Infertility and risk of ovarian cancer: A systematic review and meta analysis

Post-modernization has increased infertility globally. Infertility can cause ovarian, breast, and endometrial cancers. Recent studies have shown that a substantial proportion of couples undergoing infertility treatment develop cancer. However, existing studies yielded inconsistent results. Therefore...

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Main Authors: Indra Sambasivam, H. Gladius Jennifer, Saravanan Chinnaiyan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2025-01-01
Series:Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_227_24
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author Indra Sambasivam
H. Gladius Jennifer
Saravanan Chinnaiyan
author_facet Indra Sambasivam
H. Gladius Jennifer
Saravanan Chinnaiyan
author_sort Indra Sambasivam
collection DOAJ
description Post-modernization has increased infertility globally. Infertility can cause ovarian, breast, and endometrial cancers. Recent studies have shown that a substantial proportion of couples undergoing infertility treatment develop cancer. However, existing studies yielded inconsistent results. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis to determine whether infertility increases the risk of ovarian cancer. Our systematic review and meta-analysis intended to identify the association between ovarian cancer and infertility based on the existing research. In accordance with PRISMA guidelines, this review contains studies on infertility and ovarian cancer as an outcome measure among ovarian cancer groups and those not having cancer. Two authors independently retrieved the articles through electronic databases such as PubMed and Scopus. This review includes 25 studies published worldwide between 2001 and 2022. This systematic review has been registered with the International Prospective Registry of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) (CRD CRD42021288860). The systematic review included 25 articles, while the meta-analysis included four. In total, data from 84,49,557 participants in 25 studies were extracted (21 cohort studies and 4 case-control studies). The global prevalence of ovarian cancer among women with a history of infertility was 0.5%. The calculated OR of developing ovarian cancer as a result of infertility was 1.35 (95% CI: 0.92–1.97). The pooled odds ratio of developing ovarian cancer as a result of infertility drug use was 0.93 (95% CI: 0.94–2.46). Pooled effect was shown to be stable and reliable by cumulative meta-analysis. The current meta-analysis showed that women who used infertility drugs had a higher risk of developing OC than those having a history of infertility.
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spelling doaj-art-895577c113df405e925464699437c8fd2025-02-11T12:46:49ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsJournal of Family Medicine and Primary Care2249-48632278-71352025-01-01141152110.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_227_24Infertility and risk of ovarian cancer: A systematic review and meta analysisIndra SambasivamH. Gladius JenniferSaravanan ChinnaiyanPost-modernization has increased infertility globally. Infertility can cause ovarian, breast, and endometrial cancers. Recent studies have shown that a substantial proportion of couples undergoing infertility treatment develop cancer. However, existing studies yielded inconsistent results. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis to determine whether infertility increases the risk of ovarian cancer. Our systematic review and meta-analysis intended to identify the association between ovarian cancer and infertility based on the existing research. In accordance with PRISMA guidelines, this review contains studies on infertility and ovarian cancer as an outcome measure among ovarian cancer groups and those not having cancer. Two authors independently retrieved the articles through electronic databases such as PubMed and Scopus. This review includes 25 studies published worldwide between 2001 and 2022. This systematic review has been registered with the International Prospective Registry of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) (CRD CRD42021288860). The systematic review included 25 articles, while the meta-analysis included four. In total, data from 84,49,557 participants in 25 studies were extracted (21 cohort studies and 4 case-control studies). The global prevalence of ovarian cancer among women with a history of infertility was 0.5%. The calculated OR of developing ovarian cancer as a result of infertility was 1.35 (95% CI: 0.92–1.97). The pooled odds ratio of developing ovarian cancer as a result of infertility drug use was 0.93 (95% CI: 0.94–2.46). Pooled effect was shown to be stable and reliable by cumulative meta-analysis. The current meta-analysis showed that women who used infertility drugs had a higher risk of developing OC than those having a history of infertility.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_227_24carcinomainfertilityodds ratioovarian cancerrisk factors
spellingShingle Indra Sambasivam
H. Gladius Jennifer
Saravanan Chinnaiyan
Infertility and risk of ovarian cancer: A systematic review and meta analysis
Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care
carcinoma
infertility
odds ratio
ovarian cancer
risk factors
title Infertility and risk of ovarian cancer: A systematic review and meta analysis
title_full Infertility and risk of ovarian cancer: A systematic review and meta analysis
title_fullStr Infertility and risk of ovarian cancer: A systematic review and meta analysis
title_full_unstemmed Infertility and risk of ovarian cancer: A systematic review and meta analysis
title_short Infertility and risk of ovarian cancer: A systematic review and meta analysis
title_sort infertility and risk of ovarian cancer a systematic review and meta analysis
topic carcinoma
infertility
odds ratio
ovarian cancer
risk factors
url https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_227_24
work_keys_str_mv AT indrasambasivam infertilityandriskofovariancancerasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis
AT hgladiusjennifer infertilityandriskofovariancancerasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis
AT saravananchinnaiyan infertilityandriskofovariancancerasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis