A prescription aromatase inhibitor used to induce ovulation in women with PCOS who are trying to conceive.
Why it matters for PCOS
Letrozole is an aromatase inhibitor, which means it briefly lowers estrogen production. This prompts the brain to raise the hormones that stimulate the ovaries, helping a follicle mature and an egg to be released. For women with PCOS who do not ovulate regularly and are trying to conceive, letrozole is often used to induce ovulation, usually taken for a few days early in the menstrual cycle.
Letrozole is a prescription medicine that must be prescribed and monitored by a doctor, usually a gynaecologist, because the dose and cycle response need to be tracked and adjusted. It is also used in other conditions such as breast cancer, but fertility use requires medical assessment.
This glossary is education, not diagnosis. For your own situation, ask a doctor or pharmacist.