[CMM&CDMX2]

I am a new member and I have been ttc for 2 years. I have had primary and secondary infertility. It took us 2.5 years to conceive my son and now I'm in the middle of fertility treatments once again. Unfortunately, what worked to get me pregnant the first time, injectables with IUI, has not worked this time around. I've done 4 cycles of injectables and IUI and it took me one cycle to conceive my son. I am very frustrated. My RE is ready for me to start IVF. I am very reluctant, yet I really want one more child. I'm 37, so I don't have much time to wait and see what happens. My BIG concern is the health risks associated with fertility drugs. I've done extensive reading online about ovarian cancer and fertility drugs. Although many new studies suggests that the underlying cause of the infertility could be the actual culprit in women who get ovarian cancer and not the drugs themselves, I am still hesitant to take the leap to such strong doses of the drugs required for IVF.

Is anyone else nervous or concerned about the possible health risks associated with IVF treatments? The last thing in the world I would want to do is leave my son motherless in my pursuit of expand my family. Adoption is not a possibility at this point but my DH has strong feelings against it.

Thanks for any info.

[rori]

sorry to hear you're going through this again...it doesn't really seem fair. i'm going through secondary as well (i have a 2.5 year old son) and have struggled with the same fears as you. my mother, who's a radiologist and deals with cancer patients daily, was at first against the fertility treatments. but, after seeing the pain i was going through, and with no long-term studies done she saw that i really had no choice and agreed that it was the right thing to do. re's like to say that the drugs aren't cancer causing but who really knows? i've gone through ivf once and am fearful to do it again because of the drugs. i think it's just a question of weighing what's most important to you.

[einstein]

This is something that crossed my mind before and during my IVF. My mom is a breast cancer survivor and both my grandmothers had it as well (Dad's mom died from it). So, I know I'm already at a high risk for it. But it didn't deter me from having my twins. I felt that it was a risk I was willing to take.

[stewartmaml]

Hi, you are not the only one who is concerned. I have been secondary infertility for 2 years now, and my dh and I have done clomid, then injectables with IUI, we are now back to clomid with IUI this time and have had the last 2 cycles be unsuccessful. I am nervous to do ivf because of the potential side effects down the road. You are not alone.