There are risks associated with everyday living and all of us unconsciously calculate these in undertaking daily activities (eg. car accident, falling down stairs). We also suffer side effects as a result of daily exposure to most things we come into contact with (eg. hay fever, sunburn).

You must now understand the risks and side effects that may occur with drugs we might suggest you take, and the surgical treatment possibly required for ART ie. IVF, GIFT etc. You must decide whether these risks are worth taking and whether the side effects are worth tolerating.

A) SURGERY

Oocyte (eggs) collection is undertaken using either:

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1) FOLIC ACID

An insufficiency of Folic Acid in women conceiving and during pregnancy has been implicated in the increased incidence of Neural Tube defects in babies (eg Spina Bifida)

All women are advised to take one 5mg Folic Acid tablet daily at the commencement of treatment and throughout any resultant pregnancy.

All IVF/GIFT/ICSI patients can get these from CAREPL.

2) DOXYCYCLINE 100mg *( MUST BE TAKEN WITH FOOD )*

a) MEN

Semen samples produced by men and used in Assisted Reproductive Procedures contain various strains of bacteria. These do not normally cause any problems. However, in IVF/GIFT/ICSI etc. they can possibly interfere with embryo growth.

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The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) has issued its clearest advice yet to would-be mothers urging them to begin, and try to complete their families between the ages of 20 and 35 during their ‘most fertile’ years in order to avoid ‘regrets’.

There has been a sharp increase in the number of women who delay having children until their late 30s and 40s, when it is acknowledged that the health risks to mother and child are far greater. Infertility, miscarriage and health problems during pregnancy are all more likely after 35.

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Conclusions

The findings provide reassurance that the incidence of breast and ovarian cancers in IVF patients is the same as that for women of the same age in the general population when considered over a five to ten year period.

The evidence of increased numbers of cancers above the predicted in small numbers of women in particular sub-groups needs further study. The occurrence of above expected numbers of breast cancer in the first year after treatment is consistent with other research showing a small increase in diagnoses of breast cancer shortly after women give birth.

The same effect has been seen in recent users of the oral contraceptive pill and hormone replacement therapy. Possible explanations for this finding after IVF treatment include earlier detection of abnormal breast changes due to close medical supervision, the biological effects of fertility drugs, or both.

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The Study

The study followed up 29,700 women who were referred to any of 10 participating Australian IVF clinics between 1978 & 1993. It is the largest study of its type in the world.

Treated Group – 20,656 women received fertility drugs during IVF treatment.
Untreated Group – 9,044 women did not receive fertility drugs during IVF treatment

The duration of follow up ranged from 1 to 22 years, with the majority followed up for 5 to 10 years.

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Doctors in Australia have used fertility drugs since the 1960’s. These were used to stimulate the ovaries to produce eggs and was found to be successful. In the past 20 years the usage of these fertility medications has greatly increased with the development of IVF and related procedures.

The question of whether women exposed to fertility drugs might be associated with an increased risk of cancers, has attracted a lot of attention.

The Study

The study uses the term IVF to include other related treatments such as GIFT& ICSI.
The study was designed to clarify;

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