Femara

Femara is a drug known as an aromatase inhibitor. It is used to treat breast cancer in postmenopausal women by limiting the amount of estrogen produced by the body. Femara may also be used for the treatment of infertility, as it may cause ovulation with less side effects than other fertility drugs such as Clomid. Femara's generic name is letrozole.

Femara side effects may include weight gain, nausea, and headache. Major side effects such as fainting, chest pain, and vision changes should be cause for emergency medical care, as should severe allergic reactions. Elderly patients may be more prone to experiencing side effects, and will be monitored more closely. Femara is a class "D" drug, and should not be taken by pregnant or breastfeeding women. If you have a missed period while on Femara, you may be pregnant and should notify your doctor right away. Patients who are on hormone replacement therapy or who have not gone through menopause may not be able to take Femara. Your doctor should be told if you are in either of these two categories, or if you have any other medical conditions. Also inform your doctor of all medications you take, to avoid drug interactions. Continued use of Femara may cause osteoporosis or elevated cholesterol levels, so your doctor will monitor you regularly to ensure these conditions do not develop. He or she may also recommend you take another drug such as Tamoxafen, because Tamoxafen does not reduce estrogen production like Femara does, and therefore may not cause osteoporosis or high cholesterol.

As previously mentioned, Femara may be used as an infertility drug. However, doctors are divided on whether Femara should be used for infertility, instead of more established fertility drugs such as Clomid or Follistim. Some studies show that women may become pregnant with Femara when traditional treatments have failed, and that Femara thickens the uterine lining, allowing a fertilized egg to implant more firmly, thereby reducing the risk of miscarriage. Other doctors feel that while such studies are promising, Femara still needs more study before it should be regularly used for fertility treatments. Femara cost is comparable to other fertility drugs, so this should not be a concern for the patient. Do not use Femara for any purpose without a prescription or without being under a doctor's care. Using Femara on your own for fertility or any other purposes could be dangerous. More information on Femara and fertility can be obtained from your gynecologist, OB/GYNO or your reproductive specialist.