Understanding aromatase inhibitors
Letrozole, anastrozole, and exemestane
The short version
Aromatase inhibitors (letrozole, anastrozole, exemestane) lower the amount of estrogen the body produces. They are typically used by people who have gone through menopause, since they don't stop the ovaries from making estrogen.
Aromatase inhibitors lower the amount of estrogen the body makes by blocking an enzyme (aromatase) involved in producing it. Because the ovaries can still make estrogen using other pathways before menopause, aromatase inhibitors are typically used after menopause, sometimes alongside ovarian suppression before menopause.
- Letrozole, anastrozole, and exemestane are the three most commonly used
- Common side effects can include joint stiffness or pain, and effects on bone density over time
Because bone density can be affected over time, a bone density scan is often recommended periodically while on an aromatase inhibitor.
Questions you may want to ask
Which aromatase inhibitor are you recommending, and why that one?
Should I have a bone density scan, and how often?