Women taking fertility medication need to be careful, as new research reveals that they may be at greater risk of some very serious health consequences. The study’s findings are very specific and very revealing: women who took fertility drugs that did not work, which is to say that they did not conceive a 10 or more week pregnancy, had a reduced risk of breast cancer; however, women who succeeded in conceiving a 10-plus week pregnancy had an increased risk of breast cancer.
The study was conducted by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. The revelation of the study makes perfect sense, as fertility drugs are known to temporarily elevate women’s estrogen levels. Estrogen, in turn, has been well documented as increasing the risk of breast cancer in women.
Researchers do note that the relationship between breast cancer and fertility drugs is very complex and there are many factors at play. However, users of these drugs are advised to be careful, especially if they come from a family with a history of breast cancer. In addition, older women should be especially careful.