is that where the risk of multiples comes in?..I mean if you have a stronger "o" does that mean more than 1 egg..Thanx in advance...KIm

That's what I've heard from people who have O'd in the past then took Clomid and they had a really high P4 # due to the clomid. Not sure if that's where the risk of multiples comes in - I think the risk of multiples with clomid is "relatively" small than with other fertility meds. I know it's not a very good answer...

kimal1 · 02-11-2006, 10:29 PM

saxygirl~~Thanx..I think I will go on Clomid..(the fact that this was my first month temping and I don't think I "o'ed" cuz I had only 1 elevated temp on cd19 and I heard you have to have at least 3 days of elevated temps for ovulation

)had nothing to do with it

Oh well I really appreciate your responses I mean that's what cysters are for right!!!

..Kim

saxygirl25 · 02-12-2006, 06:58 PM

No problem Kimal! Good luck!

anh0810 · 02-14-2006, 12:41 AM

Here is an article from the producers saying not to use Femara (Letrozole) for unapproved uses. The way it supposedly works is by making the lining better for implantation. I have no experience with this medication and am not trying to conceive however I want people to have all the info. I hope this helps.
Take care,
Ashley

ZURICH (Reuters) - Novartis has warned doctors not to use its hormone-based
breast cancer drug Femara to help women become pregnant after reports of
adverse events following such off-label use.

Novartis had found 13 reports of cases where individual doctors had
prescribed Femara for ovulation induction in its safety data base, a
spokeswoman said.

This lead to birth defects in two cases and two spontaneous miscarriages in
two others. There were four normal births, while there was a lack of
information in the five remaining cases.

"Novartis simply encouraged physicians and patients to stick to the
prescribed information," the spokeswoman said.

"This indication is not approved and Novartis never did anything to promote
it."

Femara is for use in post-menopausal women only, she said, but some doctors
across the world had prescribed the drug to treat infertility in women,
leading to the reports.

Novartis shares were 0.8 percent lower at 68.80 Swiss francs by 1500 GMT,
having hit a low of 68.10 francs earlier.

Novartis is seeking wider indications for Femara. U.S. regulators in August
agreed to speed up their review process on whether to allow it to be used by
women with breast cancer immediately following surgery to remove a tumour.

Femara is the second in a new class of hormone-based breast-cancer
treatments called aromatase inhibitors to have demonstrated an advantage
over tamoxifen, currently standard treatment for women with breast cancer

kimal1 · 02-14-2006, 07:51 PM

thanx Ashley~~That was very insightful

GabrielsMom · 02-14-2006, 08:14 PM

I think the femara warning is mostly the drug company covering their butts in case anyone in the US decides to sue them for birth defects. Some REs still prescribe femara. The risk of birth defects and miscarriages may have more to do with the mother being infertile and having hormone issues (like PCOS) than it has to do with the drug. You never know.

It's better to be safe than sorry, but there is even a risk of birth defects with clomid. You have to weigh the risks and decide what is best for you.