IVF and Ovarian Cancer

The question of whether invitro fertilization (IVF) increases risk for ovarian , endometrial and cervical cancers has been debated for a time. It is thought that increasing the release of eggs from the ovary by IVF and the subsequent inflammation may lead to an increase risk for ovarian cancer.

An article in the March -April 2013 issue of the Human Reproduction Update journal titled

Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for IVF: impact on ovarian, endometrial and cervical cancer—a systematic review and meta-analysis

is a study by researchers from Greece, the United Kingdom and Sweden. They examined 9 studies which included over 100,000 women. Comparing the women who underwent IVF to the population of infertile women there were no significant associations with ovarian, endometrial or cervical cancer. When they compared the general population of women with women who underwent IVF they found significantly positive association with ovarian cancer and endometrial cancers but not cervical.

I am hoping that future research will include long term follow-up ( only one study was for 10 years after).

Source: Article abstract http://humupd.oxfordjournals.org/content/19/2/105.abstract?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=6&RESULTFORMAT=&andorexacttitle=and&titleabstract=ovarian+cancer&andorexacttitleabs=phrase&andorexactfulltext=and&searchid=1&usestrictdates=yes&resourcetype=HWCIT&ct


Dee
Every Day is a Blessing!