Those who had children with fertility drugs...

After undergoing fertility treatments for several years, I've always been super paranoid about the effect these drugs could have on my body. Of course I knew without it, I risked being childless, so ya do what ya gotta do ... but at the end of the day, it's always something that weighs on my mind. With breast cancer being so prevalent, it especially concerns me.


I mentioned it to my ob today at my followup who said I should come for a regular in-office breast exam 2-3 months after I'm done breastfeeding, but beyond that not to worry since I'm under 35 with no history of it in my family. Even STILL though, you hear stories .......

Have you ladies gone to any extra measures to get a breast exam like a breast sono, mammogram, etc. since doing treatments and having babies? I feel like before restarting treatments in the future, it's something I'd want to take care of just so I know I'm in the clear . I guess it's on my mind even more now with breast cancer awareness month approaching.

Re: Those who had children with fertility drugs...

It's wild that you posted this. Last night, out of nowhere, I began reading about all sorts of health risks associated with the drugs we took (something I do from time to time).
It weighs on my mind from time to time. I am actually going in for a mammogram next month.

Those who had children with fertility drugs...

How old are you???? Did you have a baseline yet? You can always ask for one.

Re: Those who had children with fertility drugs...

I had my second DD with fertility drugs but prior to kids I've been going for breast sonos and mammos since my early thirties because early breast cancer runs in my family. This is the only way my insurance company will cover before 40. I also had the BRACA test done to see if I'm a genetic carrier for breast and ovarian cancer. Came back negative but I still have a chance of getting it since it runs in the family...just not a carrier.

Re: Those who had children with fertility drugs...

sorry to start drama/.... but you don't risk being childless if you don't do fertility treatment/drugs. There is ALWAYS adoption!!
in our case, I was born with a condition where I don't make eggs. So it was either fertility treatments with a donor egg, adoption, or being childless. We picked adoption, for the reason you mentioned with the fertility drugs. It just scared me too much. Sure, adoption has risks, too... but not to my or the babies health. and I know a lot of people are scared ot adopt because you "don't know what you're going to get".... well, the same thing is true with a biological child. you just never know.
We brought our son home a little over a year ago. He's 3 now, and he's the light of our lives and we couldn't love him more even if I had given birth to him. He was meant to be with us. I always tell people- however it happens, you end up with the child you were meant to have.
Sorry, just my little "plug" for adoption

Re: Those who had children with fertility drugs...

I think about this all of the time...

My Mom was diagnosed with BC earlier this year and is just finishing up her treatments. It scares the crap out of me! I've spoken to her doctors as well as my OB and they still don't think I should start getting mammos until I'm 35... that's in 5 years. My Mom, my sister and I have all tested negative for the BRCA gene, so it's not genetic in our case, but you never know! I feel like I hear of someone with breast or ovarian cancer waaaaaaaay too often nowadays.

Re: Those who had children with fertility drugs...

Posted by ml110

sorry to start drama/.... but you don't risk being childless if you don't do fertility treatment/drugs. There is ALWAYS adoption!!
in our case, I was born with a condition where I don't make eggs. So it was either fertility treatments with a donor egg, adoption, or being childless. We picked adoption, for the reason you mentioned with the fertility drugs. It just scared me too much. Sure, adoption has risks, too... but not to my or the babies health. and I know a lot of people are scared ot adopt because you "don't know what you're going to get".... well, the same thing is true with a biological child. you just never know.
We brought our son home a little over a year ago. He's 3 now, and he's the light of our lives and we couldn't love him more even if I had given birth to him. He was meant to be with us. I always tell people- however it happens, you end up with the child you were meant to have.
Sorry, just my little "plug" for adoption

Re: Those who had children with fertility drugs...

No. not really.

Being pregnant is protective: so I take it a plus and minus.

Re: Those who had children with fertility drugs...

Posted by LeShellem

Posted by ml110

sorry to start drama/.... but you don't risk being childless if you don't do fertility treatment/drugs. There is ALWAYS adoption!!
in our case, I was born with a condition where I don't make eggs. So it was either fertility treatments with a donor egg, adoption, or being childless. We picked adoption, for the reason you mentioned with the fertility drugs. It just scared me too much. Sure, adoption has risks, too... but not to my or the babies health. and I know a lot of people are scared ot adopt because you "don't know what you're going to get".... well, the same thing is true with a biological child. you just never know.
We brought our son home a little over a year ago. He's 3 now, and he's the light of our lives and we couldn't love him more even if I had given birth to him. He was meant to be with us. I always tell people- however it happens, you end up with the child you were meant to have.
Sorry, just my little "plug" for adoption

I'm glad adoption worked for you, but for some adoption is not even a possibility. We looked into adoption for such a long time and in the end there was simply no way we could ever afford to adopt a child. Financially it could never be feasible, so for some adoption isn't a possibility.

Don't believe me, look on the infertilitity board and see how hard it is for people (without insurance or under insured) to come up with 10 - 15 thousand for fertility treatments which is still about half of what you would need to adopt.

Those who had children with fertility drugs...

No, i did not. But i do think about it often. I just had my annual with my OB and he asked if i've ever had a mammogram but because i don't have any family history of BC, it wasn't something recommended to me. i wonder why doctors aren't more proactive about it if fertility drugs can increase your risk?

Re: Those who had children with fertility drugs...

doc never mentioned it.

Re: Those who had children with fertility drugs...

Because of my family history I started having mamo's earlier, my first one was when I was 27. I had a second one before my first IVF (at 31) and just had my third this year. This last one they did follow up with a sono. I am very vigilent about having regular breast exams done.
Having all of the treatments on top of my family history scares me, but I stay on top of it and so far all is fine.