Study shows women who have IVF fails increase risk of heart disease

A study carried out by Canadian researchers has found that women who had failed to get pregnant through IVF are 19 per cent higher risk of getting cardiovascular disease

The study looked at women who were given the gonadotropins, which is the drug used to stimulate the ovaries to produce more than one egg for that cycle.

Researchers found that the drugs can cause a risk of blood clots and there is a possibility of a changes to how the body controls blood pressure.

Lead researcher, cardiologist Dr Jacob Udell and his team of scientists, looked at just over 28,000 women, under the age of 50, over two decades who had treatment in Ontario.

Of the women studied, two-thirds never became pregnant

Dr Udell said the number of women having heart problems was ‘modest’, with about four additional cardiac events for every 1,000 women after ten years.

He said in an interview: “Not a huge impact, and as a result not something that we would have detected anecdotally in routine clinical practice because this is not happening in such large numbers, which is reassuring.”

The researchers have said the information should not deter anyone from having fertility treatment, but more a opportunity for women to be mindful of their health going into later life.

Co-author of the study, Dr Donald Redelmeier, said they did not wish to alarm anyone going through or considering future fertility treatment.

Researchers suggest leading a healthy lifestyle with plenty of exercise, not smoking, eating sensibly and having regular checks on cholesterol and blood pressure.

The women will be followed over the next five to ten years and researchers hope to get more detail about the specific treatments given to gauge any potential risks.