Femara vs Clomid - Need Opinions

[bam1014]

Well AF is about to show anyday now (unless by some miracle I get a BFP).  So I have 2 choices for my next cycle.  Just wondering what you guys think I should do.

A.  Go with Clomid and no RE.  Clomid helps produce more and better quality eggs, although one side effect is that it has the potential to create hostile CM.  But I would be taking EPO, and using Pre-Seed in a hopes to counteract.  I got this Rx from my general practitioner, so really no one would be monitoring me.  It can also cause problems taking OPK's.  Also, this is one of the most widley used Rx's for fertility treatment and is researched and approved for such.

B.  Go with Femara and the RE.  Femara is like Clomid, but produces results in a different way.  It should produce more and better quality eggs.  There is a lot less research on Femara, and I don't think that the FDA has approved it as a fertility treatment, although it is widely used as one.  This was prescribed by my RE.  If I choose this route, then on CD2 I would get bloodwork done and start the Femara.  Then on CD12 I would go in for an u/s to look at my follies.  I would get a trigger shot and we would be doing timed BD.  This option is a lot more time consuming and expensive as I would have to pay for all the follow up visits after the initial bloodwork.  But doesn't give me any greater odds then using the Clomid.

The other problem to this whole thing is that I am having a heck of a time trying to get DH to go for his s/a.  If his swimmers are no good, then this really is all for naught.  I don't know if he is afraid of "stage fright" or what the problem may be as he refuses to have a real conversation about this.  He now has the cold I had last week and this is his latest excuse.

What do you gals think?

[tina1111]

I am a firm believer in monitoring when on any fertility med. I developed cysts while on Clomid that were found on u/s. If I wasn't monitored, it could have grown larger and been dangerous. I did get a bfp on Clomid (but mc). I had minor hot flashes. It didn't affect opks nor cm for me. Overall, I say it is a good drug.

I like Femara for the fact that it has a half life. It is out of your system very quickly. I didn't get any s/e from it. But, I didn't get a bfp either. I know 2 posters that got bfps on Femara.

If you choose the Clomid and start feeling any pain at all, please have it checked without hesitation. Good luck!

[Griggsy]

I took Femara and I would recommend it anyone. It seems to be more willing to work with your system. It didn't give me any strange mood swings, or irratabilty. I also didn't get any cysts from being on it.

My body reacted great to a small dosage and after my second month of being on it I was pregnant.

I have never been on Clomid, but when given the choice I went with the Femara.

[Quinns momma]

Clomid worked for me and I had no problems with it messing up my OPK's. I did use pre-seed while on it. It worked for me the 3rd month on.  Daughter is now 2 years old and I am ttc #2. If AF shows tomorrow I am going back onto Clomid days 3-7.

Tell DH that there is no sense for you to put yourself the joys of infertility medications with some not so fun side effects if it is his swimmers causing the issue. I also had to insist and beg DH to get his tested. His came back fine and I just happend to have a long luteal phase which required the use of Clomid.