[designdiva32]

Just wondered if any of you knew the difference in the number of follicles produced with Clomid and Letrozole. My RE has recommended the Letrozole, which I will start taking tommorrow on cycle day 3 before our first IUI, but I had read at another clinic I go to (I keep two just in case one is not so good!) that the more follicles the better the chance of a BFP with IUI.

Anyway, so my question really is this...how many follicles did you find you had with Letrozole compared to with Clomid? And if Clomid does produce more, what will a thinner lining do towards getting a BFP? I find all these drugs very confusing so any advice would be appreciated.

[mdbrum16]

I have used both and the results were about the same as far as the number of follicles. First month more on Clomid then second time we had more with Letrozole. The only differences I did notice were with my hormones. I definately am quite hard to handle with the Clomid and I didn't have any problems with Letrozole. As far as the BFP I'm not sure I never have been pregnant. Sorry I don't have more info but hopefully this helps a little.

[sarah16]

They are basically the same medicine, so it should be comparable. Good luck!

[mom4kitties]

I had just one follie that grew on my first round of Letrozole, but we got pregnant right away! Unfortunately, we lost that little one, but at least I know that I can get pregnant now. The thin uterine lining with Clomid is problematic because it makes it hard for the embryo to implant. You want a nice, cushy lining for him/her to call home. I also am a very emotional person by nature, so I steered away from the Clomid crazies. It impacts everyone differently, but I'd say it's worth a shot! Good luck and keep us posted!!

[designdiva32]

Thanks for the replies everyone. It sounds like they are pretty similar meds, which is good. Anyway, I had my day 3 baseline ultrasound today, I had three little follicles I think (RE was talking so quietly!) and so I took my first Letrozole tablet today. My next ultrasound is on Tuesday so I'll let you all know how its working.

[mom4kitties]

Please keep us posted, Alana. I'm anxious to hear how you respond to the meds. I'm going in for an U/S tomorrow (CD 14) to see how my follies have grown. I'm guessing that I will be doing the HCG shot this weekend, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Here's hoping for BFP's all around this month!!

[sarah16]

Good luck on this cycle! Keep us posted.

[designdiva32]

So I thought I'd update how the letrozole is going. I finished taking it on Monday, after having four days of excrutiating headaches! Anyway, yesterday at my day 8 ultrasound the RE said there were lots of little follicles but only one doing very well. It seems its not working too well for me unfortunately. He mentioned something about injectibles, and also that my estrogen is now very very low so my lining is too thin. If I had low estrogen to start with he should have considered that before giving me the letrozole to supress it even further shouldn't he? Anyway... apart from the headaches I also found it made me very very dry. (TMI I know!) Kinda like what I read clomid does. Anyone else experience this?

[sarah16]

I had the headaches especially if I was stressed about other things.

[mom4kitties]

I didn't have any of those side-effects, but I wanted to let you know that they only want to see one or two follies pulling ahead when you're taking either Letrozole or Clomid, so it sounds like it's working like it should for you! If you want more follies, injectibles are the way to go, but it only takes one. Best of luck to you and don't give up on this cycle yet... I have a good feeling about it!!

[Lisa_fpisces]

I am on my 4th round of Letrazole. I had a sonohystogram last week (day 9) to try and diagnose my irregular bleeding and RE saw 6 follicles all about the same size. I would be so excited right now if it weren't for the fact that I do indeed have a polyp in my uterus which will make it almost impossible to conceive this cycle. I am having a D&C Apr. 10. The symptom of this is irregular bleeding and increased bleeding after intercourse. I had these symptoms while taking Clomid too. I asked my RE if the meds could have caused them and he said no, but I think it is too much of a coincidence. It dissappeared after the clomid left my system and returned a couple of months after beginning Femara. Has this happened to anyone?

[angsea]

#1 Clomid: 2 Follies on Left, Both 18mm
#2 Clomid: No Follies
#3 Femara: 2 Follies, One on each side, 24mm and 26mm!

In other words, the Femara worked much better for me as far as follicle maturity.