Ep 180 Do Fertility Medications Cause Cancer? What the Research Actually Says

Do fertility medications increase the risk of breast cancer? Could IVF raise the chances of ovarian or uterine cancer later in life? And how can you separate scientific fertility research from fear-provoking headlines? In this episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine examines why this fear exists and explores what decades of research actually reveal about fertility medications, IVF, and cancer risk. She explains why this topic is difficult to study, including the need to distinguish the effects of fertility treatment from underlying infertility diagnoses such as endometriosis, PCOS/PMOS, anovulation, and never having carried a pregnancy. Dr. Shahine also discusses the important nuance around prolonged Clomid use, the role of personal risk factors and routine cancer screening, and why patients deserve to make fertility treatment decisions based on evidence rather than fear. In this episode you'll hear: [1:32] A Common Question: Do fertility medications increase my risk of breast cancer? [2:27] Why Research Is Hard [4:44] Breast Cancer Evidence [5:50] Key Study Highlights [9:27] Clomid Cycle Nuance [10:05] Other Cancer Risks (Uterine Cancer, Ovarian Cancer) [12:46] Takeaways And Screening Dr. Shahine's Weekly Newsletter on Fertility News and Recommendations Follow @drlorashahine Instagram | YouTube | Tiktok | Her Books Join the Learn at Pinnacle app to earn FREE CE Credit for listening to this episode! This episode was produced by Audiotocracy Podcast Production.  

How can you make the most out of your first fertility visit? What should you bring? What should you be prepared to talk about? And what questions can help you leave the consultation feeling informed, prepared, and confident about your next steps? In this episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine explains how to prepare for an initial fertility consultation, whether you are trying to conceive, experiencing recurrent miscarriage, exploring egg freezing or embryo freezing, considering IVF, or looking for inclusive family-building options.  She shares which medical records to send ahead of time, what health and reproductive history your doctor may ask about, and why partners are encouraged to participate in the appointment when possible. Dr. Shahine also reviews possible fertility treatment options, from ovulation medications and IUI to IVF, donor eggs, donor sperm, and gestational surrogacy, and offers five essential questions to ask before leaving your first fertility specialist appointment. In this episode you'll hear: [2:36] Why See a Specialist [8:12] Send Records Early [9:44] What To Bring (hint: lists of things you don't want to forget) [11:42] What Doctors Ask [14:25] Testing Overview [19:40] Treatment Options [22:09] Five Questions To Ask [24:48] Next Steps   Dr. Shahine's Weekly Newsletter on Fertility News and Recommendations Follow @drlorashahine Instagram | YouTube | Tiktok | Her Books Join the Learn at Pinnacle app to earn FREE CE Credit for listening to this episode! This episode was produced by Audiotocracy Podcast Production.  

Why is PCOS being renamed? And what does the new name PMOS mean? Could irregular periods, acne, hair growth, hair loss, or insulin resistance be signs of a larger whole-body condition? And does a PCOS or PMOS diagnosis mean you will need IVF to get pregnant? In this episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Allison Rodgers, reproductive endocrinologist, joins Dr. Lora Shahine for a hopeful, practical conversation about the shift from polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, to polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, or PMOS.  They explain why the updated name better reflects the condition's effects on hormones, metabolism, ovulation, fertility, and lifelong health, not simply the appearance of the ovaries. They discuss common symptoms of PCOS and PMOS, how the condition is diagnosed, and why it can affect people of every body size.  Dr. Shahine and Dr. Rodgers also explore fertility treatment options, nutrition, exercise, and supplements. They get into long-term risks including diabetes, high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, and uterine cancer. Most importantly, they emphasize that PMOS is manageable, ovulation can often be restored, and there is plenty of reason to feel hopeful about building a family. In this episode, you'll hear: [0:25] Meet Dr. Rodgers [2:42] PCOS Becomes PMOS [7:38] Testing and Diagnosis [10:15] Fertility Outlook [13:58] Long-Term Health [18:37] Lifestyle Support [22:32] PMOS Medications [36:11] Supplements and Nutrition [44:53] Supplement Safety [49:06] Egg Quality [52:55] IVF Necessity [54:09] Teen PMOS [58:08] Hope and Advocacy   Resources Mentioned: drallisonrodgers.com https://www.fcionline.com/doctors/allison-rodgers/ Bird and Be Supplements Review Article on Supplements for PCOS/PMOS @dr.allison.rodgers on Instagram and TikTok   This episode is sponsored by Bird and Be. Dr. Shahine's Weekly Newsletter on Fertility News and Recommendations Follow @drlorashahine Instagram | YouTube | Tiktok | Her Books Join the Learn at Pinnacle app to earn FREE CE Credit for listening to this episode! This episode was produced by Audiotocracy Podcast Production.  

Can you be too old to conceive? What does it really mean when celebrities have babies over 50? And when fertility treatments like IVF, donor eggs, frozen eggs, and embryo transfer make pregnancy possible after menopause, how do we decide when it is safe, ethical, and medically appropriate? In this episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine explores one of the biggest and most emotionally loaded questions in reproductive medicine: when is it too late to have a baby? Using the latest 2025 American Society for Reproductive Medicine guidelines as a starting point, Dr. Shahine breaks down advanced reproductive age, age-related infertility, IVF success with own eggs versus donor eggs, pregnancy after menopause, and the very real health risks that can come with pregnancy over 45 or 50. She also looks at paternal age, sperm health, and why age matters for both partners when building a family. Listeners will understand that there is no one-size-fits-all answer—only thoughtful counseling, informed consent, and brave conversations about the risks, benefits, and possibilities of family building at an advanced reproductive age. In this episode you'll hear: [00:56] Age & Fertility overview  [01:41] Record-breaking pregnancy stories [02:37] Why does it get more difficult to get pregnant as we get older? [07:52] Health risks of pregnancy [09:15] Men: reproductive age and health of pregnancy [10:07] Ethical considerations [11:13] 2025 ASRM guidelines [13:42] Next steps Dr. Shahine's Weekly Newsletter on Fertility News and Recommendations Follow @drlorashahine Instagram | YouTube | Tiktok | Her Books Join the Learn at Pinnacle app to earn FREE CE Credit for listening to this episode! This episode was produced by Audiotocracy Podcast Production.

Can acupuncture really support IVF success? When should you start fertility acupuncture if you're trying to conceive? And how do you know whether an acupuncturist is truly trained in fertility care, or just really confident with a sign on the door? In this episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine welcomes Hannah Pearn, a fertility acupuncturist based in London and host of the podcast. Together, they explore how acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicine, and Western fertility treatment can work side by side to support patients through IVF, embryo transfer, egg quality concerns, endometriosis, PCOS, recurrent pregnancy loss, male factor infertility, and the emotional stress of trying to conceive. Listeners will learn what to expect at a first fertility acupuncture appointment, how acupuncture treatment may change during different stages of IVF, what questions to ask when choosing a practitioner, and why the evidence around acupuncture and fertility is promising but still complicated.  Dr. Shahine and Hannah also answer listener questions about needle fear, PGT-A testing, microbiome testing, follicle count, and the balance between doing everything you can and remembering that infertility is never your fault. In this episode you'll hear: [1:09] Fertility acupuncture basics [7:28] Hannah's acupuncture path [11:18] Finding specialists and Questions to Ask [29:46] Acupuncture meets IVF [34:34] Needle fear [36:58] PGT-A testing [42:43] When to start [47:31] Can you boost your egg count? [50:38] Microbiome testing [54:46] Evidence and acupuncture Resources mentioned:  donttellmetorelax.coc.uk @donttellmetorelax on IG   Dr. Shahine's Weekly Newsletter on Fertility News and Recommendations Follow @drlorashahine Instagram | YouTube | Tiktok | Her Books Join the Learn at Pinnacle app to earn FREE CE Credit for listening to this episode! This episode was produced by Audiotocracy Podcast Production.

Can a hormonal IUD affect your fertility later? If you used a progestin IUD, should you take it out months before trying to conceive? And how do patients make sense of fertility advice when even doctors are debating the evidence in real time? In this episode of Brave & Curious Dr. Said Daneshmand joins Dr. Lora Shahine for a thoughtful, nuanced conversation about hormonal IUDs, endometrial lining, uterine adhesions, and fertility planning.  Their conversation is sparked by a recent online debate in the reproductive medicine community. Dr. Shahine and Dr. Daneshman explore what is known, what is still being studied, and why clinical experience matters alongside published research. Listeners will learn how levonorgestrel IUDs may affect the uterine lining in a small subset of patients, what current research says about return to fertility after IUD removal, and why "rare" does not mean "impossible."  This episode offers reassurance, context, and practical guidance for anyone using an IUD, planning pregnancy, navigating infertility, or trying to make informed decisions about contraception and reproductive health. Ongoing Research Study through UCSF: FeRTILE Study  is being done to learn whether long-term use of an intrauterine device (IUD) affects how long it takes to become pregnant. By taking part, participants may help researchers learn more about fertility and birth outcomes after IUD use. Learn more here. In this episode you'll hear: [0:40] What is the IUD and Fertility Controversy? [1:11] IUDs: Benefits and Context [7:43] What We're Seeing in Our Practice [15:25] Dr. D's Research on IUDs and Endometrial Lining  [20:45] Reflection on Topic  [33:56] Future Research Plans Resources:  Studies mentioned Abel 2021 J Assist Reprod Genet Carr 2021 Contraception Peipert 2022 Am J OBGYN Dr. Daneshmand Instagram Fertilitea with Dr. D Podcast   Dr. Shahine's Weekly Newsletter on Fertility News and Recommendations Follow @drlorashahine Instagram | YouTube | Tiktok | Her Books Join the Learn at Pinnacle app to earn FREE CE Credit for listening to this episode! This episode was produced by Audiotocracy Podcast Production.  

Could your sleepless nights, mood swings, joint pain, or "I just don't feel like myself" feelings be connected to perimenopause? Do you really need hormone testing to know what is happening? And is menopause hormone therapy actually as scary as we were once told?  Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su and Dr. Amy Voedisch, hosts of OvaryActive and co-authors of Estrogen, Interrupted, join Dr. Lora Shahine for this episode of Brave & Curious. Their conversation opens up a thoughtful, funny, and myth-busting conversation about menopause, perimenopause, hormone health, and why women deserve to understand their bodies. They also explain the difference between menopause and perimenopause, why symptoms can start years before periods stop, why hormone labs often do not tell the full story, and how symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, anxiety, vaginal dryness, weight changes, itchy ears (yes, we said "itchy ears"), burning mouth, and joint pain can all fit into the bigger picture. Perimenopause is often a "story-based" diagnosis rather than a single lab result, and treatment options are available. This conversation will walk listeners through all of that and more. Listeners will feel informed, validated, and ready to ask better questions. In this episode you'll hear: [0:24] Meet The Doctors of Ovaryactive Podcast [10:45] Defining menopause and perimenopause [14:55] Common Symptoms (More than Hot Flashes) [18:37] Why labs fall short [23:07] Unusual menopause symptoms [28:05] Diagnosing perimenopause and menopause [32:17] Non-hormonal treatment options [42:18] The WHI study [50:45] Breast cancer risk and Hormone Therapy [59:51] Talking to your doctor   Resources mentioned:  perimenopausedrs.com/ovaryactive Follow the show @OvaryActive Instagram | YouTube  Estrogen, Interrupted by Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su & Dr. Amy Voedisch   More information about Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su:  Gennev:  www.gennev.com/clinician/dr-rebecca-dunsmoor-su LinkedIn @rebecca-dunsmoor-su   More information about Dr. Amy Voedisch: Stanford Medical Clinic: stanfordhealthcare.org/doctors/v/amy-voedisch.html   Dr. Shahine's Weekly Newsletter on Fertility News and Recommendations Follow @drlorashahine Instagram | YouTube | Tiktok | Her Books Join the Learn at Pinnacle app to earn FREE CE Credit for listening to this episode!   This episode was produced by Audiotocracy Podcast Production.  

What if the "final frontier" of fertility care is not IVF technology, but the aging ovary itself? Can science help improve egg quality, mitochondrial function, and reproductive lifespan? And how do patients sort through what is proven, what is promising, and what is still very much in the "ask your doctor before you try this" category? In this episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine welcomes reproductive endocrinologist Dr. Roohi Jeelani for a fascinating conversation about ovarian rejuvenation, age-related fertility decline, and the future of fertility treatment.  Together, they discuss why age remains one of the biggest factors in IVF success, how egg quality changes over time, and why topics like oxidative stress, mitochondrial health, inflammation, and lifestyle optimization are becoming such important parts of the fertility conversation. In this episode you'll hear: [1:07] Meet Dr. Roohi Jeelani [2:32] Age and fertility [4:23] Egg quality basics [8:06] Sleep and fertility [9:35] Stress and cortisol [14:58] Movement and PCOS [16:54] Nutrition for fertility [18:51] Trimester zero prep: Small, sustainable changes [29:25] CoQ10, Inositol, Melatonin [35:38] NAD and egg quality [43:56] GLP-1 fertility questions [47:22] Peptides and PRP [55:33] Ovarian rejuvenation research [1:01:04] Future fertility medicine Resources mentioned:  onto.health @roohijeelanimd on Instagram | LinkedIn @onto-health-co on LinkedIn Your Leggings Could be Causing Infertility? with Dr. Lora Shahine on YouTube Can CoQ10 Improve Egg Quality and Sperm Health for TTC? with Dr. Lora Shahine on YouTube Does Growth Hormone Improve IVF Outcomes? with Dr. Lora Shahine on YouTube Dr. Shahine's Weekly Newsletter on Fertility News and Recommendations Follow @drlorashahine Instagram | YouTube | Tiktok | Her Books Join the Learn at Pinnacle app to earn FREE CE Credit for listening to this episode! This episode was produced by Audiotocracy Podcast Production.  

Have you been told your fertility tests are normal, but pregnancy still isn't happening? What does unexplained infertility actually mean when it clearly feels like something is going on? And how do age, egg quality, sperm function, endometriosis, inflammation, and implantation issues factor into a diagnosis that can feel more frustrating than reassuring? In this episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine takes a compassionate deep dive into unexplained infertility to explain how it's diagnosed, why it affects so many patients, and what may be happening behind the scenes when standard fertility testing does not reveal a clear answer. Listeners will learn the most common hidden contributors to unexplained infertility, treatment options, and when moving to IVF may be the most effective path forward. In this episode you'll hear: [0:49] Dr. Lora Shahine's personal fertility story [3:06] How Diagnosis Works [4:31] How Common is Unexplained Infertility? [8:07] Possible Cause #1: Age & Fertility [11:51] Possible Cause #2: Hidden Sperm Factors [13:48] Possible Cause #3: Egg Quality Unknowns [14:13] Possible Cause #4: Implantation Mysteries [15:19] Possible Cause #5: Tubal Function Problems [16:49] Possible Cause #6: Endometriosis Link [19:233 Possible Cause #7: Inflammation and Lifestyle [20:39] What to Do Next [23:38] Treatment Plans: IUI vs IVF [31:31] Wrap up and next steps   Dr. Shahine's Weekly Newsletter on Fertility News and Recommendations Follow @drlorashahine Instagram | YouTube | Tiktok | Her Books Join the Learn at Pinnacle app to earn FREE CE Credit for listening to this episode! This episode was produced by Audiotocracy Podcast Production.  

Are you frustrated by a diagnosis of unexplained infertility? What if a "normal" semen analysis is not telling the whole story about sperm health? Could a new male fertility test help explain why fertilization is not happening, even when sperm count, motility, and morphology look fine? In this episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine welcomes Jeff Lysiak, PhD. He is a reproductive biologist, and co-founder and Chief Science Officer of PS Fertility. He is here to to talk about what standard semen analysis may miss.  Together, Dr. Shahine and Dr. Lysiak explore the science behind sperm fertilization competence, the role of phosphatidylserine (PS) on live sperm, and how Dr. Lysiak's research led to PS Direct, a diagnostic test designed to measure sperm's ability to bind and fertilize an egg beyond traditional semen parameters. Dr. Shahine and Dr. Lysiak also discuss the future of male reproductive health research, including lifestyle factors, environmental exposures, and the growing need for more precise answers earlier in the fertility journey. In this episode you'll hear: [0:39] Meet Jeff Lysiak, PhD [2:01] From Placenta to Sperm [3:24] PS Discovery Explained [5:01] How Sperm Meets Egg [9:02] From Lab to Clinic [10:19] Limits of Semen Analysis [12:46] PS Score and Misdiagnosis [14:12] At Home PS Test Kit [18:20] Where PS Fits Clinically [21:13] Varicocele & Repair Surgery [24:14] Using PS to Guide Care [27:26] Lifestyle Factors [33:006] Future Research Directions [34:21] Where to Find the Test & Connect with Jeff   Resources mentioned:  PSFertility.com   Dr. Shahine's Weekly Newsletter on Fertility News and Recommendations Follow @drlorashahine Instagram | YouTube | Tiktok | Her Books Join the Learn at Pinnacle app to earn FREE CE Credit for listening to this episode! This episode was sponsored by PS Fertility. This episode was produced by Audiotocracy Podcast Production.