A lot has been said and published about IVF on Internet. Still, not every piece of information can be said to be trustable. That said, you may come across various myths and misconceptions regarding IVF treatment in Colombia on various blogs and articles online.
Talking about myths related to IVF treatment, the most marketed one quotes its connection with the risk of cancer. Besides, many people speculate about the role of fertility medicines in increasing the risk of cancer in humans.
In the following sections of this blog, we will talk in detail about these misconceptions. Besides, we will take a detailed look at whether or not IVF treatment in Colombia may trigger the risk of cancer in the patients undergoing the treatment.
Does IVF really trigger the risk of cancer in Patients?
There are many theories and surveys conducted by a list of medical institutes in the same regard. Still, a conclusive response to the question of whether cancer is caused by IVF or due to the intake of fertility drugs is challenging. This is because everyone has unique risk factors, studies have flaws in their methodology, and the occurrence of these types of cancers is really rare. However, as the use of IVF increases (1 million cycles globally), it is crucial to have reliable data to provide patients with sound advice.
Moreover, even without the use of fertility drugs, infertility, nulliparity (having no children by choice or inability), and late menopause are all linked to an increased risk of cancer. Besides, in studies on fertility drugs, conditions like PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) or endometriosis are overrepresented. Besides, these conditions are also linked to a higher risk of developing cancer, even in the absence of medication use. On the other hand, the results of studies are also complicated by selection, detection, and recall bias because few studies are subjective and may be altered when examining cancer incidence.
So, it cannot be concluded that the fertility medications used during IVF in Colombia may cause a big risk of cancer in infertility patients. That said, it is always advisable to connect with your IVF clinic to bring the right conclusion based on the tests and diagnoses conducted.
Risk factors for ovarian cancer from fertility treatments
Most of the medical studies, when compared to infertile controls and/or the general population, have not demonstrated a critical amplification in ovarian cancer post the intake of fertility drugs, according to the Practice Committee of ASRM. Moreover, a woman should always tell her doctor that she underwent fertility treatment because ovarian cancer usually manifests much later in life. This is so that the appropriate surveillance can be carried out, and because new studies may clarify the long-term risks.
On the other hand, a distinct subset of ovarian cancer known as borderline ovarian cancer is slow-growing, 95% curable, and rarely associated with fertility treatments. Besides, there has been a small jump in borderline tumours, according to a number of studies. Additionally, these tumours have a constructive prognosis if diagnosed early and a slow rate of growth.
So, we can say that the risk of ovarian cancer due to certain infertility treatments is quite minimal. Hence, we must not take it as a sure-shot conclusion to doubt the effectiveness of IVF treatment in Colombia.
Is there any Risk of breast cancer from IVF and fertility medications?
Just like in other studies on infertility treatment and cancer, it was been observed that progesterone and estrogen sensitivity can occur in some breast cancers. Moreover, people are worried that fertility drugs might make these cancers more likely. Besides, the growth of a patient’s hormone-sensitive breast cancer would occur during periods of high estrogen or progesterone, but studies have not revealed an increase in the number of new breast cancer diagnoses.
On the other hand, seven systematic reviews or in other words, meta-analyses, have found no evidence of an increase in breast cancer. That said, a number of studies have tracked women for at least 30 years after receiving fertility treatment without observing an increase in incidence. However, breast cancer risk factors include nulliparity, infertility, and older age at first childbirth. Moreover, it was been observed that 1 in 8 women around the world got the possibility to develop breast cancer at some point in their lives.
So, as a woman undergoes an IVF treatment, she must also get herself checked for any possibility of breast cancer in the future. They must understand that even though fertility medications doesn’t trigger any such critical health issues, timely detection may save their life.
Fertility treatments and Endometrial cancer (uterine cancer)
Another study by a group of experts has revealed that endometrial cancer is at risk due to unopposed estrogen. However, because fertility treatment uses both progesterone and estrogen, it is typically not regarded as being unopposed. Moreover, obesity and hyperinsulinemia, which are usually connected to ovulation issues and are associated with diabetes and PCOS, can produce unopposed estrogen, raising the background risk for cancer above that of the general population.
On the other hand, the risk of fertility medications and endometrial cancer was assessed using nine studies and three reviews, and the vast majority revealed no increased risk of cancer for any type of fertility drug.
Additionally, it was determined that there was insufficient evidence to conclude that malignant melanoma, cervical, thyroid, colon, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma may get some links to a certain fertility treatment like IVF treatment in Colombia. So, we can say that all those myths talking about IVF triggering cancer risk are quite baseless.
Final words
It appears that fertility treatments and medications do not appear to augment the risk of cancer while being taken appropriately, despite the fact that we will all need to maintain vigilant cancer surveillance and adhere to cancer prevention strategies like minimizing or avoiding the intake of alcohol, red meat while focusing towards maintaining a healthy weight with some good exercises. That said, it is always recommended to consult with your physician or IVF expert before reaching any conclusion.
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