Can IVF Cause You to Go into Early Menopause?
The short answer: No! This is a great question and one that I understand because, after all, you are taking stimulation medications to help release more eggs for us to get in an egg retrieval.
Can IVF Stimulation Medications Cause You to Go into Early Menopause?
But let’s take a step back. Double board certified OBGYN/REI Dr. Temeka Zore explains that, in a normal menstrual cycle, we have a certain number of follicles that are visible on ultrasound called your antral follicles. (This is the AFC we tell you).
Each month, your brain releases enough hormone for one follicle to grow and the egg inside to mature and eventually ovulate. The rest of those follicles “die off” and the process repeats itself monthly. In IVF, you take injectable medications similar to what your brain produces to develop multiple follicles so we can get multiple eggs. We are not developing extra follicles but simply taking what would have been there and died off and rescuing them!
We are not taking extra eggs. We are not changing your fertility. We are not making you go into an earlier menopause because this is a process that is already naturally occurring of waves of follicles being available.
Ps: Can some of the medications make you “feel” like you have symptoms of low estrogen? Yes, there are some meds that naturally block estrogen like clomid or Lupron that we use for short time periods that can cause vaginal dryness or mood changes, but those effects are temporary and reversible once you are off the meds.
Medical Disclaimer:
The information provided in this blog is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your healthcare provider or qualified medical professional with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this blog.
