Fertility drugs and breast cancer risk

Purpose of investigation: Female infertility is a widespread problem in Western countries. During past years, an association between ovarian stimulation in unfertile women and breast cancer risk has been hypothesized. Objective: Purpose of the present investigation was to comment the most updated studies about an eventual relationship between fertility drugs and breast cancer risk. Materials and Methods: The authors performed a review of the current literature regarding the possible association between the use of fertility drugs and the enhanced risk of breast cancer. They searched digital databases including Pubmed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library. The literature search was performed using various combinations of keywords. They carefully analyzed only the full versions of all relevant studies. Results: Using various combination of keywords, the authors examined 930 papers. They considered only papers written in English. With these criteria they selected the studies that had been discussed in detail on the text. Conclusion: None of the works commented provides an indisputable evidence about a link between ovarian stimulation and breast cancer risk. On the contrary, most of them actually suggest a lack of interaction between them or even a protective role of ovarian stimulation.

In vitro fertilization; Clomiphene citrate; Fertility drugs; Infertility treatment; Breast cancer risk.

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