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27 October 2011

A study in Holland has found that women who have ovarian stimulation in IVF have an increased risk of developing borderline ovarian cancer later in life when compared sub-fertile women not receiving IVF.

However, it is important that this increased risk is kept in perspective, as the overall risk still remains extremely small.  The cumulative life time risk for borderline ovarian cancer up to the age of 55 was just under five in 1000 in the general population compared with seven in 1000 undergoing IVF.

The researchers admit further study is needed, and indeed the HFEA has recently approved a much larger study looking at whether women in the UK undergoing IVF have an increased risk of reproductive cancers, including ovarian cancer.

In order to make sure patients understand the risks of ART we keep research of this kind under review and where it suggests there may be a greater risk we share this information with patients in a clear way to help them understand the risks associated with the choices they are making.

Ends

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Notes to editors

 

• The study was published in the journal ‘Human Reproduction’ and can be viewed in full here http://www.oxfordjournals.org/eshre/press-release/freepdf/prpaperder322.pdf
• The HFEA is the independent regulator for IVF treatment and embryo research. Our role is to protect patients and the public interest, to drive improvement in the treatment and research sectors and to provide information to the public and policymakers about treatment and research.
• The HFEA was set up in August 1991 as part of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990.  The HFEA’s principal tasks are to license and monitor clinics that carry out in vitro fertilisation (IVF), artificial insemination (AI) and human embryo research. The HFEA also regulates the storage of gametes (eggs and sperm) and embryos.

For further information please contact the HFEA press office on 020 7291 8226 or email press.office@hfea.gov.uk

Page last updated: 27 October 2011

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