Infertility Support Group

In vitro fertilization is one of the most common and utilized ways of treating conception problems. This support group is dedicated to those beginning their journey with IVF and needing support. Join the community and share your experiences, advice, and story with people going through similar challenges starting a family.

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lina2008 11/09/2008

Hi girls,

A friend of my mother who works as an in some of the major Sydney hospitals warned me yesterday about using Clomid, which she said can cause ovarian, uterine and breast cancer! I googled this and found that there is an increase in these type of cancers with Clomid, but I was never told! Have any of you been warned about it by your doctors?

I'm feeling a little angry at mine right now as I feel I wasn't given all the info I should have been given and thus could have made a more informed choice, such as going for the laparoscopy BEFORE taking Clomid (which he recommended, but never told me why) but because I hate going under, I decided to take Clomid first and see what would happen, now I think I may have done it the other way around...

What have been your experiences? Have any of you been told about this?

deleted_user 11/09/2008

I geuss I am not and wasnt to worried about the slight increase risk of cancer as oppossed to the chance it helping me have a family but I think any person needs to do research the drug their doctor wants to put them on or what they are interrested in taking as I did and after 3 months of 50mg I have a beautiful 3 month old baby boy.

strength4today 11/09/2008

my doctor didn't mention those improved risks, but i did learn them through my own research before taking clomid. like savannah i feel that the risk is worth it. but i can understand you're frustration at your physician for not informing you of the potential risks.

deleted_user 11/09/2008

I asked me RE about this as well. He did say there was a minimally higher risk for women taking Clomid, however, he said women who have children have much lower risks of ovarian, breast and uterine cancers also. Kind of like a double edged sword but my understanding is having a child does decrease some of these same cancers. I had many of the same concerns as well, I do believe there is a max on how many times you can take clomid though. It is hard, all these concerns on top of IF.

summerbda 11/09/2008

It did scare me a bit.....most of the infertily meds...including loading up on estrogen/progest. really is not good for you. My reg.RE wife went thru IFV 3 times and has had breast and uterus cancer shortly after treatment....and he's very upset by this and told me to, please adopt after watching his wife go thru this (he did scare me) they adopted 2 childern and said (of coarse hind sight) now they wish they had never done IVF!

deleted_user 11/09/2008

I took Clomid for 5 months and was diagnosed with ovarian cancer less than one year after taking it. I am not saying that it caused the cancer but they can't rule it out.

deleted_user 11/09/2008

I agree with you as my doctor wants to place me on stimulation drugs. I would like to do a natural cycle.

He did give me a sheet about all the side effects...the major one is ovarian stimulation and ovarian cancer.

In the sheet...and later on the web, I found out the risk is small and if a woman becomes pregnant and breast feeds, then the risk is even more minimal. But there is a risk.

I thought of Elizabeth Edwards and her cancer, so there is a risk.

I know I'm petrified and was going to blog this on the board. Especially if I take the drugs and they don't result in a pregnancy.

I'm also afraid of having twins. As a single mother, as much as I want to become pregnant, I will die if I have twins. I can't afford them and refuse to abort one.

deleted_user 11/10/2008

My doctor did warn me about the risk of cancer. I also feel that the risk is worth the reward. My doctor also said he wont put me on it for longer that 6 months.

deleted_user 11/10/2008

Interesting post... What about other fertility drugs? Follitism, Menopur, Progesterone?

It cant be healthy... but how bad are they? Anyone knows?

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