pregnant on tamoxifen

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Tricia19
Tricia19 Member Posts: 4
edited March 2015 in Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After

I have been on tamoxifen for four months and am 5 weeks pregnant.  Has anyone had a pregnancy while on tamoxifen?  Was the baby health?  My oncologist is advising termination but it seems to me that the studies are not conclusive that tamoxifen causes birth defects.  Any information on personal experiences or studies would help me so much.

Thank you for your help -

Trish

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  • kk11
    kk11 Member Posts: 210
    edited January 2012

    Hi Tricia - I don't have a personal experience with this, but just wanted to give you some support. I can understand how you may not want to terminate without conclusive evidence that it will cause birth defects. Have you asked your OB whether they could rule out the most serious potential defects through an NT scan? Also, if you haven't already, I would definitely stop taking the Tamoxifen until you decide what to do. I can only say that my fertility specialist recommended waiting 6 weeks after stopping Tamoxifen to try to get pregnant, so he definitely had his concerns, but I don't know if he would recommend termination. Tough decision, but one that only YOU can make. Listen to your doctors opinion, but remember they are human and don't always have the answers. You have to make the decision you think you can live with. Best of luck to you and please keep us posted on what you decide to do.

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  • peggy_j
    peggy_j Member Posts: 1,700
    edited January 2012

    What a difficult situation. Sorry you are going through this. I don't have experience with this but when I met with my new MO-referred GYNO late last year, we discussed birth control options while I'm on tamox. I asked what happens if I accidentally got pregnant and she said she would recommend terminating the pregnancy. FWIW, I checked PubMed and there is at least one study that shows the rates of possible congenital birth defects.

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  • rgiuff
    rgiuff Member Posts: 1,094
    edited January 2012

    Research well the effects of tamoxifen on a fetus before you make your decision.  Also how high is the possibility that a fetus will even be affected and exactly what type of problems it could cause.  I believe I've read of cases, possibly on here, of women who became pregnant while on tamoxifen and went on to have healthy babies.  You also have to take into consideration your moral beliefs on this issue, as well as whether you are willing to wait for a future time to try to get pregnant again.

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  • Tricia19
    Tricia19 Member Posts: 4
    edited January 2012

    Thanks everyone for your responses!  I did find a study online written in the Oncologist which had a chart that showed how long during the pregnancy women were on tamoxifen and the birth defects associated with it.  My obgyn said many of those defects can be detected through testing.  I am trying to take this step by step.  The next step being getting a scan in two weeks to check for the heartbeat.  I also have a consultation with another doctor on Monday and will schedule an appointment with my oncologist to visit in person. If you hear of any studies or people I can connect with please keep me in mind.

    Thanks

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  • mdg
    mdg Member Posts: 3,571
    edited January 2012

    Can they do a genetic test on the baby (CVS test)?  That can be done around 10 weeks I believe. I had it done when I was pregnant to rule out defects (not from tamoxifen or BC related).  Google it.  It may be an option.  I got the results back in about a week.  We had the results before we even told anyone other than immediate family I was pregnant. 

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  • an1245
    an1245 Member Posts: 3
    edited February 2012

    I have the same question. Please keep us posted with your experience and decissions that you make. While I am not pregnant but I was wondering if I could be pregnant once I am done with my chemo and don't have to wait another 5 years.

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  • ICanDoThis
    ICanDoThis Member Posts: 1,473
    edited February 2012

    I have a friend who conceived while on Tamoxifen. Her little girl is 2 now, and just gorgeous. If you want to PM me, I'll see if she is available to chat.

    I do have one of "those" stories. My mom had multiple pelvic x-rays and several surgeries for kidney and bladder issues. When she seemed swollen after her last surgery, they took her down for another x-ray; my father said I waved. They would have terminated the pregnancy, but she wasn't strong enough. They had a place reserved in one of those homes for deformed kids.
    The night I was born, my mother's surgeon took me around to all the floors where my mother had been a patient, and showed off "their" baby.
    I'm 63 now, and have a healthy daughter of my own.

    Just, have you stopped the tamox?

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  • Klawless9
    Klawless9 Member Posts: 95
    edited February 2012

    Tricia

    Could you post the link to that chart you saw in the Oncologist? Thanks so much.

     Kendall 

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  • Prettyinpink426
    Prettyinpink426 Member Posts: 1
    edited April 2012

    Can you please tell me more about your friend who  became pregnant while on Tamoxifen. I am in the same situation...

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  • Jaslyn
    Jaslyn Member Posts: 1
    edited August 2012

    I fell pregnant while on tamoxifen, I realised when I was 6 weeks pregnant. My baby was born on March 15 2012 and he is fine.

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  • Jillianhas
    Jillianhas Member Posts: 1
    edited April 2013

    I have been on tamoxifen for two years. My periods did not stop. But we're between day 36 and 41. I am now on day 48. I'm concerned about pregnancy. Has this happened to anyone else? Checking for pregnancy is tricky since hormone levels are so low... How has anyone else confirmed pregnancy? Jhas@live.ca

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  • bluepearl
    bluepearl Member Posts: 961
    edited April 2013

    Tamoxifen can but often doesn't harm the fetus. It's a coin toss but mostly favors your baby being ok. My main concern would be for YOUR health getting pregnant so soon after breast cancer....maybe this was the oncologist's concern too...but even that shouldn't be too much of a problem. I guess it's a matter of how much, if any, problems you may want to end up with vs having this baby. I think getting all the tests done is a good idea and from there, jump into a decision with the information gathered. Crikey...every pregnancy has risks.

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  • 1cb
    1cb Member Posts: 26
    edited October 2013


    hi Jillianhas!


    Just wondering how things turned out for you?


    I am in a similar situation.... Periods usually come every 32 days (plus or minus a few days... Not the same each month) & i am sitting at 42 days! I did a preg test this morning and it was negative.... I am nervous about continuing the tamoxifen until I get my period in case I'm pregnant.


    I've been taking tamoxifen for a year now.

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  • slg76
    slg76 Member Posts: 177
    edited October 2013


    I was on tamoxifen for a year and a half after my treatment and then stopped taking it to try to have a baby. My doctor insisted on me having an IUD while on tamoxifen so that pregnancy was not a possibility. They wouldn't take out my IUD until I had been off the tamoxifen for three weeks. Of course I had a Paragaurd IUD because it doesn't release hormones. Please, for the ladies that aren't pregnant, be careful with your birth control while on tamoxifen!!!!


    Tricia, I'm encouraged to hear of these healthy babies born after tamoxifen exposure. I'm so sorry you are in this position. It sounds like you are handling it well and taking all things into consideration. For your peace of mind, pregnancy after breast cancer is NOT shown to increase your chance of recurrence. I hope that you and the baby are healthy and that you come to a decision that you are comfortable with. Sending a prayer your way.

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  • Snoopy73
    Snoopy73 Member Posts: 287
    edited January 2014

    Hi ladies, i have been taking tamoxifen for 2 years now. I removed my IUD in sept 2013 after having it on for 5 years, was supposed to put another one but have not gotten around to do it. I am now on day 36 and no periods...i am so scared i may be pregnant, bought the home preg test but have not taken it:-( i am 40 yrs so high risk as it is...dont know what to do

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  • Snoopy73
    Snoopy73 Member Posts: 287
    edited January 2014

    Hi ladies, i have been taking tamoxifen for 2 years now. I removed my IUD in sept 2013 after having it on for 5 years, was supposed to put another one but have not gotten around to do it. I am now on day 36 and no periods...i am so scared i may be pregnant, bought the home preg test but have not taken it:-( i am 40 yrs so high risk as it is...dont know what to do

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  • Hutchins3
    Hutchins3 Member Posts: 18
    edited January 2014

    First, my heart goes out to you.  Not the same, but my sister got pregnant while on accurate and was told there was no way the baby would be healthy or perhaps viable.  My niece is perfectly healthy.   Good luck with whatever you decide.

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  • EstherDeas
    EstherDeas Member Posts: 2
    edited February 2014

    hi all, I hope you all got on ok. I ovulated around Friday. We had unprotected sex Saturday and Sunday. I've been on tamoxifen since October. I've just left a message for my bcn about it but u am worrying about it. I won't even have consideration for terminating. Can't even do a pregnancy test until next week. Xx

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  • Gleny26
    Gleny26 Member Posts: 3
    edited March 2015

    I have been on tamoxifen for 6 months and just found out I am 4 weeks pregnant. My oncologist is also telling me to abort and think of my cancer reoccurring during pregnancy along with the birth defects associated with it. I don't want to abort.

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