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Fertility drugs and cancer

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 June 2009

AJ Venn  and
DL Healy
AJ Venn*
Affiliation:
Centre for the Study of Mothers' & Children's Health, La Trobe University, 463 Cardigan St, Carlton, Victoria 3053, Australia
DL Healy
Affiliation:
Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Monash University, Monash Medical Centre, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia
*
Centre for the Study of Mothers' & Children's Health, La Trobe University, 463 Cardigan St, Carlton, Victoria 3053, Australia. Tel.: +61-3-93481095, Fax: +61-3-93481129, e-mail a.venn@latrobe.edu.au.
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Extract

The short-term risks of fertility drug treatment, such as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, are well recognised by clinicians providing infertility treatment. There is uncertainty, however, about whether there are any longterm risks such as an increased risk of breast or gynaecological cancer. The possibility of such long-term risks is sometimes a concern for couples who are considering or receiving infertility treatment and their concerns need to be discussed using the best available evidence. The need for appropriate evaluation of long-term health effects of treatment with fertility drugs, including cancer, has been highlighted in major reviews of infertility treatments in Australia and Canada.

Type
Research Article
Information
Reproductive Medicine Review , Volume 6 , Issue 3 , October 1997 , pp. 185 - 198
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1997

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