When you’re trying to have a baby, you’ll hear countless methods and 

infertility
choices that may help you build your family. Many women have had success with a
surprising treatment option: Letrozole, a drug commonly used to treat cancer. These
are five things you should know about Letrozole for infertility.

1. What is Letrozole?
Letrozole, also used under the trade name Famara (Femara), is an oral medication that
functions as an aromatase inhibitor. This helps prevent the conversion of androgen to
estrogen, effectively suppressing estrogen production. Women who have been
diagnosed with hormone-receptor-positive, early-stage breast cancer often take the
drug after surgery, chemotherapy or radiation to help reduce the risk of cancer
returning. Because Letrozole specifically reduces estradiol levels in the body, it caught
the attention of reproductive endocrinologists.

2. What does Letrozole do for fertility?

In the simplest terms, Letrozole induces ovulation. As estrogen levels drop, the pituitary
gland senses this decrease and secretes the follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) to
increase estrogen in an attempt to maintain optimum hormonal balance. By generating
FSH, the ovaries are stimulated to grow more follicles. Letrozole boosts this growth and
release of eggs in women who are anovulatory, or not ovulating, and can cause
superovulation in women who are already able to ovulate. In both cases, it increases
the chances of natural conception. Another benefit of Letrozole for fertility? It improves
endometrial thickness.

3. Is Letrozole better than Clomid?

Among women without PCOS, studies have shown that there is no difference between
Letrozole and Clomid, or that Clomid is the superior treatment.

Historically, Clomid has been a popular first option to try during fertility treatment,
especially for women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). Clomid falls in a
class of medication called clomiphene citrate, which lasts in the body for an extended
period of time and may actually have a negative effect on cervical mucus and uterine
lining. Research is beginning to show that women with PCOS do not respond well to it.

For women with PCOS, a 2013 study shared at the American Society of Reproductive
Medicine had convincing results. Among 750 women, the cumulative live birth rate was
higher with Letrozole (27.5%) as compared with Clomid (19.5%). A study in 2014
showed Letrozole to perform better, with higher live-birth and ovulation rates among
infertile women with PCOS.

4. What are side effects of Letrozole?

The majority of the data on the side effects of Letrozole come from women who use it
as part of a five-year cancer treatment regimen. Most women who use Letrozole for
fertility, however, use it for just five days and find, if there are any side effects, they are
similar to Clomid treatments. Side effects of Letrozole can include:

 Hot flashes
 Headaches
 Breast tenderness
 Fatigue
 Leg cramps

Some women also find that infertility drugs that improve ovulation may also result
in anxiety, mood swings, and irritability.
Importantly, Letrozole cannot be taken during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Research
shows it may cause damage to developing embryos.

A 2014 study dedicated to this research found that congenital and chromosomal

abnormalities were found in 5 out of 201 (2.5%) of babies conceived with the help of
Letrozole, compared to 5 of 171 (2.9%) of babies conceived naturally and 10 of 251
babies (3.9%) conceived with Clomiphene. The conclusion showed no significant
difference in the overall rate of congenital malformations for children born to mothers
who conceived naturally versus using Letrozole or Clomiphene treatments.

5. What are the treatment protocols for taking Letrozole as

a fertility treatment?
Candidates for Letrozole are carefully assessed and evaluated and follow specific
guidelines for how and when to take Letrozole. You can read more here.

When do options such as surrogacy and egg donation

come into the fertility picture?
Since Letrozole only addresses ovulation, it doesn’t impact other potential root causes
of infertility. The odds of achieving a pregnancy are best when both the egg and sperm
come from young, healthy sources that have met specific medical criteria. This may
mean using an egg donor. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, IVF with a donor egg has a success rate of 52%, which is the highest of any
fertility treatment. Higher still is the rate of success with a surrogate. IVF clinics in the
US have a surrogacy success rate of about 75%, and that number can increase as high
as 95% for a birth once the gestational carrier is pregnant.

It’s important to understand your options when it comes to infertility treatment. If

you’ve considered surrogacy or an egg donor to build your family, contact
ConceiveAbilities. Our team is excited to share more information, success stories and
support as you make your decision.

And, are you a woman who enjoyed a healthy and successful pregnancy? Do you have
friends or family who have suffered from infertility or need assistance from someone
else to build their family? Have you ever considered the role you could play in helping
someone else build their family - as a surrogate? Learn more about the process of
helping someone else's dream of building a family come true. We would love to talk with
you.