Use of fertility drugs and risk of ovarian cancer.

Parazzini, Fabio; Pelucchi, Claudio; Negri, Eva; Franceschi, Silvia; Talamini, Renato; Montella, Maurizio; La Vecchia, Carlo; Parazzini, F; Pelucchi, C; Negri, E; Franceschi, S; Talamini, R; Montella, M; La Vecchia, C

<bold>Background: </bold>The potential association between fertility drugs and risk of ovarian cancer has been analysed using data from a case-control study conducted between January 1992 and September 1999 in four Italian areas.<bold>Methods: </bold>Cases were 1031 women (median age 56, range 18-79 years) with incident, histologically confirmed epithelial ovarian cancer. Controls were 2411 women (median age 57, range 17-79 years) residing in the same geographical areas and admitted to the same network of hospitals for cases for a wide spectrum of acute, non neoplastic, non hormone-related conditions.<bold>Results: </bold>A total of 15 cases and 26 controls reported use of fertility drugs. The corresponding odds ratio (OR) was 1.3 (95% confidence interval 0.7-2.5). The OR was 1.2 for women reporting last use <25 years before interview and 1.3 for >25 years.<bold>Conclusions: </bold>Considering calendar year at use, the OR was non-significantly above unity for women reporting fertility drug use after 1970. The OR was 0.6 among nulliparous women and 1.9 among parous ones.

Human Reproduction, 2001, Vol 16, Issue 7, p1372

0268-1161

Academic Journal

10.1093/humrep/16.7.1372