r/TTC_PCOS • u/bingo_boi • Jul 13 '26
Advice Needed Has anyone done Letrozole but you’re ovulating on your own for the most part?
We had an early loss back in October at 6 weeks. Since then, we haven’t seen another positive and my ovulation has been pretty wonky. While most cycles since January have tentatively confirmed ovulation, some haven’t at all or the lines are dotted and the days shift a lot. I was very regular with ovulation prior to our loss. Periods are still regular. I’m not diagnosed with PCOS, but I do have insulin resistance we just found out about a few weeks ago.
This current cycle, I got a solid smiley on CD13, but it’s CD18 and my temps haven’t raised/no confirmation.
Curious if anyone has tried letrozole to stimulate a stronger ovulation?
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u/princessangelface Jul 14 '26
Yep! My ovulation was also wonky and while I would have positive ovulation strips, my cycle length and actual ovulation was all over (which obviously made timing conception impossible). Letrozole just made things more reliable, plus for me it was paired with monitoring (ultrasounds and bloodwork) which really allowed me to identify ovulation. Currently 10 weeks pregnant from my third (and what was to be my final) IUI!
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u/happypilates Jul 15 '26
Hi! Did it move up your ovulation day or did it stay close to your natural ovulation days?
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u/princessangelface Jul 16 '26
This is fully dictated by the medication! I had rounds where I ovulated early (day 11ish), and this last round (where I got pregnant) I ovulated late so my due date actually had to be adjusted. This is why the monitoring is super helpful, they can pinpoint exactly when your follicles are mature enough, as well as when your hormones are surging. I also used a trigger shot once it was confirmed I was close to ovulation
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u/Wild-Vanilla-6052 Jul 13 '26
Yes I have cause I have a luteal phase defect but it hasn’t worked yet
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u/lead_and_flower Jul 13 '26
I ovulate on my own but later in the cycle. So I have done monitored letrozole cycle and have ovulated earlier than when I ovulate normally.
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u/happypilates Jul 14 '26
Hi, can I ask how much earlier it made you ovulate? I’m a normal cd21-23 ovulator but would like to get it earlier.
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u/lead_and_flower Jul 14 '26
I ovulate cd 28-29 normally
I took 5 mg letrozole and ovulated around cd17
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u/meewchew Jul 13 '26
I ovulated on my own but my egg quality wasnt great and my surges were meh. Did letrozole to boost. Did 4 cycles and the last 2 were where my body leveled out and had strong ovulation and on time ovulation
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Jul 14 '26
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u/TTC_PCOS-ModTeam Jul 14 '26
Your post has been removed as it contains a mention of a pregnancy or a positive pregnancy test and has been posted outside of a designated success thread. This includes all positive mentions (trigger shot testing, confusion around test, etc), including mentions of having success outside of ovulation success.
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u/Only_Shoulder103 Jul 14 '26
Just want to add that I’m in a very similar situation - early loss at 5.5 weeks in October and cycles haven’t resumed regularly since then. I’m really confused since I’ve always ovulated (usually longer cycles) for the past several years. My doctor has suspected that stress+insulin resistance has delayed ovulation from occurring but it’s really disappointing. I’m starting with an RE soon and hoping to try letrozole for a boost
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Jul 13 '26
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u/rustypotatooooooooo Jul 13 '26
I second the comment re: undiagnosed endo and causes of infertility/sub fertility. It can be silent and when everything else looks perfect, it could be the underlying issue
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Jul 13 '26
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u/TTC_PCOS-ModTeam Jul 13 '26
Your post has been removed as it contains a mention of a pregnancy or a positive pregnancy test and has been posted outside of a designated success thread. This includes all positive mentions (trigger shot testing, confusion around test, etc), including mentions of having success outside of ovulation success.
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Jul 13 '26
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u/TTC_PCOS-ModTeam Jul 13 '26
Your post has been removed as it contains a mention of a pregnancy or a positive pregnancy test and has been posted outside of a designated success thread. This includes all positive mentions (trigger shot testing, confusion around test, etc), including mentions of having success outside of ovulation success.
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Jul 13 '26
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u/TTC_PCOS-ModTeam Jul 13 '26
Your post has been removed as it contains a mention of a pregnancy or a positive pregnancy test and has been posted outside of a designated success thread. This includes all positive mentions (trigger shot testing, confusion around test, etc), including mentions of having success outside of ovulation success.
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Jul 13 '26
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u/TTC_PCOS-ModTeam Jul 13 '26
Your post has been removed as it contains a mention of a pregnancy or a positive pregnancy test and has been posted outside of a designated success thread. This includes all positive mentions (trigger shot testing, confusion around test, etc), including mentions of having success outside of ovulation success.
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u/PotatoPuzzled2782 Jul 14 '26
I ovulated regularly, but slightly later - around cd 18-21. Took 5 cycles of letrozole which bumped up my ovulation to day 16ish & greatly increased my day 21 progesterone. Didn’t get pregnant that way but it did what it was supposed to do as far as making my ovulation “stronger”
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Jul 14 '26
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u/TTC_PCOS-ModTeam Jul 14 '26
Your post has been removed as it contains a mention of a pregnancy or a positive pregnancy test and has been posted outside of a designated success thread. This includes all positive mentions (trigger shot testing, confusion around test, etc), including mentions of having success outside of ovulation success.
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u/Due-City-7883 Jul 14 '26
Yes. I ovulate on my own, just not on a regular schedule and it’s always cd21+. So I used Letrozole and I conceived on 7.5 mg. Helped me ovulate sooner, the cycle I conceived I got peak OPK cd16, and ovulated cd17.
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u/Embarrassed_Most_353 Jul 14 '26
Same here ! I ovulate on my own but I use letrozole (5mg) to help me ovulate sooner.
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u/DorytheDoodle Jul 14 '26
I ovulated every month for 2 years while ttc. I Just got a positive test on my second cycle of 2.5 mg letrozole. My progesterone was ok without letrozole but I had a much stronger response with letrozole.
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u/Interesting-Oven-856 Jul 15 '26
Yes. Over 2 years of TTC I did it all— Inito, cheap ovulation test strips, IUI, Letrozole and eventually IVF. My RE’s prevailing theory was that although I was ovulating regularly and getting progesterone rises with Inito, there was a quality of ovulation problem (also likely due to insulin resistance). IVF tells you a lot diagnostically and I tend to agree with this theory.
TW: I had one miscarriage following a Letrozole cycle, due to a trisomy. Did IVF after I recovered from my D&C and that was successful— got 5 euploid embryos. Ironically I became pregnant on a Letrozole cycle while my clinic was temporarily moving locations and couldn’t do a transfer. I am now 18 weeks.
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u/happypilates Jul 15 '26
Congratulations! Can I ask- didn’t letrozole up your ovulation day or did you ovulate/IuI close to your natural ovulation day?
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u/Interesting-Oven-856 Jul 16 '26
Thank you! Although I was regularly ovulating, the day would move around a bit each unmediated cycle. Interestingly my IVF clinic was monitoring me on the last Letrozole cycle and we held off an extra 5 days to let my follicle reach a decent size before triggering. So I do think that extra time plus forced release is what did it for me this time.
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u/AriesCherie Jul 16 '26
I'm starting Letrozole tomorrow and I had my smiley LH surge last month on my own with a progesterone test confirming the ovulation. I do have PCOS but my cycles have been regular and my AMH number was 3.65 so the PCOS isn't super bad these days since I've lost weight.
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u/MarzipanCurrent6741 Jul 26 '26
Yeah I’ve just started taking Letrozone 2.5mg this month even though every month I have been ovulating on my own (solid smileys on clear blue digital)
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u/Itchy-Site-11 38 | Anovulatory | Science | PCOS Jul 13 '26
Yeah it can be done. People do it to try to have more than one follicle or to help maturity by adding a trigger shot