Anyone who has had fertility issues knows that it is a huge investment emotionally, physically, psychologically, and financially. Of the many things to think about when undergoing fertility treatment, one issues has been how to factor in the relationship between fertility treatments today and possible breast cancer tomorrow. Does the benefit of having a child outweight the risk of possible future disease that may take you from your child at some point?
A new study may help couples answer this question. Danish researchers reviewed records of over 54,000 women who received fertility treatments to investigate the suspected link between fertility drugs and breast cancer. They found there was no overall increase in breast cancer risk after using the most common of fertility drugs, including gonadotrophins (e.g., Factrel, Lutrepulse, Relisorm), clomiphene citrate (clomid), human chorionic gonadotropin (e.g., Novarel, Ovidrel, Pregnyl, Profasi), or gonadotropin-releasing hormone (e.g., Lupron, Synarel). There also was no relationship with how many cycles the woman received fertility treatments.
The study did show, however, that women who used progesterone were three times as likely to develop later breast cancer risk. There also was a slightly elevated breast cancer risk for women who had never had children and used gonadotropins.
If you are considering or undergoing fertility treatments and you are using some of the more common drugs, hopefully this study will give you some peace of mind. However, if you're being prescribed progesterone or gonadotropins, this study suggests that a frank discussion with your doctor about the risks and benefits is in order. Your future health may depend on it.
A new study may help couples answer this question. Danish researchers reviewed records of over 54,000 women who received fertility treatments to investigate the suspected link between fertility drugs and breast cancer. They found there was no overall increase in breast cancer risk after using the most common of fertility drugs, including gonadotrophins (e.g., Factrel, Lutrepulse, Relisorm), clomiphene citrate (clomid), human chorionic gonadotropin (e.g., Novarel, Ovidrel, Pregnyl, Profasi), or gonadotropin-releasing hormone (e.g., Lupron, Synarel). There also was no relationship with how many cycles the woman received fertility treatments.
The study did show, however, that women who used progesterone were three times as likely to develop later breast cancer risk. There also was a slightly elevated breast cancer risk for women who had never had children and used gonadotropins.
If you are considering or undergoing fertility treatments and you are using some of the more common drugs, hopefully this study will give you some peace of mind. However, if you're being prescribed progesterone or gonadotropins, this study suggests that a frank discussion with your doctor about the risks and benefits is in order. Your future health may depend on it.
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