IVF Treatments Don’t Increase Ovarian Cancer Risks

A large study presented at the American Society of Reproductive Medicine yesterday, October 20th, revealed that advanced treatment for infertility including IVF does not appear to increase the risk of ovarian cancer. This was a study done in the UK which followed 255,000 women for up to 20 years evaluating their risk for ovarian cancer. Although the IVF treatments don’t increase ovarian cancer risks, women are infertile particularly those with endometriosis and those who had not had a child before IVF treatments were at increased risk of ovarian cancer. These patients had a 33% increase risk of ovarian cancer. Couples who are infertile due to a problem with sperm have no increased risk of ovarian cancer.

This study confirms a 2011 study involving 1.4 million Swedish women that showed no increase risk of ovarian cancer with IVF treatments. Additionally, this study should allay any patients fear that IVF treatment can increase the risk of ovarian cancer.

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