If you have been trying to get pregnant without success, there is a chance you might be given a drug called Femara that is actually a cancer drug, but sometimes given to women whose infertility stems from ovulation problems.
Is Femara Safe?
According to a recent study by United States researchers, three out of ten women undergoing treatment for infertility are given the cancer drug Femara.
However, there is much debate as to the safety of this practice, especially for unborn children.
The fact is that this drug is classified by the United States Food and Drug Administration as being a pregnancy risk.
Femara, or letrozole, is made by Novartis and has been approved by the U.S. FDA to treat post-menopausal women who have hormone receptor positive breast cancer, in which a hormone is driving the cancer.
This drug is part of a class of drugs known as aromatase inhibitors, and it works by blocking the production of estrogen in post-menopausal women.
Although Femara is commonly prescribed for infertility, there has not been enough evidence so far to prove that it is safe and effective, according to researchers at the pharmacy benefit company Prime Therapeutics, which presented the findings at the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy meeting in San Diego.
In a study conducted in Canada back in 2005, a research team found nearly a three fold increase in the risk of birth defects in a group of 150 babies born after the mothers were given treatment with letrozole, and the company has warned doctors against using the drug to treat infertility.
The thing is that after drugs are approved by the FDA, doctors may prescribe them as they see fit.
Doctors that treat infertility say they use the drug in women with ovulation problems.
According to information found on the Advanced Fertility Center of Chicago web site, when the enzyme aromatase is blocked by the drug it causes estrogen levels in young women to fall, which then triggers the release of follicle stimulating hormone or FSH, which causes women to ovulate.
Many doctors believe that the Canadian study was too small, and thus had flawed results about the safety of the drug.
If you are prescribed Femara or letrozole and concerned about taking it, talk to your doctor!
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