Mammogram before IVF?

missfire

For those of you who had IVF or other fertility treatments, did your doctor encourage you to have a mammogram beforehand? I'm watching the news of Giuliani Rancic and how her RE almost forced her to have a mammogram to make sure she didn't have breast cancer before doing IVF. I'm wondering how common this is, and why REs would be so strict about it, or if it was just that one. None of my general practitioners have ever encouraged me to have a mammogram under 40.

UsedToBeGoldie

I didn't do IVF- but I took clomid and IUI to get pg... i was never asked to do a mam b/c of that.

I was told to get one b/c of my family history- when i turned 35... and ended up having to have a biopsy done for a suspicious spot (that turned out OK thankfully).

A good friend of mine had lots of issues with her breasts when nursing her 2nd child - and was about to go to the RE to TTC again (with clomid/IUI) and was told she needed to have a mam done b/c of the issues she had (clogged ducts often, mastitis a few times, etc).... her OB wouldn't clear her to get pg with the RE after her mam - even though it was OK- she wanted her to do another one in 6 months before she took meds again.

She was so p!ssed and called me about changing her OB ... and the next day found out she was pg - all on her own... so in the end it didn't matter,

kthappy76

Nope, but I did have one before my 1st IVF (@ 33), b/c I felt something different.  It turned out to be nothing, but they attributed the changes to all the hormones (est & prog) I had been on for my septum surgeries.  I had never heard of this recommendation before hearing about her, but it sounds like an excellent idea that should likely be more widely adopted.  Anyone who thinks all those hormones won't do anything to their bodies is fooling themselves.

schoolsoutbride

I did have one before IVF but it's b/c i had a lump, not b/c I was about to do IVF.

lrrb

Nope, my first IVF was when I was 24 and the second was when I was 28.  Neither time did they even say ONE thing about one or even do a breast exam like the gyno does to feel for lumps.

caden

No mammogram or breast exam for me either. I was 28-29 during my IVF rounds. I've never heard of REs asking patients to do this. And I have had a breast lump surgically removed (non-cancerous) so it surprises me that other doctors do this.

rjl07

I saw two different RE's and neither mentioned doing a mammogram even though I was 38-39 at the time.  I did just go last week for one since I'm 40 now.

ougrad1

In Dallas my OB had me start mammograms at 35 b/c of family history.  Where I live now they won't give me a mammogram until I'm 40 so, no my RE never suggested it.

 

crystaleyes39

I didn't have to have a mammogram but I did need a pelvic & breast exam on top of a pap smear.  Maybe once you're closer to the age of 40 though they make you get a mammogram too?

pink100

I did IVF and it was one of my REQUIREMENTS before starting an IUI or IVF cycle with my clinic.  I was 36 when I had it done.  So her announcement did not surprise me.  I was under the impression that it was a precaution (GOD forbid you were diagnosed AFTER getting pregnant).  That can go for any cancers, but this one is OB/GYN related so they can control it.

AliciaMomof4

I also heard her say that they wanted her to do it as a precaution b/c if you do have breast cancer the hormones you take during the IVF process can help it grow faster. She would have less of a survival chance if she were pregnant and the extra hormones helped it progress further. I never did any fertility treatments but wouldn't mind this if a Dr. wanted it done first. Sounds like a good precaution to take to me.