DE IVF Meds - Hazardous to your health?

Hi ladies,

Before I address the potential dangers of IVF meds, I'd like to give you all a quick update on our DE journey. We have been blessed to have selected a proven donor who is everything we were looking for in a donor and an excellent match for my wife. Cycling has begun and we are tentatively scheduled for retrieval and transfer in mid December. My wife has been on Lupron a week this Tuesday. She hasnt really complained about any side effects as of yet, besides perhaps a brief hot flash one day. Please keep us in your prayers and thoughts.

We are somewhat concerned about the potential health risks of the IVF meds including Delestrogen, Progesterone, etc. We've all heard about the dangers of hormone replacement. Here are some of the warnings for Estrogen therapies:

1) Increased risk of cardiovascular disorders, coronary heart disease and stroke.
2) Increased risk of Venous Thromboembolism
3) Increased risk of endometrial cancer
4) Increased risk of breast cancer
5) Increased risk of dementia

I do believe that most if not all of the clinical studies that are the basis of these findings were on older postmenopausal women in the age range of 50 - 70. I'm not sure if these same warnings would apply to women in their early 40's who are still menstruating such as my wife. I'm not sure how the dosage levels in these studies compare to those of the meds my wife will be taking. I also believe the treatment period for these studies was 5 years in some cases. Its alarming to see all the warnings and it makes you wonder if this is really worth all the risk. Are any of you worried about the health risks and warnings? We'd love to get some feedback from you ladies on this subject and any light you can shed on this would be most appreciated.

Best Regards,
Gary & Cathy

Re: DE IVF Meds - Hazardous to your health?

As with any medication, hormone therapy can cause side effects. With any medication, you have to think about whether the risks of taking the drug outweighs the benefits. That's only a decision you can make for yourself.

You have to keep in mind that many of these risks (heart attack, stroke, dementia, DVT) are clotting issues and these are risks people run being on oral birth control (especially those who smoke).

In addition, not having a child increases your risk of breast cancer (triple risk).

Never mind family history contributing to these things....

There are so many things that contribute to something as multifactorial as heart disease and cancer. Ask your doctor... and stop your urge to "google".

Good luck to both of you. Hopefully, this will be a journey that ends well with a LO.

Message edited 11/15/2010 10:18:56 PM.

Re: DE IVF Meds - Hazardous to your health?

don't read the side effects or warnings. You'll be much better off. I started my progesterone shots the other day for our DE cycle and I decided to read the fine print. And here its telling me that progesterone is dangerous to pregnant women bla bla bla...... Well I wont get pregnant without it.

I just think it means women who are already pregnant naturally and don't need a supplement. This is the reason we are all monitored very very closely.

Anything can happen at any time...so I try to just go with the flow and do what I need to do.

Good luck to you both. I hope this is the miracle for you!!!