Long term effects of fertility drugs?

[MrsDarcy4092]

The reason i am so worried about the drugs is i am not convinced that proper research has been done into the long term side effects of them. If there are warnings for taking contraceptive pill about links of cancer then i don't see why thats different in fertility drugs? except that no one is researching it to say for definite. I don't know if i am just being really over anxious about this, it just does not sit right with me to pump my body full of high dose hormones and not expect long term side effects? does anyone else feel this way? anyone researched it? the cancer research website says there is no link - but is that just because there has not been the research? I have a tumor, its pretty likely non cancerous as i had it since i was a baby and its never grown even through puberty but i am still worried that maybe these high dose drugs would cause it to grow and as its a rare tumor its hard to no for definite. Most baby's that had the same tumor died as theirs all grew. But i was lucky then and i don't want to push my luck now. I really don't know what to do. Any ideas?

[MrsDarcy4092]

Thanks. We've booked an open day at crgh.

No didn't have consultation at create but attended an open day and in the presentation the professor said they prefer doing lie drug rather then no drug and I've since read online that sometimes their low drug was the same as other clinics normal regieme

[outputgap]

I know someone who had natural cycle ivf at CRGH, and they have very good results. You could try asking there?

So you had a consultation at Create, and they refused or discouraged natural cycle for you? You sound like the perfect candidate. You've got plenty of time to do lots of cycles if needed. Odd. But I'm not a massive fan of Create anyway.

[MrsDarcy4092]

thanks for your replies. i am glad its not just me who finds the lack of evidence frustrating.

I am 31 and we have male factor infertility. My fertility appears normal. I was really encouraged by natural ivf so went to create who are the supposed pioneers but they said they rarely do it now and encourage people to have low dose ivf instead as greater success. So if the pioneers aren't even doing it...

This morning i have sent lots of emails to neurologists with specialist interest in my type of tumor and asked either for their advice or if they would see me to discuss. I am doubtful though as to whether i will get any concrete advice but it might help to decide if there are definite risks for me with the drugs and if then its worth only going for natural ivf.

[outputgap]

I thought there was some suggestion of a link to ovarian cancers, but what I have learnt from ivf, as a person with a rudimentary statistical background, is how piss poor the evidence base for lots of medical interventions in this area are. So, hoping to find a decent evidence base here might be a bit optimistic.

But it sounds like you have a very specific medical issue which requires proper medical advice, rather than the general attempt to stack up costs and benefits in the absence of certainty which I did before ivf.

Do you know what, if any, fertility issue you have? And how long have you been ttc? Age? You could, depending on these, do natural cycle ivf, and avoid some of the hormones.

[lunar1]

I had massive amounts of fertility drugs over 9 years. In between my two successful pregnancies I had a large cyst removed, caused by the treatments. My dr said it could turn cancerous if left. I researched the risks and went ahead anyway. I think you need to weigh up the risks for yourself.

I make sure I attend every smear test they send me for. I also have yearly blood tests, but that is because many of my family have had a cancer not currently thought to have a genetic link. It's not an easy choice, deciding to do something that could have such severe consequences.