Drugs to promote ovulation have been used since the 1950s. More than 400 studies have looked at harmful effects and long-term and short-term adverse effects of these drugs, including cancer. Two studies done in 1992 and 1994 found some effects that could pose health risks, not only to women who took the drug but also to babies born after taking it. Both studies foundan increased risk of ovarian tumors among women taking fertility drugs.
A 1992 survey found that women who took the drug but were not pregnant were more likely to develop ovarian cancer than women who did not take the drug. However, questions have been raised about the survey\’s design.
The second survey project examined the medical histories of 3,800 women taking clomiphene and found 11 cases of ovarian tumors. Of the 11 cases, seven were benign or undiagnosed and four were actually cancers. Undiagnosable here means that the tumor growth is neither benign nor clearly malignant. The 4 cancer cases are almost identical to the cancer that occurs in the average woman – 1 in 1,000. Ovarian tumors can be detected with ultrasound.
The number of undiagnosed cancer patients is higher than the normal population. An examination of the data showed that patients with undiagnosed tumors had been taking at least 12 consecutive cycles of clomiphene. For this reason, fertility specialists generally avoid keeping patients on clomiphene for too long a cycle.
Infertility or childlessness (voluntary or involuntary) is a more important cause of ovarian tumors than treatment with ovulation drugs. However, as a patient, if you realize that taking clomiphene has no effect after 6 cycles, the doctor should consider other methods to promote ovulation, such as using gonadotropins.
This article is provided by Baidu Reading and is excerpted from \”The Clear \”Conception\” Plan\” Author: Sun Jianqiu and Xie Yingbiao