IVF Pregnancies at Greater Risk of Exposure to Medicines That Can Harm the Baby

The AHA! Team — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 06:09:30 +0000

University of South Australia via Newswise – Pregnancies achieved through IVF and ICSI have the highest exposure to medicines that can harm the fetus, raising the chances of birth defects. A new Australian study has revealed a potential reason why some pregnancies achieved through assisted reproductive technology (ART) may result in birth defects in comparison to naturally conceived pregnancies. Researchers found that in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) pregnancies had the highest exposure to teratogenic medicines that potentially can harm the fetus during the first trimester of pregnancy. These are listed as Category D and X medicines by Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). The risk associated with the use of Category D medicines in pregnancy may be outweighed by the clinical benefit in individual cases such as management of mental health disorders or epilepsy. Category X medicines on the other hand are strongly discouraged during pregnancy due to the high risk of fetal harm. Researchers from the University of South Australia (UniSA), The University of Western Australia (UWA) and The Kids Research Institute Australia analysed more than 57,000 pregnancies in four conception groups over a two-year period. The groups comprised women using ART (2041); those taking medication to induce ovulation (590); untreated sub-fertile women (2063); and naturally fertile pregnancies (52,987). ART pregnancies had the highest exposure to Category D medications taken in the first trimester. The study found that 4.9% of the ART pregnancies were exposed, compared to only 0.6% of naturally conceived pregnancies. In later trimesters, the trend persisted, with 3.4% of ART pregnancies exposed to Category D medications versus 0.6% of naturally conceived pregnancies. Exposure to Category X medications (causing the most harm during pregnancy) was low across all groups and trimesters, at less than 0.5% of pregnancies. “These differences in exposure are primarily linked to medications used as additional treatment following ART to prevent repeat miscarriages or failed implantation, rather than medications to treat underlying chronic conditions,” says UniSA researcher Dr Anna Kemp-Casey, who led the study. “For example, ART pregnancies, during the study period were more often exposed to progestogens like medroxyprogesterone acetate, which may have been used to treat threatened or recurrent miscarriages,” Dr Kemp says. The five most frequently used Category D/X medications across all pregnancies regardless of conception status were paroxetine, lamotrigine, valproic acid, carbamazepine, and nicotine dependence treatments. UWA co-researcher Professor Roger Hart, also a practising IVF clinician and the national medical director of City Fertility, says the higher exposure to Category D and X medicines in ART pregnancies during the first trimester may contribute to the higher rate of birth defects observed in ART babies. “Although ART pregnancies are carefully planned, medications taken during fertility treatments may inadvertently increase exposure to birth defect risks, particularly during critical periods of fetal development,” Prof Hart says. Researchers say the findings demonstrate that the vast majority of IVF babies are healthy, and do not suggest that ART pregnancies are unsafe, but they underscore the importance of personalised medical care for women undergoing ART treatment and close monitoring for women in early pregnancy. Prof Hart says more research is needed to examine Category D and X medicines exposure in pregnancy as well as underlying maternal medical conditions and their contribution to birth defect risk in ART babies. The study has been published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Notes for editors “Are assisted reproductive technology pregnancies more likely to be exposed to teratogenic medication? A whole-population study” is authored by researchers from the University of South Australia, Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia and Curtin University. DOI: 10.1111/ajo.13911 According to the latest ANZARD report, in 2022 more than 20,000 children in Australia (17,963) and New Zealand (2095) were born using ART. Since IVF was introduced in 1978, 10 million children have been born using ART. A 2021 study by US researchers analyzing 1.2 million births found an 18% higher risk of birth defects among IVF babies and a 36% overall greater risk for ICSI births (42% increased risk where ICSI was used to treat male factor subfertility and 30% increased risk with ICSI use for non-male factor subfertility). In IVF pregnancies, sperm is added to a dish containing eggs, and fertilisation occurs naturally, compared to ICSI where a single sperm is injected directly into each egg. The latter procedure is normally used to treat male subfertility but is also an option for unexplained infertility. To read the original article click here.

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Researchers Link IVF Use to an Increased Risk of Breast Cancer

AHA Publisher — Wed, 27 Oct 2021 07:00:48 +0000

Wendy Miller via NaturalHealth365 – In vitro fertilization (IVF) has become one of the primary methods of assisted reproductive technology for individuals dealing with infertility. The connection between the medications used during the IVF process and breast cancer has been the subject of many studies, with sometimes differing results. Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in women. Although an increase in the risk of breast cancer has been linked to hormones like estrogen, there seem to be conflicting results from specific studies between IVF and the disease. Conflicting Evidence: Do Fertility Drugs Increase Breast Cancer Risk? Most women who undergo IVF are required to take medications like gonadotropins and Clomiphene citrate that stimulate the female reproductive system to increase ovulation and prepare the body for an egg to be fertilized. The concern is that if these medications are taken for an extended period, will it cause a dramatic increase in the risk of breast cancer for these women. It seems that for every study that says there is an increase, another study says there is not. So where does that leave you? Should you be concerned? Are You Considering IVF? Know Your Cancer Risk Before Getting Started There is enough evidence that suggests the risk of breast cancer in women who have undergone IVF is real. It has been proven that by taking hormone-based medications like birth control, and now IVF medications, there is a distinct possibility that may lead to an increase in breast cancer or other cancers of the reproductive system. The real issue why the studies have such conflicting results may not lie in the use of the hormones so much as it does with the woman’s predisposition to cancer. Every woman carries some degree of risk for cancers of the female reproductive system. Family history and exposure to environmental toxins also play a role. This Sex Hormone Has a Profound Impact on Cancer Development The key to understanding many of these studies goes back to the link that estrogen and other hormones have on a woman’s risk of developing cancer. A woman who took birth control pills for several years may have an increased risk of breast, ovarian, or uterine cancers, much like a woman who took IVF medications for an extended period. For many women who rely on in vitro fertilization for the opportunity to become a mother, the risk takes on a new perspective. While it’s important to look at each study as objectively as possible, many women will put the risk aside if it will allow them to conceive and carry a child. Here Is How to Calculate Your Individual Cancer Risks In general, the use of IVF medications for any length of time has a link to an increase in the risk of breast cancer. But, just how significant is this risk to you? Unfortunately, there is no way to predict who will succumb to the disease. That’s why it is best ALWAYS to weigh the risks and the benefits of undergoing any medical intervention. Studies have shown that IVF medications can increase breast tissue density and make it more likely for breast cancer to develop. However, it does not mean that every woman who uses them will end up with a diagnosis. Bottom line: your lifestyle, diet, level of activity, and day-to-day stress will all have to be factored in as you calculate your risk. You must also include your past medical history as well as that of your family. When looking at the big picture, you may find that you have a higher than average risk of breast cancer once you add in the use of IVF medications. You must remember, however, your results are unique to you and your health. The studies that have been performed about IVF medications and their association to an increase in the risk of breast cancer are speculative at best. With all of the other possible factors associated with the risk of breast cancer, it is hard to say whether or not the use of IVF medications on their own will have such a dramatic impact. Look at the studies yourself and include your risk factors. Then, talk to your doctor and ask for help assessing your degree of predisposition to cancer. Sources for this article include: NIH.gov BreastCancer.org To read the original article click here.

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IVF Pregnancies at Greater Risk of Exposure to Medicines That Can Harm the Baby

Researchers Link IVF Use to an Increased Risk of Breast Cancer