Famara

[Mrs. M]

Has anyone been on this for stimulating ovulation and did it work? Do you know why your doctor chose this over Metformin and something else? Thanks,
Sandi

[tweety]

I was taking it this cycle. I will know in a few days if it worked or if I need to do it again next month. Since I am TTC I hoping I see some positive results.
I am taking met. It hasn't produced an Af. I did do clomid before moving to femara.

[Leslie]

I took Femara when TTC. My RE put me on Metformin first. I took it for three cycles with no other meds. I ovulated on it, but never got pregnant. Then my RE added Clomid to the mix, so I was on Metformin and Clomid together. Clomid thinned my lining too much, so my RE switched me to Femara after three cycles of Clomid. At that point I took Femara and Metformin together. I got pregnant twice on Femara but lost both those pregnancies. I was finally able to get pregnant and stay pregnant by taking Metformin and Repronex (an injectible fertility drug).

Metformin is not actually an ovulation stimulating drug. It is a drug to regulate insulin levels. With PCOS our body doesn't use the insulin we produce correctly, so it produces more. When you get too much insulin in your system it will throw other hormones out of whack. Once these hormones get too far out of whack you stop ovulating. Taking Met controls the insulin thus sometimes allowing ovulation to resume.

Clomid on the other had is used specifically for ovulation.

Femara is a cancer drug that they found induces ovulation. I did see an article recently where the manufacturer came out saying that Femara should not be used for infertility. I think it mentioned that it could cause miscarriage. As for my two miscarriages on Femara I don't know if it was from the drug or if it was because the drug just didn't help me make good enough eggies.

[tweety]

I had my ultra sound on Wendsday to see if the femara did anything. Unfortunatly if didn't. No O and no follies. I am starting injecribles next month.
I think it is just another step before injectibles and if clomid doesn't work. There have been success with it. I wasn't one of them.

[Mrs. M]

It seems different doctors take different routes to treatment. I have read that Femara is safe and then I have seen concerns about it. Which is right? I have already lost a baby at birth and a miscarraige at 11 weeks. The higher risk of miscarriage and egg quailty cause me concern. Ultimately God is in control and I would hate not to try something due to fear.
The problem is my insulin levels were normal with a fasting blood test which doesn't really make sense to me. I have the belly fat, overweight by 50 lbs, hair growth, irregular cycles and high testostrone but no insulin resistance. I went on the Insulin Resistant Diet and have lost over 5 lbs in alittle over a week and feel so much better. So what is up with that. It works so I will do it but how can i measure my insulin improvement if it wasn't a problem in the beggining. I would love to think lossing weight will solve all my ovulation problems but not so sure it will.

Any way I need to be a peace with what the doc is doing and so far I am not.

Sandi

[Gen224]

Sandi--
I'd ask for a copy of your bloodwork results. Many docs aren't aware that the threshold for IR is much lower than what they learned in med school. Anything over "10" is considered IR. My PCP was taught than anything over 25 was IR and I tested 29, so I was "barely IR," but I had all the symptoms AND I passed out at the doc's office when they drew blood for the fasting insulin test. :o So get the paperwork on your levels and make a decision there.

The other thing is that YOU can take charge of your health, regardless of how aggressively or non-aggressively your doc is treating your condition. Check out the diet thread on the forum and read about cinnamon. It would be a great way to take back your health and be proactive at the same time, and it's not contraindicated for any sort of diet plan. It's my belief that the Lord has given us the ability to learn (docs included here), but that doctors do not always have all the answers. Sometimes we need to be proactive and research it ourselves and take the proverbial bull by the horns. ;) So if you're uncomfortable with what your doc is doing (or not doing), I'd encourage you to research and find another doctor who will take you seriously and treat your condition as you desire. You're a beautiful woman who is worth the time and effort to get the care you need! :D

[legalbeagle]

What is femara? is that the same as injectibles or a type of injectibles?

[tweety]

It is a pill that they give to breast cancer patients. It just happens to produce ovulation in some women.