Today, I started yet another new drug called Letrozole. This Daily Doodle features its chemical structure and the mechanism of action. Letrozole is a non steroidal aromatase inhibitor which essentially decreases the amount of estrogen in the body. It is typically used for breast cancer in post-menopausal women but it’s off-label use, includes ovarian stimulation in fertility medicine.

Letrozole prevents aromatase (the unhappy swirl) from converting androgens to estrogens mainly in peripheral adipose tissue by competitive and reversible binding. As a result of the decrease in estrogen, more follicle stimulating hormone is produced, which leads to even more ovarian stimulation.

Since my tumors are estrogen sensitive and I am undergoing egg harvesting, Letrozole works for both decreasing my levels of estrogen and stimulating my ovaries! Down side – hot flashes…