QuestionI am 35 (husband is 41) living in WI, USA. I am TTC #2, and would like to avoid injectibles. For my son, we had to do many rounds of injections and IUI's (6) due to unexplained infertitlity/ annovulatory. At that time I was on a seizure drug which substantially decreased my estrogen. I am no longer on this drug- but was unresponsive to clomid. Are there other, non-injectibles that might work? I am trying to avoid the cost of the injectible medications...
AnswerHello Dana from the U.S.,
The only alternative would be a drug called Femara (Letrozole). It works like Clomid (indirectly) and can be given in doses of 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 mg. It is taken for five consecutive days just like Clomid.
Another alternative would be a combination regimen where high dose Clomid (250mg) is used in conjunction with Menopur (injectable). The Clomid is taken on day # 3-7 and Menopur is started on day#8 until the follicle is ready to trigger with HCG. This is successful in some PCO patients that do not respond to Clomid alone, and is more cost effective because it is only a few days of injectable medications.
Sincerely,
Edward J. Ramirez, M.D., FACOG
Executive Medical Director
The Fertility and Gynecology Center
Monterey Bay IVF Program
www.montereybayivf.com
Monterey, California, U.S.A.
for additional information check out my blog at http://womenshealthandfertility.blogspot.com check me out on facebook and twitter with me at @montereybayivf
