Use of fertility drugs and risk of ovarian cancer: results from a U.S.-based case-control study.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Previous studies examining associations between use of fertility drugs and ovarian cancer risk have provided conflicting results. We used data from a large case-control study to determine whether fertility drug use significantly impacts ovarian cancer risk when taking into account parity, gravidity, and cause of infertility.

METHODS:

Data from the Hormones and Ovarian Cancer Prediction (HOPE) study were used (902 cases, 1,802 controls). Medical and reproductive histories were collected via in-person interviews. Logistic regression was used to calculate ORs and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Models were adjusted for age, race, education, age at menarche, parity, oral contraceptive use, breastfeeding, talc use, tubal ligation, and family history of breast/ovarian cancer.

RESULTS:

Ever use of fertility drugs was not significantly associated with ovarian cancer within the total HOPE population (OR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.65-1.35) or among women who reported seeking medical attention for infertility (OR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.54-1.40). We did observe a statistically significant increased risk of ovarian cancer for ever use of fertility drugs among women who, despite seeking medical attention for problems getting pregnant, remained nulligravid (OR, 3.13; 95% CI, 1.01-9.67).

CONCLUSIONS:

These results provide further evidence that fertility drug use does not significantly contribute to ovarian cancer risk among the majority of women; however, women who despite infertility evaluation and fertility drug use remain nulligravid, may have an elevated risk for ovarian cancer.

IMPACT:

Our results suggest that fertility drug use does not significantly contribute to overall risk of ovarian cancer when adjusting for known confounding factors.

• Authors: Michelle L Kurta, Kirsten B Moysich, Joel L Weissfeld, Ada O Youk, Clareann H Bunker, Robert P Edwards, Francesmary Modugno, Roberta B Ness, Brenda Diergaarde
• Journal: Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention : a publication of the American Association for Cancer Research, cosponsored by the American Society of Preventive Oncology (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev) Vol. 21 Issue 8 Pg. 1282-92 (Aug 2012) ISSN: 1538-7755 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 22707710 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)
• Copyright: ©2012 AACR.

Chemical References

• Fertility Agents

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Case-Control Studies
• Female
• Fertility Agents (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Humans
• Infertility, Female (drug therapy)
• Logistic Models
• Middle Aged
• New York (epidemiology)
• Ohio (epidemiology)
• Ovarian Neoplasms (chemically induced, epidemiology)
• Pennsylvania (epidemiology)
• Risk Factors
• United States