Clomid Vs Letrozole: Did your doctor recommend ovarian stimulation? If so, you are probably looking up the different medications used like Clomid and Letrozole and finding out which is better for your fertility case.

Infertility is hard physically and mentally, but you should know that most causes of infertility are treatable. If your doctor has prescribed you Clomid or Letrozole, you should know then both have different success rates.

Keep reading to know more. Here is the ultimate 2022 guide for Clomid Vs Letrozole. 

In this post, I will discuss the following topics. 

• What is Clomid?
• Who is prescribed Clomid?
• How is Clomid taken?
• How much does Clomid cost?
• Clomid Resistance
• What is Letrozole?
• Who is prescribed Letrozole.
• How is Letrozole taken?
• How much does Letrozole cost?
• Clomid VS Letrozole
• What do the statistics tell us?

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. This post is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice.

Please talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns. This post may also contain affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you if you purchase something. 

What is Clomid?

Clomiphene Citrate is Clomid. It is a medication you take orally to help solve certain types of female infertility, and it is an ovulation stimulator.

It tricks the body that there is a lower amount of the female hormone, estrogen in the body. As a reaction, the body increases the amount of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing Hormone (LH).

An increase amount of FSH triggers the ovaries to help produce more follicles and . Follicles are little sacs in the ovaries and have fluid and eggs.

These follicles develop and mature. An increased amount of LH causes the follicles to release an egg. Ovulation is the process in which the ovary releases an egg. 

Who Is Prescribed Clomid?

Clomid is prescribed by ob/gyn and fertility specialists for women who have certain fertility issues like the ones listed below. 

Women who do not ovulate on their own. 

Women who have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. PCOS causes women not to ovulate and instead produce cysts around the ovary. 

A woman who has irregular period or no periods. 

A woman who’s partner has low sperm count. By giving the woman Clomid, she produces more eggs making it more likely for the low amount of sperm to find at least one egg. 

Doctors prescribe Clomid for couples with unexplained infertility. 

Women undergoing IVF or IUI sometimes take clomid. 

How is Clomid taken?

You take Clomid orally. The pills are 50 mg. Most likely, you will take a pill for 5 days consecutively in the beginning of your menstrual cycle.

Usually, it starts on the third, fourth, or fifth day of your cycle. If you have unsuccessful cycles, you doctor may higher the dose of clomid you take per day.

Your hormones will be testes and  you may have a few ultrasounds to make sure everything is going well.

How much does Clomid cost?

Insurance usually covers Clomid, but if it isn’t the average price is 97 dollars. Talk to your insurance company to know if you are covered completely, partially or not at all. 

Clomid Resistance 

Some women are resistant to clomid and that is why they need to choose other options like Letrozole for ovulation. 

Women who have polycystic ovarian syndrome or have a BMI greater than 25 have a greater chance of having Clomiphene resistance. 

What is Letrozole?

Letrozole is also called Femara. Letrozole treats early breast cancer in women who have menopause, the end of menstrual cycles. Women who have ovulation problems use Letrozole or Femara. They are ovulation stimulators.

Femara or Letrozole for infertility works by stopping the production of an enzyme called aromatase.  When aromatase is inhibited, the level of the female hormone, Estrogen, decreases.

When this happens, your body starts to produce more follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). This triggers the follicles in the ovary to develop and mature. Ovulation then occurs. Sometimes, super-ovulation can occur which means the women releases more than one eggs.

This phenomenon makes multiples more likely. This does not mean you would definitely have multiples; it simply means it increases your chances. 

Who is prescribed Letrozole?

Doctors prescribe Letrozole or Femara for the following:

• Women who have ovulation problems like anovulation, lack of ovulation.
• Women who have breast cancer and have had menopause. 
• Those with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS).
• Those who have no ovulated when using Clomid.
• Women who have had bad side effects when using Clomid.  

Some people may still have bad side effects when using Femara. Keep in mind, women who have achieved ovulation by using Clomid can still use Femara for their next controlled ovarian hyperstimulation. 

How is Letrozole taken?

You take Letrozole for infertility in 2.5 mg pills. You take one pill daily for 5 days in a row. Usually, it starts on cycle day three and ends on cycle day 7.

Your doctor would also monitor your follicle(s) growth and maturation especially if you are going through reproductive assistance like IUI or IVF.

How much does Letrozole cost?

It costs about 100 dollars according to this FertilityIQ.   It could cost more than that if you do not have any health coverage.

Talk to your insurance plan to know more about your coverage on these drugs. 

Clomid VS Letrozole for Inducing Ovulation

Doctors usually prescribe Clomid first for women with ovulation problems like an-ovulation or PCOS. Clomid does not work for every single woman.

Some women are resistant to Clomid for several reasons. You have higher chances of being Clomid resistant if you have PCOS, are overweight, or have high levels of prolactin. If you are Clomid resistant, your doctor may prescribe you Letrozole.

The good thing is that 80 percent of women ovulate when using Clomid. Some women who have only ovulation problems would get pregnant on their first cycle of taking Clomid. 

Clomid VS Letrozole Side Effects

Clomid has many side effects including uterine bleeding, abdominal boating, dizziness, blurred vision, nausea, beast sensitivity, constipation, hot flashes, joint pain, thickening of cervical mucus, thinning of endometrial lining and headaches.

Letrozole has similar but fewer side effects than Clomid. That is one of the reasons why your doctor may prescribe your Letrozole.

Clomid VS Letrozole Pregnancy and Live Birth Rates

Letrozole had better pregnancy outcomes and ovulation success than the commonly used medication, Clomid.

Clomid had a 43 percent pregnancy success rate. Femara had a 61 percent success rate. You see the difference.

If a person had no fertility problems other than issues in ovulation and is younger then 35 years old, she has a 15 percent chance to get pregnant each month when taking Femara.

People using clomid has a 10-12 percent chance even if they added IUI to that cycle. 

Clomid VS Letrozole Table

What do the statistics tell us?

Statistics show that Letrozole has a greater success in terms of ovulation. It works on those who have clomid resistance. Letrozole is also better for women with PCOS.

In Conclusion : Clomid VS Letrozole

Clomid and Letrozole both word to stimulate the ovaries to mature an egg and ovulate. They do this in different ways, but their outcomes are similar.

Letrozole has a higher pregnancy success rate, but Clomid’s rate is still very high if no other fertility issues exist. Trust your doctor, and ask her the questions and concerns you have.