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Femara in the News

Femara may be better for some women than the FDA-approved drug for ovulation induction called Clomiphene Citrate (aka Clomid). It doesn’t have the mood side effects and it doesn’t increase one’s risk of miscarriage the way Clomid does. It’s all about money – Femara is 10 times more expensive than Clomid and the insurance companies don’t want to pay for it. The drug companies don’t want to be held responsible for a woman’s birth defects so they don’t want to be involved. There are lawyers who are trying to start a class-action lawsuit against doctors and the drug company who makes Femara. There are commercials out there stating, “If you’ve taken Femara and have a baby with a birth defect or have…

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 Letrozole at the Crossroads of Efficacy and Fetal Safety in Ovulation Induction: A Narrative Review

Letrozole, a third-generation aromatase inhibitor initially developed for breast cancer, has become the preferred first-line agent for ovulation induction (OI), particularly in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Articles of Interest

Understanding Letrozole: A Key to Unlocking Fertility with PCOS

Letrozole is often used as a fertility drug, especially for people with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and unexplained infertility. Also known by the brand name Femara, letrozole is an oral medication used to stimulate ovulation. It is often prescribed over clomiphene (Clomid) because it has fewer side effects and a lower risk of multiple pregnancies. Clomid was once the first choice for treating infertility associated with PCOS, but studies show that letrozole may offer significantly higher rates of pregnancy.

A Review on the Use of Letrozole in Female and Male Infertility

While clomiphene citrate has certain limitations, letrozole successfully overcomes these limitations because of its lack of prolonged anti-estrogenic activity, short half-life, and lack of estrogen receptor activation. In most cases, this results in mono-follicular development and excellent live birth rates. According to the most recent research, letrozole can be used as the first-line therapy to treat infertility caused by polycystic ovarian syndrome and other causes. Letrozole is also emerging as a possible treatment for male infertility of unknown cause...

Aromatase inhibitors (letrozole) for ovulation induction in infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Letrozole appears to improve live birth rates and pregnancy rates in infertile women with anovulatory PCOS, compared to SERMs, when used for ovulation induction, followed by intercourse.

Femara (Letrozole) for Infertility, Ovulation Problems and PCOS Treatment

When the enzyme aromatase is inhibited by the letrozole medication, estrogen levels are suppressed in young women. This results in the brain and pituitary gland increasing the output of FSH (follicle stimulating hormone). In women that have polycystic ovary syndrome or anovulation (a problem with ovulation) the increase in FSH hormone can result in development of a mature follicle in the ovary and ovulation of an egg. Doctors call this process “induction of ovulation”.

Femara Protocol

Unless specifically instructed, we recommend 3 cycles of Femara and then a consult to discuss next steps.

Fewer Multiple Births Seen With Femara for Infertility

But rate of clinical pregnancies lower than Menopur or Clomid.

Letrozole for Female Infertility

Letrozole, an aromatase inhibitor that blocks estrogen synthesis by inhibiting the final step of the estrogen biosynthetic pathway, has been used in the applications of a wide range of infertility settings. It has been more than 20 years since the initial clinical trial of letrozole for ovulation induction. In light of the accumulating clinical and basic evidence, the efficacy and safety of letrozole have been identified

Letrozole for Fertility: What You Need to Know

The success rate of letrozole can depend on many factors. Letrozole is found to be particularly helpful for women with PCOS. Letrozole will not be successful for all cases of infertility since the mechanism of action focuses on ovulation induction. One study demonstrated a 61.7% success rate with ovulation induction and a 27.5% success rate for live births.

Ovulation Induction with Letrozole (Femara)

Letrozole is a class of medications known as aromatase inhibitors. It is best known for treating breast cancer, but has been used to enhance ovulation. It works by blocking estrogen production and causing the brain (pituitary gland) to increase it’s stimulation of ovarian follicles (where the eggs are made). Although these medications are currently FDA approved for postmenopausal breast cancer, two drugs, letrozole (Femara®) and anastrozole (Arimidex®), have been used successfully for ovulation induction.

The Femara vs. Clomid Showdown: What’s the Difference?

Femara (a brand name for a drug called letrozole) started out as a treatment for breast cancer in postmenopausal women. But doctors have discovered it can also help younger (“childbearing age”) women ovulate. It’s all about lowering estrogen levels, says Dr. Diaz. “The drug functions by blocking aromatase, a necessary enzyme needed in the formation of estrogen,” he says. Lowering estrogen can help knock out breast cancer in some women—and it can also help stimulate those egg follicles in TTC women. While Femara is technically not FDA approved for infertility treatment, a 2014 New England Journal of Medicine-published study found femara (a.k.a. letrozole) to be more effective than clomid for women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in trying to get pregnant. It’s also often prescribed for patients undergoing IUI.