Breast Cancer and Ovulation Induction Treatments.

BACKGROUND: This study was performed to determine whether the use of ovulation induction drugs in treatment of infertility have a significant effect on the risk of breast cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: This case control study (928 cases, 928 controls), was performed in the gynecology and oncology clinics of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences between 2011 and 2013. Data were collected via in-person interviews using a questionnaire, which included demographic and gynecologic information. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS statistics software version 20 (IBM Corp).

RESULTS: The use of ovulation induction drugs was not significantly associated with an increased risk of breast cancer (odds ratio [OR], 1.13; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.7-1.855) among women with infertility (OR, 1.28; 95% CI, 0.8-1.95).

CONCLUSION: We observed no statistically significant relationship between infertility and ovulation induction drugs with the risk of breast cancer, except for significant increases in the risk of breast cancer among patients who had used fertility drugs for >6 months.