It’s another week and another “IVF linked to cancer” study: a recent study from the Netherlands has raised the possibility that in vitro fertilization may heighten the risk of ovarian cancer in patients who have undergone the fertility treatment. Obviously this is going to cause great concern in a large and growing population of patients who've accessed advanced reproductive care – but as always, I’m urging caution as you consider this study.

First, it is important to state that the researchers thought the results were preliminary only and recommended that much larger studies be done. In other words, there is no confirmation yet that this risk is in fact true. Secondly, it is important to remember that women who never give birth in their lifetimes (i.e. nulliparous) are at increased risk for ovarian cancer. Pregnancy, as well as birth-control pills, actually helps protect women from this deadly disease. In fact, women who have a strong family history of ovarian cancer are actually advised to be on birth control pills until they bear children. Once they are done having children, I usually recommend that these women undergo a preventative removal of their ovaries. 

So is there cause for concern? The first question to consider is if there is biological plausibility to the idea that IVF can cause ovarian cancer – and there is biological plausibility. The current thinking about certain types of ovarian cancer is that it occurs because of the “injury theory” – if the ovary is incessantly exposed to ovulation, it increases the risk of cancer. Again, birth-control pills help reduce the risk because most women don’t ovulate while on the pill, and pregnancy also helps for the same reason. With IVF, we put a needle into the ovary to retrieve eggs, which in theory causes an “injury” to the ovary. Does this mean we should stop doing IVF? And, does this mean that women who cannot bear children should stop the attempts to build the family? I don't think so.

In my opinion, we should do more research to see if this risk is real. If a concrete link is found, then current IVF protocols will need to adjust. There are some very simple adjustments that can be made, such as putting women back on the pill if they complete an IVF cycle and don’t get pregnant. Also, we can closely monitor women post-IVF for ovarian cancer with yearly ultrasounds and (although some disagree) the CA 125 blood test.  

My final thoughts on this topic are that, with anything in medicine, there is always the potential for side effects, and unfortunately sometimes those side effects can be serious. Diligent, ongoing study to continuously refine and improve our treatments, diagnostic tests and overall medical care are absolutely vital and must be continued around the world. I know I’ll be following ongoing studies very closely, but I certainly would not discourage anyone from pursuing their dream of having a baby because of one preliminary study.

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At Fertility Partnership, we're always looking for new ways to help increase access to infertility care. Sometimes our tactics follow one of our favorite sayings around here - "Go big or go home!" - and sometimes they're small but, hopefully, still helpful. 

To that end, we're introducing weekend hours for new consultations at Fertility Partnership. One weekend a month for following dates in 2011, we'll have time set aside especially for potential new patients to visit with us without taking time away from their weekday jobs. Here's the list of available for 2011. They'll fill quickly, so contact us at 636.441.7770 or 800.Baby.Today to reserve your appointment as soon as possible!

2011 Saturday New Consultation Appointment Dates (8 a.m.-2 p.m.)

• June 18 
• Aug. 13
• Sept. 17
• Oct. 22
• Nov. 20
• Dec. 10

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Let's be honest - if you're battling infertility, Mother's Day is probably a holiday you'd be more than happy to skip. You may have chosen to "skip" it by taking a vacation, doing something completely non-family-focused (skydiving, skeet shooting, etc.), or by just hiding away in your house and ignoring the phone, emails and Twitter. Or, you may have put on your "brave face" and survived a moms-focused church service, family lunch or other celebratory event, probably suppressing the urge to stick a fork in your leg for most of the day.

I'm not going to try to give you advice about how to survive days like this. A million other bloggers try to do that for Mother's Day. What I will say is simply this - don't give up. If you want to be a mother, you will find a way to someday be a mother.

It may not be by traditional means. You may need fertility medications or treatments. You may need an egg donor or a gestational carrier. You may need to find an embryo donor. You might even need to adopt. But no matter how you do it, you will achieve your dream. Stay focused on your goal, do your research and look for the best clinic, doctor, donor, attorney - whatever resources you need - to help you have a child. 

Stay focused, stay strong, ask for help when you need it, and - to quote a beloved family movie you'll hopefully enjoy with your child someday - "Just keep swimming."

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Good morning! We're in Kansas City today at the Kansas City Infertility Awareness Conference, where there's a full morning of speakers and activities on the agenda. We'll be live-blogging all the presentations, so keep checking back here and on Twitter and Facebook for updates.

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For nearly 176 million women around the world, endometriosis means a daily battle with pain that can wreak havoc on almost every aspect of their lives, including their fertility. Defined as the migration and implantation of the uterine lining, or endometrium, outside the uterus, endometriosis often is an extraordinarily painful condition that can debilitate women from adolescence onward. Along with infertility, it can cause everything from painful periods to gastrointestinal and urinary tract problems and has been found to elevate the risk of certain cancers.

What’s even more shocking about endometriosis is that, according to the Endometriosis Research Center, it takes an average of nine years and consultations with five or more doctors to obtain a correct diagnosis. During that time, women suffer in pain and frustration, often dealing with medical professionals who chalk their issues up to “painful periods.” And, that kind of delay in diagnosis means that treatment is even more delayed, causing a domino effect that compromise a woman’s fertility.

As with the problem of infertility, raising awareness of endometriosis is key to changing those dismal statistics, relieving chronic pain and preserving the fertility of millions of women. If you or someone you know suffers from pelvic pain beyond the typical discomfort of a monthly period, I encourage you to take this online screening test. If the results indicate endometriosis could be the cause of your issues, print the test out and take it to your gynecologist as soon as possible for a thorough consultation. The sooner you get a correct diagnosis, the sooner you can find relief from pain and take the needed steps to preserve your fertility.

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