[Ryles]

Hello!

I will begin Femara for the first time in 2 days. I was wondering if anyone else out there is going through the same thing? I would love to chat with someone about it. I have been diagnosed with PCOS and have not had a period on my own for over 2 years. I have tried clomid but this will be the first round with the fertility doctor. So let me know if you are interested in supporting each other!

Thanks,

Rylie

[marzena]

Hi Rylie,
It's my first time on Femara too, 2nd day on it today. So far so good. I had 3 unsuccessful IUIs on Clomid. I am starting Folistim on Monday. I would love to chat with you and compare experiences. We have been TTC for almost 2.5 years. It has been extremely difficult, I am trying to hold on to threads of hope and not fall into complete despair.
Hope to hear from you,
Marzena

[Ryles]

Originally Posted by marzena

Hi Rylie,
It's my first time on Femara too, 2nd day on it today. So far so good. I had 3 unsuccessful IUIs on Clomid. I am starting Folistim on Monday. I would love to chat with you and compare experiences. We have been TTC for almost 2.5 years. It has been extremely difficult, I am trying to hold on to threads of hope and not fall into complete despair.
Hope to hear from you,
Marzena

Hi Marzena- Definately free to e-mail me through the private e-mail function with any questions you have. This is my first month on Femara and it definately produced some good follicles. I am in my 2WW right now and I will know if I get a BFP on Nov 3rd. I definately had headaches while on Femara but beyone that is was not bad at all. Do you have an RE you are seeing that will moniter the process for you?

[JessStillWaits]

Good luck with Femara! I had tried for 3 years without success, and Femara gave me positive HPT's 2 out of 3 times I used it. Unfortunately I had 2 m/c's, but they were not related to Femara. We are on to IVF to explore if we can solve the m/c problem now.

But overall I would say Femara made me feel positive and had wayyyyyyyyyyyy less side effects than Clomid.

[rdgordon718]

Hey all! I am also starting my first go around with Femara in 2 days ... so on 11-3-09! I have a few ... questions ... for someone familiar with taking this. I feel stupid for asking, but I'm not taking any injectable HCG or anything, so after I finish, when is my husband and I supposed to have intercourse?? My wonderful physician is on vacation for 2 weeks, and I didn't expect to start Femara so soon. Any information you have would be wonderful!

Also, I would love to start a support buddy - since we are starting the same day ... is this your first time as well??

[Ryles]

I acutally just got the news that I had a BFN this month after trying Femara for the first time. It did however produce 3 good folicles so I will be trying it again this month with IUI. Are you taking Femara on CD 5-9? I took the Femara from days 5-9 and then starting on day 11 or 12 I started using ovulation predictor tests everyday until a LH surge is detected. If you get a positive LH surge then you will ovulate soon after that so I would start having intercourse then. I didn't have a LH surge that I could detect so I went into the doc on CD 15 and they gave me a trigger shot. This makes you ovulate if you are not ovulating on your own. It would be best if you could have an ultrasound after an LH surge is detected or on CD 15 to see if you acutally have viable follicles. Does that make sense? If you have any questions just e-mail. I will hopefully be starting Femara next week sometime. I just need to start my period again. Since I have been on prometrium the past two weeks (incase I was pregnant) I am hoping that will induce my cycle. I would love to be your buddy though.

Ryles

[rdgordon718]

Hey Ryles,
I'm sorry to hear about your BFN ... don't give up though!!

As I read some of these blogs/replies, I cannot be more confused than I was yesterday ... or can I!? I don't understand follicles (I know they are on the ovaries that have eggs ... but that's the extent of what I know). I am taking Femara day 3-7.

Let me start from scratch .... I haven't had my cycle in 3 months, so the doctor prescribed Prometrium to start my cyle. 3 days after I finished (which was last Sunday 11-1-09) I started to spot. Day 3 put me at Wednesday (Doc wanted me to start on day 3 of flowing ... spotting did not count). SO, I did some blood work, and started Femara. I'm on CD 4 right now. I take 2 Femara a day, one in the AM, one in the PM. After I finish, I wasn't given details on what to do ... so by your answer, I suppose I am to use my fertility monitor and hope for an LH surge. I don't have any ultrasounds scheduled, nor has my doctor spoke of any. Should I ask him for one??? On CD 21 I have to have my progesteron tested, and then a few days later I meet with him to discuss the findings.

Thanks so much for your help and information!!

Diana

[Ryles]

Hi Diana-

I would definately get an ultrasound if it is available to you. Then you know if the femara is acutally working and you are producing follicles (eggs). There is not a good way of knowing unless you get the ultrasound. I would also reccomend starting to test for an LH surge a few days after you stop Femara. Doc told me to test between 3 and 8pm everyday until I had a positive test. If I don't have a positive test bu CD 15 I go in the next morning for an ultrasound and a trigger shot to help me ovulate. That is the other thing that you may need help with that you won't know unless they are monitering you a bit closer. I would ask the doctor about the things I just mentioned and see what he has to say. Good Luck! I am moving on to IUI this month and just started my first day of Femara.

[nudles74]

Rylie, I might not be spot on with you, but I would like to know how you are doing and share my experiences when I have them : ))
I was supposed to start taking Femera a while back after getting cysts on Clomid. I took several months off to allow my cysts to clear up.
I went to the doc to check out my cysts and make sure they were gone and he checked my progesterone for ovulation. I was not ovulating so he asked me to take 10 days 10mg Provera; I took this and it has been 17 days since my last pill....no period (no HPT + either). I am going to see my doctor on R, but I think I will be able to go on Femera anyway. I guess I have to wait and see what they find, low estrogen is my guess because I have had a super low flow period for the last year.
I want to stay on this thread to see how everyone is doing on Femera though If anyone has any experience with this??? I would appreciate input. I am feeling sort of helpless...imagine that!?

Nikki
35

[rdgordon718]

My last day of Femara was on Sunday (11/8/09) ... I have since purchased an ovulation kit ... the Clear Blue brand kit. And as you mentioned, Ryles, I am testing in the afternoon about 4ish. I also have another fertility monitor that I use in the morning, so I'm doubling it ... hoping for better chances?! My fertility monitor only lets me test on certain days, and since my last cycle, I haven't used that monitor yet. I'm really hoping this Femara works ...

As I do more and more research on this, could someone help me to understand the different hormones and levels they need to be at for ovulation/pregnancy? I hear FSH/LH/Estrogen/DHEA/DHEA-S/Progesterone/Testosterone/FREE Testosterone .... the list just goes on .... I had labs done the other day, gosh, I just wish I could call my fertility doctor now and go over the results ... just to understand the meanings! My appointment is the day before Thanksgiving ... so I have to wait it out.

I have a progesterone lab order to take on day 21 of my cycle. So after that, is when I meet with my doc.

[standingstill]

Hey everyone! This is my first month on Femara and I only had a migraine on the very first day. After that, I had no problems at all. I'm also doing an IUI this month too, probably November 12 or 13. We've been TTC for 2+ years. Our only problem is me with slight adhesions around my right ovary and DH is good to go! I still stress out because I feel like I am the only one I know who is having this problem. Everyone seems to get pregnant so easily so I can't talk to anyone because they don't know what I'm going through. Has anyone here done the Femara and IUI combo??

[Ryles]

Originally Posted by nudles74

Rylie, I might not be spot on with you, but I would like to know how you are doing and share my experiences when I have them : ))
I was supposed to start taking Femera a while back after getting cysts on Clomid. I took several months off to allow my cysts to clear up.
I went to the doc to check out my cysts and make sure they were gone and he checked my progesterone for ovulation. I was not ovulating so he asked me to take 10 days 10mg Provera; I took this and it has been 17 days since my last pill....no period (no HPT + either). I am going to see my doctor on R, but I think I will be able to go on Femera anyway. I guess I have to wait and see what they find, low estrogen is my guess because I have had a super low flow period for the last year.
I want to stay on this thread to see how everyone is doing on Femera though If anyone has any experience with this??? I would appreciate input. I am feeling sort of helpless...imagine that!?

Nikki
35

Isn't it amazing how much hormones can effect us! I think my issue has been to much estrogen? I have not had a cycle on my own for like two years. The provera or prometrium always makes it start though so i am not sure why you have not started. Did you ask the doc what may be causing this? I will keep you in my prayers.

I am on Day 8 of my cycle and will take my last dose of Femara tomorrow. Then it is just waiting to see if I will ovulate on my own or if I need the trigger shot. Then we will have an IUI the next day. Grow follies grow!! Good luck everyone!

[Ryles]

Good luck to you Standingstill! You will be going throught the IUI part well before me. Let me know how it goes. This will be my first time with IUI but I have done Femara once before and it produced good follies.

[nudles74]

My doctor has not given me an explanation as to why I have not started yet. It is certainly not normal. I went in and had blood work done today, so, I will know tomorrow if my estrogen is low. The ultrasound did not show any fetus and my right ovary showed no follicles. My left ovary is in an odd location and they have lots of trouble seeing it, so they did not scan it.

I am not sure if he will have reason. The low estrogen concerns me because I do not have PCOS. The alternate is Premater Ovarian Failure....or Pre menopause.

I am not sure when he will put me on the Femara. We have to get my cycle to start first! The nurse told me that he could put me on another hormone or have me take two weeks of birth control pills to start
my cycle so I can take the Femara. My doctor has not offered me a trigger shot yet, not sure if I need one. I guess I will have to get some follicles first!

These darn hormones!!!

Nikki

Married 5 years
1 two year old girl : ) (TTC 4 years)
TTC 1 year
3 m/c's - Unknown cause
4 cycles clomid
1/2 uterus (unicorniate), non communicating ovary, one kidney
soon: 1st cycle of Femara

[rdgordon718]

Does anyone get migraines while taking or after taking Femara???