Fertility Treatments May Increase Women’s Cancer Risks: Study

Research indicates the risk of uterine cancer is up to 83% higher for women who undergo intrauterine insemination.

According to findings published in JAMA Network Open on March 10, Australian researchers found fertility treatments were linked to increased risks of uterine, skin and breast cancers, while showing lower cervical cancer risk.

Each year, hundreds of thousands of women undergo fertility treatments in the United States, including procedures like in vitro fertilization and hormone based therapies designed to stimulate egg production. While these treatments have helped many families conceive, researchers continue to examine potential long term health risks associated with the procedures and medications involved.

Prior research has suggested fertility treatments may increase the risk of various health conditions. Data from a Rutgers University study published in 2023 found women who undergo fertility treatments may face a higher risk of suffering a stroke for up to a year after giving birth.

Some studies have also raised concerns about potential health effects for children conceived through fertility treatment. Research published in 2022 linked assisted reproductive technologies to an increased risk of certain childhood cancers, including leukemia and liver cancer.

Another study published in the European Heart Journal in 2024 found children conceived through fertility treatment faced a 36% higher chance of developing congenital heart defects. Other research suggests fertility treatments may also increase the likelihood a child will develop asthma, allergies or eczema.

In this new study, researchers from the University of New South Wales in Australia analyzed the risk of cancer among nearly 418,000 women who underwent fertility treatments in Australia from 1991 to 2018. They compared the data with women in the general population who did not undergo fertility treatments.

Led by Dr. Claire Melissa Vajdic, the research team divided the women into groups by the type of fertility treatment they received. About 66% underwent assisted reproductive therapy or intravenous fertility treatment. Another 29% underwent intrauterine insemination with ovarian simulation, and 42% were treated with clomiphene injections to stimulate ovulation.

Data suggests women who underwent fertility treatments had the same risk of overall cancer as women in the general population. However, the risk was slightly higher for some hormone-sensitive cancers.

Women who underwent fertility treatments faced a 23% to 83% higher risk of uterine cancer, depending on the type of treatment received, with the highest risks associated with IVF and intrauterine insemination. The study also found the risk of melanoma increased by 7% to 15%, while breast cancer risk was 24% higher among women who underwent IVF, though the increase did not extend to invasive breast cancer.

However, the incidence of cervical cancer was about 40% lower among fertility treatment recipients compared to the general population. Researchers also observed a 30% lower risk of cancers involving the trachea, bronchus and lungs.

Despite these differences, the researchers indicated the overall impact remained relatively small, amounting to about three to seven additional cancer cases per 100,000 people.

“This evidence should enhance awareness, cancer risk behavior modification (reduce adiposity, sun exposure, smoking), and clinical guidelines for follow-up care.”

– Dr. Claire Melissa Vajdic, Cancer Incidence in Women After Medically Assisted Reproduction

The study’s findings highlight the need for greater awareness among women undergoing fertility treatments, as well as ongoing medical monitoring after treatment to help detect potential cancers earlier, the researchers concluded.

The team noted the increased cancer risks may partly reflect underlying causes of infertility, such as endometriosis or polycystic ovary syndrome. However, they emphasized the importance of long term follow up and recommended that physicians discuss potential cancer risks associated with fertility treatments with patients before beginning treatment.

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