Going through FET and worried about taking Estrace

[fireside19]

Hi,

This is my first time having a frozen embryo transfer (FET) and the doctor has prescribed 4mg of Estrace a day for 8 days and then 6mg for another 8 days before the transfer. Now that I read the prescription, it says that it is classified as type X drug, NOT to be taken while pregnant or breastfeeding, as it causes birth defetcts!!!

What should I think?

Please help

[Allip77]

Sorry for the multiple posts...I found a label online that I think is the same one for this drug.  The risks to the fetus are related to their sex organs and could possibly cause cancer later in life for the children (testicular cancer for boys and I think vaginal cancer for girls).

[Allip77]

Having written all that I'm not sure whether estrace is the same thing as estradiol- I thought it was but not sure?

Anyway, just to clarify further in case it's the same.. the FDA looks at every drug about to go on the market and gives it a rating - A being the best and X being the worst for pregnancy.  Pregnancy Category C, for instance, means the drug has caused abnormalities in animal fetuses but no human studies have been conducted.  So with Pregnancy Category C drugs, the FDA allows doctors to make their own decision as to whether the beneits of the drugs outweight the risks.  However, with Pregnancy Category X, there HAS been evidence in HUMANS of harm to human fetuses.  So the FDA tells doctors (by labeling the drug X) not to give their patients this drug if they are pregnant are planning to become pregnant.  Horrible!!!!

[Allip77]

Fireside19---- Actually, Estradiol has a Pregnancy Category X, which means there HAS been evidence of harm to fetuses.  I used to work for a biotech company (and one of our drugs was rated Pregnancy Category X).  This category applies to pregnancy specifically, and means the risks outweigh the benefits and should NOT be given to pregnant women.  Please see links below.

I also have been freaking out because my dr. has me on estradiol and I've begged him to take me off them because of these concerns.  I've considered going off of them on my own.  

Read the "label" for the drug - the piece of paper that came with the pills.  Unfortunately, I can't find mine but I remember reading about specific risks (and evidence) of the drugs to babies when taken in the first trimester.  I think these included birth defects and possibly cancer.

I'm sorry if I"m scaring you.  I do think the risks are probably MINIMAL or hopefully our doctors woudln't prescribe them to us, but they are definitely there and it's a chance we are taking.  Links are below.

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:FnnjfsIr8DYJ:alexandrasoiseth.com/other_work.html+olaf+sperm+donor&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=safari


http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:uHvm9zcbgw4J:medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Pregnancy%2Bcategory+definition+of+pregnancy+category+x&cd=4&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=safari

[fireside19]

Thank you very much for your kind answers! It was very comforting reading your replies.

[trying43]

I didnt do FET but did take estrace with my medicated cycle and I am 20w1d with a healthy girl.  Good luck to you.

[adgal]

WIth most drugs that come with this warning, it is because no thorough testing has been done on pregnant women.  It probably never will be as very very few women would ever be willing to be part of a test group for drugs.  Even prometrium, a very common medication taken by women in first trimester (it is progesterone) said not to be taken while pregnant when I looked it up on line, yet a very high amount of women on this forum (myself included) have taken it during pregnancy.

The most important thing in this process (well, besides conceiving..lol) is to be your own advocate.  Call the Dr. and ask about it, talk to him/her about your concerns.  Pharmacists are great people to ask about meds as that is what they do for a living.  

I cannot say I know much of anything about this drug as I have not undergone FET, but there are many women here who have, so I am certain they will be chiming in.  Another good place to ask this question is the fertility forum...there are tonnes of women there who have experienced IVF and FET.

I wish you tonnes of luck on a successful FET and please let us know how it goes!  We love to celebrate BFP's around here!  Good luck!