title: Clinical use of fertility agents and risk of breast cancer: a recent update for an old problem.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Female infertility is today a very common, expanding problem and therefore restoring fertility strategies are increasing in the last few years. An association between ovarian stimulation and breast cancer risk has been hypothesized, but the question has not yet been clarified.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the last 2 years, many important studies have been published on this topic. A lot of new combinations of drugs are in experimentation and other recent drugs are already in current use, such as aromatase inhibitors. Furthermore, the data from older studies were investigated by two recent meta-analyses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Infertility affects many couples in western countries and the use of fertility stimulation techniques is widespread in the last few years, determining personal anxiety, social costs, and organizing difficulties. It is well known that one of the most important causative agents for the development of breast cancer is the proliferative activity of endogenous and exogenous female hormones. Therefore, it seems appropriate to investigate the risk of breast cancer derived from the use of hormonal therapies in infertile women. The final clarification of this question is very important so that all women can realize their dream of having children, with the certainty of not being exposed to an increased risk of breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: aDepartment of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University of Rome 'Sapienza', Rome bDepartment of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, University of Rome 'Sapienza', Latina, Italy *Federica Tomao and Giuseppe Lo Russo contributed equally to this work.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tomao
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lo Russo
authors.forename: Gian Paolo
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Spinelli
authors.forename: Silverio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tomao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D002996:Clomiphene / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D011247:Pregnancy; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D005300:Fertility Agents, Female; D002996:Clomiphene