Possible Fertility Drug-Cancer Link Found

Widely-Used Clomid, Others Studied; Some Increased Uterine Cancer Risk By As Much As Four Times; More Study Said Needed

(CBS)  A new study suggests that some fertility drugs may increase the risk of developing uterine cancer.

"One of the most important (drugs) that was addressed in the study is Clomiphene," Early Show medical contributor Dr. Holly Phillips told co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez Thursday. "It's also known as Clomid, and it is probably the most common fertility drug used today.

"The way Clomid works is it makes the body think its estrogen levels are lower than they actually are, and that helps with ovulation to release more eggs. That helps women become pregnant."

The study, which was done at Hadassah-Hebrew University in Jerusalem, "was significant," Phillips said, "in that it followed women for 30 years and it looked at their entire lifetime risk of developing cancers. And it did find a three-to-four time increase in uterine cancer in women who had taken this drug.

"This isn't the first time we've seen a link between things that modulate estrogen and uterine cancers, but this is one of the first times we've seen this type of link with the fertility drugs.

Still, Phillips cautioned, "previous studies have not found a link, and they've said that (fertility drugs are) completely safe, so I think what we really have to take from this is that more study is needed.

"But these drugs are so common right now. Many, many women are taking fertility drugs, and I don't want them to feel uncomfortable or as though they shouldn't take them. It's just that they need to be monitored.

"I think the process of taking hormones is a scary one in many ways. Again, Clomiphene isn't a hormone, but it changes the way our body processes, certainly processes hormones, so I think it's one of those things we need to consider carefully."

[grammawhamma]

Once again...man playing with nature backfires. There are plenty of children that need to be adopted. Why do people go to such great lengths for the need to pass on their own genes? Seems arrogant to me. Perhaps there was a good reason your genes were meant to not reproduce. I am not saying this to be mean...but adopt instead.

[niceface19]

Clomiphene is an altered nuclear transmission, which when interact with alcohol can greatly increase the growth of abnormal cells/

[nilwob99]

I am offended by the above comments. I personally have not used fertility drugs, but you obviously do not have any children because I would give my own life for my child and even a day with my child would be the worth the risk of developing cancer. If you were well educated maybe you would know that if you make it past a certain age you are more likely to develop cancer anyways. Children are a beautiful gift and I can understand why people that aren''t able to have children would seek other ways to try when the science is there to do so. You have obviously never received the unconditional love of a child if you have maybe you would understand why people are so "bent" on having them.

[rf35]

If one cannot get knocked up naturally, they should accept it and be comforted that they are not contributing to overpopulation. Considering all the horrors we read about daily being visited on children, these people know they will be spared the worry (or reality) of such things happening to their offspring.

[birdwoman98]

How could anyone who reads information about assisted reproductive technologies be surprised at the findings of this study?

Women who are desperate to become pregnant (or carry a pregnancy to full term) have been viewed as guinea pigs by the modern medical profession, masquerading in the guise of paternalistic concern, since before Louis Brown was born. Hello, anybody out there ever heard of DES? Do I sound crazed to you, thats because I am a DES daughter, medically enjoined from ever using ART or Plan B. Because of the effects of the drug my own mother was given to prevent miscarriage.

Yes, I understand all too well about %u2018baby lust%u2019 (the overwhelming desire for a baby). But hello! That cute little baby grows into a tyrannical toddler and worse, a teenager! I know from painful experience.

People, any drug which causes your body to react in a hyperstimulated (the release of more eggs then during a regular cycle) fashion has the potential to cause cancer. Anybody remember Agent Orange and how it works?

[jlpruitt-2009]

drivelphobe: you must be a guy. A woman would never say that to another woman who is trying all she can to get pregnant. Better mate selection? We are not animals thank you very much.

[drivelphobe]

The use of fertility drugs goes against nature. People who can''t conceive aren''t supposed to have children. It doesn''t surprise me that there are adverse side effects. It is truly ironic that one so bent on bearing a child, must run the high risk of dying in the process. Perhaps better mate selection might be an alternative or go without offspring.