Has anyone developed a breast lump during IVF treatment?

[AuroraXen]

There was a post about this a few years ago, which is helpful, but I'm just wondering if anyone active nowadays on the network has found a breast lump either during or shortly after IVF? I posted earlier today about my mixed results from my current IVF cycle, with the 'mixed' part being the discovery of a (quite sore) lump that emerged pretty suddenly the morning after my trigger shot. I'm getting it checked out so will freeze any embies we manage to get after the weekend. But just curious if this happens to other women. The timing of it makes me think it's almost certainly to do with IVF hormones, but I was wondering if anyone else has experienced this and if so, what was the culprit - was it a cyst, was it just general hormone-related lumps and bumps (!) or something else? Thanks! xx

[Han10]

First of all I hope all goes well when you get it checked out.

I’m slightly different as I had one before I started treatment. It had already been biopsied and confirmed as a fibroidoma. During treatment it reduced in size when I did down reg and then came back with the stimulation phase and now post treatment is about the same as before. Shows it definitely was hormone related and the IVF meds impacted it.

Not sure if that helps and hope you get the all clear soon. x

[AuroraXen in reply to Han10]

Thank you Han. That's so interesting to see how it grew and shrank over the course! Glad all was ok for you xx

[Betty567]

Sorry you are experiencing this, it feels really worrying when it’s happening. I found a lump a few days before my frozen transfer, two days after I started progesterone injections + pessaries. I was already taking oestrogen tablets, and the meds generally make my boobs go a little lumpy anyway, but this was (is) harder, more solid, and more sore than normal. I phoned my clinic and asked if it was just a drugs thing and they said I should have it checked by the GP just in case. I had it checked by my GP and he said it was likely ivf meds but he couldn’t be sure, so referred me to the breast clinic just in case. My appointment is next week… in the meantime the lump is still there but has gone a little softer, and the rest of my breast has gone more lumpy so I’m pretty sure it’s a meds thing, but unless it goes away I’m still going to have it checked at the breast clinic.No-one seems especially concerned, I keep being told to have it checked ‘just in case’ so I’m trying not to worry too much..!

Hopefully yours will be ok too. Good luck x

[AuroraXen in reply to Betty567]

Thank you Betty - this is so similar to my situation! Hoping all is ok for you too. The drugs have definitely impacted it, as now I've stopped them it's shrinking a lot and is a lot less sore. But there's that part of me that thinks oh, what if it was there before and is something nasty and the drugs just made it grow larger and more sore so I noticed it😬I'm sure it's nothing. I had a lump in my early 20s a million moons ago, and that turned out to be a fibroadenoma. That didn't have any pain or anything though, so really wondering if this is more of a cyst... anyway, hopefully I'll get an appointment soon (worried about the covid delay too 😔) Good luck in your appointment Lovely xx

[Sunshine809]

Hi Aurora,

I had one after my last cycle. It was just near the nipple and came up very quickly. My GP referred me to the breast clinic and it was a large cyst. I also had hundreds (!!) of very tiny cysts down the side of the same breast, they discovered during my ultrasound.

The doctor said the cyst was almost certainly caused by the IVF meds and that there will probably be further changes during my treatment. They offered to drain it, but said that it would normally go down on it's own, which it has. This was end of July/start August.

He said to expect further changes to my breasts and basically said during the treatment don't rush back unless I'm worried about anything because my breasts will continue to change, but always better to err on the side of caution so if I'm not sure or I'm concerned about anything go back.

I've actually had cysts in my breasts twice before, and the doctor said some people are just more susceptible to them than others.

Hope yours turns out to be ok - from what you've said and the timing of it appearing I'm sure it will 💗 Send me a message if you want to talk or ask any questions. Good luck xxx

[AuroraXen in reply to Sunshine809]

Thank you so much for sharing this Sunshine. That's so interesting. I guess it makes sense - they always say don't check your breasts before your period, and I guess that's because hormones make things 'lumpy'. So it's logical I suppose that taking such high doses of hormones into your body will have an impact there too. Another joy of IVF huh 😂😆 Your story reassures me 😘 Glad all was ok for you, hopefully I'll get the same diagnosis! xx

[Sunshine809 in reply to AuroraXen]

I'm sure you will. Keep us posted! xx

[Dpwpool]

Hi there! Sorry to hear this. I’m not doing IVF but after my first egg collection I woke up to a searing pain in one of my breasts, swollen and hot to touch and radiated from my nipple, never had it before. I freaked out but it subsided the next day and was gone a couple of days later. If you’re worried then definitely go to your doctor. Good luck! X

[AuroraXen in reply to Dpwpool]

Thank you very much for sharing this. That must have been quite scary! I managed to get a GP appointment pretty much straight after EC (was quite a day! From theatre to the GP's couch 😂 Not a single part of my body that wasn't inspected on Wednesday 🤣). She's referred me to the breast clinic, so I'm HOPING it won't be too long a wait... xx

[Dpwpool in reply to AuroraXen]

Hope it goes well for you. Some days it feels like you live in a doctors office! X

[Fluffy21]

Hi AuroraXen sorry to hear this, it can be an added stress. I had a lump appear during 2ww of frozen transfer last time and was referred quickly to the breast clinic by GP, they confirmed nothing to worry about during ultrasound and that the lump had been highly likely to have been caused by meds. My consultant at the ivf clinic has said as long as all clear he was not worried about me carrying on with progynova, Cyclogest and Lubion in next cycle as pregnancy hormone levels would be much higher than what is simulated during ivf. Hope u get the all clear xxx

[AuroraXen in reply to Fluffy21]

Thank you so much for this Fluffy - that's very reassuring! xx

[AuroraXen]

Update for anyone reading this in future - it turned out to be a cyst, which actually shrank a lot from the day I stopped my meds, to the point I could barely feel it when I had my breast clinic appointment. Doctor drained it and all ok. She said this can happen quite a lot after IVF but never assume that's what it is, always get it checked to be safe xx