This week Kourtney Kardashian said that going through IVF treatment had brought on menopause, telling her mum Kris Jenner: "The medication that they've been giving me, they put me into menopause. Literally into menopause."
READ: Kourtney Kardashian reveals the upsetting side effects of IVF treatment
While Kourtney didn't clarify what symptoms she was experiencing, it has led many to question whether IVF treatment can bring on menopause.
Can IVF trigger menopause?
"The idea that IVF medication can cause the onset of early menopause is false," reassures embryologist Raj Joshi of fertility specialist TMRW Life Sciences.
Joshi goes on to explain that IVF can have an impact on periods and cause them to stop temporarily, which could be why Kourtney said she'd been put into menopause.
MORE: Chrissy Teigen shares painful side effect of IVF treatment
READ: 7 surprising fertility facts you probably didn't know
"One IVF step involves a treatment called 'down regulation', which shuts down your natural menstrual cycle, stopping the periods," he says. He goes on to explain that this is temporary and is done in order to allow for the stimulation of the ovaries.
Doctors are very clear that IVF does not trigger menopause, but it can create menopause-like symptoms.
"Some of the medications needed during IVF can be difficult for some people to tolerate and can cause cramping and bloating, plus there is a range of emotions to deal with," says Dr. Tania Adib, consultant gynecologist at women's health clinic Luminosa London.
"Many of the hormones needed for IVF mean women report brain fog and mood swings and these are similar to many menopausal symptoms," Dr Tania continues.
Raj Joshi agrees, adding: "Biological women who choose to undergo IVF may experience some side effects from the medication during their treatment. Some of these symptoms echo ones that many of them experience when going through menopause, such as hot flashes, headaches, mood swings and weight gain."
Kourtney Kardashian opened up about her IVF plans in a trailer for the new Kardashians show
Indeed, Kourtney has spoken about weight gain during her IVF treatment, saying she had "gained so much weight" during IVF, before opening up about trolls who left comments on social media.
She said: "It's so rude to comment on people when you have no idea what they’re going through."
Kourtney isn't the only celebrity experiencing the impact of IVF. Chrissy Teigen has also said she's had a lot of bloating since going through the treatment.
MORE: Holly Willoughby shares important message as she 'heads towards' the menopause
Fertility expert Dr. Amin Gorgy, founder of London's Fertility Academy, explained there are occasions when early menopause can be induced, but IVF is not one of them. "Early menopause can be triggered by chemotherapy or radio therapy," he says. "Some chromosomal abnormalities or auto-immune diseases are also associated with early menopause."
Like this story? Sign up to our HELLO! newsletters to get other stories like this delivered straight to your inbox.
