Out-of-body: How safe are the drugs

The number of babies born through IVF around the world now exceeds 5 million, but fears about how safe the drugs women take in IVF remain to this day.

“International studies and the recommendations of the European (ESHRE) and American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) prove that IVF drugs are perfectly safe in both the short and long term.” says Prof. Dr. Panagiotis Drakopoulos MD, PhD specialist in Assisted Reproduction.

In the IVF process, hormones are used, mainly gonadotropins. In particular, these hormones cause the ovaries to be stimulated and multiple follicles to develop until finally enough eggs are obtained at ovulation. The aim is to obtain the best quality embryos that will implant in the uterus and lead to a successful pregnancy.

According to years of scientific data, IVF drugs are not associated with the great fear of women, i.e. the possibility of cancer. In particular, women who receive medical stimulation are at no risk of developing ovarian or breast cancer. Therefore, there is no association between IVF and gynaecological cancers. IVF drugs are completely safe.

However, special attention should be paid to women at high risk of cancer, i.e. those with a personal or family history of certain forms of the disease.

For this reason, an individual and family history is taken in order to identify all the factors for a potential risk. In addition, the Pap test, mammography, breast ultrasound, and genital ultrasound are essential screening tests that are recommended to be carried out.

According to the European (ESHRE) and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and many scientific companies, IVF drugs do not cause any form of cancer. Therefore, we support and guide infertile couples withsafe IVF technology and aim for a successful pregnancy with perseverance and patience.