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Possibility of pregancy on tamoxifen?

Page last modified on: September 3, 2008

Question from Mary: I have just started taking tamoxifen. What are the chances of getting pregnant on tamoxifen? With being pre-menopausal I find that this is always in the back of my mind and know that it wouldn't be good to get pregnant at this stage of my life, being 49.: Answers —Leslie Schover, Ph.D.: Whenever a woman takes tamoxifen and is still in the years when she might be fertile, she is advised to use birth control, since tamoxifen could potentially harm a fetus. It sounds unlikely that you might get pregnant at age 49, but remember that in Europe tamoxifen is used as a fertility drug like we use Clomid here. In a woman who is not yet in menopause, tamoxifen raises estrogen levels and can cause ovulation.; Marisa Weiss, M.D., president and founder: When tamoxifen is used to help with infertility, it's used with a different dosage and in a different manner than it is for women with breast cancer (at 20 mg. per day).; Debra Thaler-DeMers, R.N., O.C.N., P.H.N.: Any woman who is in the fertile time of her life who is currently on chemotherapy should use some form of birth control. Many chemotherapy drugs can cause birth defects when used early in pregnancy.; Marisa Weiss, M.D., president and founder: If you were pre-menopausal and your chemotherapy stopped your periods, you may still be able to get pregnant. For many women, the loss of periods may be temporary, and you can't predict exactly when your periods may resume, if they do so at all. With the changes in your vagina, you may find condoms uncomfortable. The latex may cause some irritation. This may force you to identify other sources of effective birth control.

Although a diaphragm may not be the most appealing form, it is effective if used properly. It is used along with a spermicide which can help lubricate the area. If the spermicide irritates your vagina, you can rinse the vagina out with water five hours after intercourse, when you remove the diaphragm as well. This will limit the amount of time that your vagina is in contact with the spermicide. Birth control pills are generally not known to be safe in women who've had breast cancer. Therefore, most doctors will not prescribe this form of birth control if you've had breast cancer.; Debra Thaler-DeMers, R.N., O.C.N., P.H.N.: There's an IUD on the market now that's considered to be safe as well.

On Wednesday, February 20, 2002, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Intimacy, Sex and Your Love Life. Leslie R. Schover, Ph.D., Debra Thaler-DeMers, R.N., O.C.N., P.H.N., and Marisa Weiss, M.D. answered your questions about how to improve your sex life during and after breast cancer treatment.

The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.

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Meet the Experts

Leslie R. Schover, Ph.D. is a renowned psychologist with a special interest in helping people resolve or manage their sexual problems, especially those problems connected with a chronic illness such as cancer.

Debra Thaler-DeMers, R.N., O.C.N., P.H.N. is a hematology-oncology nurse at the Peterson Cancer Center of the Stanford Hospital in Stanford, California, and President of Cancer ACCESS, an advocacy and counseling organization for people affected by cancer.

Marisa Weiss, M.D. is a radiation oncologist specializing in breast cancer and the founder, president, and guiding force behind Breastcancer.org.