Infertility as a risk factor of ovarian and breast cancer

Abstract

For over a decade, questions regarding the possible link between infertility and ovarian and breast cancer have been raised. According to the WHO, infertility affects 15-20% of couples in developed countries and this rate keeps growing. Infertile couples want to seek reliable information regarding the cancer risk associated with their infertility and the safety of infertility treatments. Because ovarian and breast cancer share the same risk predictors with infertility, the possible links between infertility and these two female cancers have been most widely investigated. Nevertheless, the results have been conflicting. In this article, we will review the potential association between infertility and breast/ovarian cancer in both cohort and case-control studies based on the possible mechanisms of how infertility can affect both cancers. © 2011 Expert Reviews Ltd.