The feasibility of assessing women's perceptions of the risks and benefits of fertility drug therapy in relation to ovarian cancer risk.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the feasibility of asking women undergoing fertility treatment the maximum increased risk of ovarian cancer they would be willing to tolerate in order to take ovulation-induction drugs.


METHODS
A prospective pilot study of women attending fertility clinics over a 2-month period.


METHODS
Two tertiary care fertility clinics in Toronto.


METHODS
Sixty-one English-speaking women were approached and 85% (n = 52) were enrolled.


METHODS
A self-administered questionnaire with fertility-specific questions. Thirty-eight women also were asked to complete standardized scales of anxiety and optimism.


METHODS
Women's report of the maximum level of lifetime risk of ovarian cancer they were willing to tolerate in order to undergo fertility treatment.


RESULTS
Seventy-nine percent were willing to accept an increased risk of ovarian cancer. Only 24% understood that treatment for ovarian cancer usually was not curative.


CONCLUSIONS
A majority of patients were willing to tolerate a modest increase in their lifetime risk of ovarian cancer because of fertility treatment, most basing their estimate of acceptable risk on limited awareness of the issue.
Rosen
B
B
Toronto Hospital, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. BROSEN@TORHOSP.TORONTO.ON.CA
Irvine
J
J
Ritvo
P
P
Shapiro
H
H
Stewart
D
D
Reynolds
K
K
Robinson
G
G
Thomas
J
J
Neuman
J
J
Murphy
J
J
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D009864:Ontario; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D005300:Fertility Agents, Female