As infertility specialists, the team at ThriveOB and Women's Wellness in Barrington, Illinois, led by Dr. Jennifer Moreira, has the experience you need when deciding between fertility-boosting medications Clomid® and letrozole.
Both of these oral medications seek to improve the chances of conception by assisting ovulation, though they do so through different effects on your body. Each drug triggers ovulation in a different way, and each has its own side effects.
Here’s what you need to know about Clomid® and letrozole so you can choose between them to help boost your chances for successful fertilization.
Typically, you ovulate around the same point in your menstrual cycle. An ovary releases an egg into the fallopian tube through which it travels toward the uterus.
If fertilized by a sperm along the way, the egg implants in the uterine lining and pregnancy begins. Timing is everything, since sperm and egg must be present simultaneously.
Sometimes, though, ovulation itself may be the variable factor. You may release an egg early or late, or you may not release an egg at all.
A common cause of irregular ovulation is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal condition that prevents ovarian follicles from maturing. Other contributors to ovulatory infertility include:
Many times, the reason for ovulation failure isn’t known.
Clomid has a long history of treating infertility, first approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1967. It works by blocking estrogen receptors in the brain, which causes the release of more follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone. These changes make it easier for your ovaries to release eggs more regularly.
Letrozole was first developed as a way of controlling estrogen that triggers the growth of some types of breast cancers. It’s been used off-label for fertility use since 2001. Letrozole works by reducing the production of estrogen rather than blocking its effects as Clomid does.
Side effects are a reality for virtually every medication. For most women, letrozole generally has milder side effects, though both medications significantly improve your chances of getting pregnant.
Some women are resistant to the effects of Clomid. Letrozole may be a better choice for women with PCOS because of this. Letrozole also carries a lower risk of multiple pregnancies than Clomid.
To discuss the full range of benefits and side effects of each medication, contact ThriveOB Women's Wellness by calling our appointment hotline at 847-868-2908 today.
