Cancer incidence in a cohort of infertile women who underwent in vitro fertilization.
OBJECTIVE
To assess whether ovarian hyperstimulation and IVF increase the risk for cancer.


METHODS
Historical cohort analysis. SETTING; IVF units of two medical centers in Israel.


METHODS
Five thousand twenty-six women who underwent IVF between 1981 and 1992. INTERVENTION(S); Cancer incidence rates were determined through linkage to the National Cancer Registry and were compared with expected rates with respect to age, sex, and place of birth.


METHODS
Development of cancer.


RESULTS
Twenty-seven cases of cancer were observed, and 35.6 were expected (standardized incidence ratio, 0.76 [95% CI, 0.50-1.10]). Eleven cases of breast cancer were observed, whereas 15.86 were expected (standardized incidence ratio, 0.69 [95% CI, 0.46-1.66]). One case of ovarian cancer and 1 case of cervical cancer were observed, compared with 1.74 and 1.73 cases expected, respectively. The type of infertility, number of IVF cycles, and treatment outcome did not significantly affect risk for cancer.


CONCLUSIONS
In a cohort of women treated with IVF, no excess risk for cancer was noted.
Dor
Jehoshua
J
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer 52621, Israel.
Lerner-Geva
Liat
L
Rabinovici
Jaron
J
Chetrit
Angela
A
Levran
David
D
Lunenfeld
Bruno
B
Mashiach
Shlomo
S
Modan
Baruch
B
D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000009:adverse effects; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology