Use of Fertility Drugs and Risk of Ovarian Cancer

Overview

Journal Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol

Specialty Gynecology & Obstetrics

Date 2014 Apr 23

PMID 24752005

Citations 9

Authors

Brenda Diergaarde

Michelle L Kurta

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose Of Review: The purpose of this review is to highlight recent research and insights into the relationship between fertility drug use and ovarian cancer risk.

Recent Findings: Results from two large case-control studies provided further evidence that fertility drug use does not significantly contribute to risk of ovarian cancer among the majority of women when adjusting for known confounding factors. However, questions regarding the effect on certain subgroups, including long-term fertility drug users, women who remain nulligravid after fertility treatment, women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations and borderline ovarian tumours, still remain. In addition, it may currently just be too early to determine whether there is an association between fertility drug use and ovarian cancer risk given that many of the exposed women are only now beginning to reach the ovarian cancer age range.

Summary: Whether use of fertility drugs increases the risk of ovarian cancer is an important question that requires further investigation, in particular given the large number of women utilizing fertility treatments. Fortunately, results from recent studies have been mainly reassuring. Large well designed studies with sufficient follow-up time are needed to further evaluate the effects of fertility treatments within subgroups defined by patient and tumour characteristics.

Citing Articles

Association between ovarian tumors and exposure to assisted reproductive technologies and ovarian stimulation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Lobo A, Morbach V, Kelly F, de Moraes F Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2024; 310(6):2753-2765.

PMID: 39412534 DOI: 10.1007/s00404-024-07763-0.

Management of a Nulliparous IVF Patient with a Declined Ovarian Reserve After Discovery of an Atypical Ovarian Endometriotic Cyst.

Ke X, Liang X, Wang F Int J Womens Health. 2023; 15:1475-1480.

PMID: 37810202 PMC: 10557980. DOI: 10.2147/IJWH.S431837.

Repeated hyperstimulation affects the ultrastructure of mouse fallopian tube epithelium.

Antonouli S, Palmerini M, Bianchi S, Rossi G, Cecconi S, Belli M J Reprod Dev. 2020; 66(4):387-397.

PMID: 32350229 PMC: 7470905. DOI: 10.1262/jrd.2019-147.

Metastatic Ovarian Clear Cell Carcinoma in the Context of Pregnancy.

Inamdar A, Fulginiti A, Yiu S, Loo A, Rogers B, Massaro R Case Rep Obstet Gynecol. 2020; 2020:2695058.

PMID: 31976101 PMC: 6961607. DOI: 10.1155/2020/2695058.

Acupuncture for infertile women without undergoing assisted reproductive techniques (ART): A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Yun L, Liqun W, Shuqi Y, Chunxiao W, Liming L, Wei Y Medicine (Baltimore). 2019; 98(29):e16463.

PMID: 31335705 PMC: 6709164. DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000016463.

References

Rossing M, Daling J, Weiss N, Moore D, Self S . Ovarian tumors in a cohort of infertile women. N Engl J Med. 1994; 331(12):771-6. DOI: 10.1056/NEJM199409223311204. View

Titus-Ernstoff L, Perez K, Cramer D, Harlow B, Baron J, Greenberg E . Menstrual and reproductive factors in relation to ovarian cancer risk. Br J Cancer. 2001; 84(5):714-21. PMC: 2363792. DOI: 10.1054/bjoc.2000.1596. View

Ness R, Cramer D, Goodman M, Kjaer S, Mallin K, Mosgaard B . Infertility, fertility drugs, and ovarian cancer: a pooled analysis of case-control studies. Am J Epidemiol. 2002; 155(3):217-24. DOI: 10.1093/aje/155.3.217. View

Vachon C, Mink P, Janney C, Sellers T, Cerhan J, Hartmann L . Association of parity and ovarian cancer risk by family history of breast or ovarian cancer in a population-based study of postmenopausal women. Epidemiology. 2002; 13(1):66-71. DOI: 10.1097/00001648-200201000-00011. View

Shushan A, Paltiel O, Iscovich J, Elchalal U, Peretz T, Schenker J . Human menopausal gonadotropin and the risk of epithelial ovarian cancer. Fertil Steril. 1996; 65(1):13-8. View

Brinton L, Moghissi K, Scoccia B, Westhoff C, Lamb E . Ovulation induction and cancer risk. Fertil Steril. 2005; 83(2):261-74. DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2004.09.016. View

Brinton L, Trabert B, Shalev V, Lunenfeld E, Sella T, Chodick G . In vitro fertilization and risk of breast and gynecologic cancers: a retrospective cohort study within the Israeli Maccabi Healthcare Services. Fertil Steril. 2013; 99(5):1189-96. PMC: 4030547. DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2012.12.029. View

Auranen A, Grenman S, Makinen J, Pukkala E, Sankila R, Salmi T . Borderline ovarian tumors in Finland: epidemiology and familial occurrence. Am J Epidemiol. 1996; 144(6):548-53. DOI: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a008964. View

Brinton L, Lamb E, Moghissi K, Scoccia B, Althuis M, Mabie J . Ovarian cancer risk associated with varying causes of infertility. Fertil Steril. 2004; 82(2):405-14. DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2004.02.109. View

10.

Lerner-Geva L, Geva E, Lessing J, Chetrit A, Modan B, Amit A . The possible association between in vitro fertilization treatments and cancer development. Int J Gynecol Cancer. 2003; 13(1):23-7. DOI: 10.1136/ijgc-00009577-200301000-00004. View

11.

Acs G . Serous and mucinous borderline (low malignant potential) tumors of the ovary. Am J Clin Pathol. 2005; 123 Suppl:S13-57. DOI: 10.1309/J6PXXK1HQJAEBVPM. View

12.

Tung K, Wilkens L, Wu A, McDuffie K, Nomura A, Kolonel L . Effect of anovulation factors on pre- and postmenopausal ovarian cancer risk: revisiting the incessant ovulation hypothesis. Am J Epidemiol. 2005; 161(4):321-9. DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwi046. View

13.

Cusido M, Balaguero L, Hernandez G, Falcon O, Rodriguez-Escudero F, Vargas J . Results of the national survey of borderline ovarian tumors in Spain. Gynecol Oncol. 2006; 104(3):617-22. DOI: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2006.10.001. View

14.

Sanner K, Conner P, Bergfeldt K, Dickman P, Sundfeldt K, Bergh T . Ovarian epithelial neoplasia after hormonal infertility treatment: long-term follow-up of a historical cohort in Sweden. Fertil Steril. 2008; 91(4):1152-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.01.073. View

15.

Tsilidis K, Allen N, Key T, Dossus L, Lukanova A, Bakken K . Oral contraceptive use and reproductive factors and risk of ovarian cancer in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition. Br J Cancer. 2011; 105(9):1436-42. PMC: 3241548. DOI: 10.1038/bjc.2011.371. View

16.

Brinton L, Lamb E, Moghissi K, Scoccia B, Althuis M, Mabie J . Ovarian cancer risk after the use of ovulation-stimulating drugs. Obstet Gynecol. 2004; 103(6):1194-203. DOI: 10.1097/01.AOG.0000128139.92313.74. View

17.

Whittemore A, Harris R, Itnyre J . Characteristics relating to ovarian cancer risk: collaborative analysis of 12 US case-control studies. II. Invasive epithelial ovarian cancers in white women. Collaborative Ovarian Cancer Group. Am J Epidemiol. 1992; 136(10):1184-203. DOI: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a116427. View

18.

Dor J, Lerner-Geva L, Rabinovici J, Chetrit A, Levran D, Lunenfeld B . Cancer incidence in a cohort of infertile women who underwent in vitro fertilization. Fertil Steril. 2002; 77(2):324-7. DOI: 10.1016/s0015-0282(01)02986-7. View

19.

Mosgaard B, Lidegaard O, Kjaer S, Schou G, Andersen A . Infertility, fertility drugs, and invasive ovarian cancer: a case-control study. Fertil Steril. 1997; 67(6):1005-12. DOI: 10.1016/s0015-0282(97)81431-8. View

20.

Siskind V, Green A, Bain C, Purdie D . Beyond ovulation: oral contraceptives and epithelial ovarian cancer. Epidemiology. 2000; 11(2):106-10. DOI: 10.1097/00001648-200003000-00005. View