In general, the positive effects of clomiphene outweigh the negative effects. Letrozole Femara was developed to be used primarily to treat certain kinds of breast cancer in postmenopausal women.
Letrozole is an aromatase inhibitor. Aromatase is an enzyme that converts estrogen precursors androgens into estrogen. The medication works by reducing the production of the total amount of estrogen in the body. Letrozole can also induce ovulation in the same manner as clomiphene.
Letrozole inhibits the conversion of androgens to estrogens. When this happens, the estrogen level in the body drops and the hypothalamus tells the pituitary to stimulate the ovary to work harder.
In contrast to clomiphene, this medication does not have the anti-estrogen effect. It often produces better endometrial development. Theoretically, letrozole would be better for patients who have used Clomid and experienced poor endometrial development.
Experience with this medication reveals the pregnancy rates are very comparable to clomiphene. The thing about clomid, though, is that it can work, but it can also cause side effects. And there are also some more concerning potential side effects to watch out for and let your doctor know if you experience, including:. Femara a brand name for a drug called letrozole started out as a treatment for breast cancer in postmenopausal women.
Lowering estrogen can help knock out breast cancer in some women—and it can also help stimulate those egg follicles in TTC women. There are some other special situations in which letrozole may be prescribed over clomid. Per Dr. Diaz, letrozole in combination with injectable fertility drugs is the preferred IVF treatment for women diagnosed with breast cancer, or for women seeking to freeze their eggs before cancer therapy begins.
A typical dose of letrozole is 2. Because estrogen powers the menstrual cycle and plays a key role in ovulation, too much estrogen can wreak havoc on your cycle and overall health in addition to impacting your fertility. Estrogen is essential for conception for a number of reasons. In the first half of your cycle, levels rise while your uterine lining is being rebuilt from your last period. By signaling the pituitary gland when the egg is mature and ready to be released, estrogen indirectly triggers ovulation, as well as making sure conditions are ideal for implantation.
In other words, estrogen creates the perfect conditions for a possible pregnancy! Since your hormones play such a vital role in regulating your body , if estrogen is too high it can have noticeable effects on both your overall health and fertility.
While this therapy can be a life-changing treatment, there are many factors to consider whether it is right for you. Fertility drugs are often the main treatment for women with ovulation disorders and serve to increase the chances of conceiving as well as carrying the baby to term. By regulating or stimulating ovulation, drugs like Femara and Clomid attempt to restore fertility and increase your chances of getting pregnant. Femara, also known as Letrozole, is a type of drug known as an aromatase inhibitor.
It works in a similar fashion to Clomid in that it stimulates ovulation but it does so by inhibiting aromatase and suppressing estrogen production. In other words, Femara works by promoting the growth and release of eggs in women who have issues with ovulation. Initially developed as a treatment for breast cancer, it has been increasingly used to treat infertility with promising results. Clomid works by blocking estrogen receptors which then causes the pituitary gland to produce more hormones like FSH follicle stimulating hormone and LH luteinizing hormone to trigger follicle development and ovulation.
Essentially, Clomid tricks your body into thinking your estrogen levels are lower than they really are, which in turn causes the body to increase secretion of the hormones that trigger ovulation. It goes without saying that any medication decisions should be made by you and your healthcare team, but knowing how these two drugs work, and why you might choose one over the other is an important factor as well.
Although they both function similarly, there are differences to consider between Femara and Clomid like side effects, cost, and ultimately success rates. Side effects are an unfortunate reality to many drugs. Common mild side effects with fertility drugs include hot flashes, headaches, nausea, and weight gain and Femara and Clomid are no different in this regard. Women using Clomid report experiencing :. Women on Femara report mild side effects such as:.
Occasionally, more serious side effects from both Clomid and Femara can occur, but they are uncommon. For Femara this could mean weakened bones, increased cholesterol levels or a severe allergic reaction.
While for Clomid more serious side effects include ovarian cysts, seizures, stroke, or chest pain. Serious side effects should never be ignored and you should consult with your doctor or medical emergency personnel immediately if you are experiencing a serious concern. Studies show that pregnancy success rates for both Clomid and Femara are quite comparable. Although pregnancy rates between Clomid and Femara are quite similar , studies show that for women trying to get pregnancy with PCOS , the success rate of Femara is higher than Clomid.
Even though the drugs have similar ovulation success rates, individual circumstances really do matter, and in the case of PCOS, Femara seems to work better. The cost and availability of these drugs may be a major consideration to factor into your decision.
Insurance policies and health benefits vary widely on their coverage of infertility treatment and your underlying medical issues will be a significant factor. Both Femara and Clomid are widely available and comparable in price, although that will depend on your extended health coverage and benefits, as well as your location.
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