Ovulation Medication Q&A with Dr. Gleaton

Every month, Dr. Gleaton answers all your questions about fertility, pregnancy, birth and more. Follow us on Instagram to ask your questions!

By OBGYN Dr. Gleaton

I’m eleven months postpartum and still breastfeeding. I needed ovulation medication to conceive — how do I go about baby #2?

Secondary infertility, the inability to get pregnant or carry a pregnancy after previously delivering a child is not uncommon. The good news is that the chance of success with baby number two is higher after a prior successful pregnancy. Depending on your specific medical history, it may be necessary to again start medications to assist ovulation. Speak with your provider to discuss if and when starting medications may be right for you. Also focus on optimizing nutrition, exercising often, and taking a high quality prenatal vitamin.

Taking femara…how does it work?

Femara, the brand name for letrozole, belongs to a class of drugs called aromatase inhibitors. Aromotase inhibitors cause a decrease in estrogen levels, which in turn causes your brain to release more follicle stimulating hormone (fsh) which stimulates your ovaries to release an egg (or eggs). Thus, femara helps to correct irregular ovulation or induce ovulation if you’re not ovulating at all.

Want to learn more? Read the full article on Natalist.com.