In Vitro Fertilization Can Potentially Develop Ovarian Cancer Risk

Though there is a falling rate among women diagnosed with ovarian cancer, it is still said that one out of 75 women has a high risk of acquiring it. Ranked fifth for cancer deaths among women, ovarian cancer is now linked with In Vitro Fertilization (IVF).

According to The Telegraph report, women who are into Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) are said to be more prone in developing ovarian cancer especially those who underwent IVF than those ladies who conceive naturally. Scientists do not want to fully conclude that IVF is the main reason why women became more prone of having such cancer. They are taking in consideration other underlying conditions as to why the women took ART as an option in the first place. One of this could have been due to certain infertility and hormonal problems.

However, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews in 2013 have actually not found any evidence that links the ovarian stimulation therapy in the harvesting of the egg from the ovaries to the increased risks of a woman having cancer. For one, many health experts and specialists dispute such association of the treatment to the acquisitions and dangers of ovarian cancer. It is said that the British health experts just took time in informing infertile women who are planning to have an IVF the risks of obtaining ovarian cancer.

One finding of the study shows that the risk is only higher on the first three years after receiving the treatment and remains the same as to those younger women. Web MD shared on its report that based on a study conducted in Wales, England and Scotland, women who did not have a baby after IVF has a higher risk while those women who got the treatment because their partners are the ones having infertility problems do not have the same risks at all.

The chief executive of a non-profit ovarian cancer action group, Katherine Taylor said that studies do not really tell us that there is a high risk of ovarian cancer among women who are on IVF treatment. Perhaps, it is also just because of the other existing medical infertility issues. As reproductive experts say, the risk they are talking about in the said studies is still small.