Infertility and Breast Cancer

Dr. Randy Morris

Infertility and Breast Cancer

Dr. Randy Morris

A study was recently published that looked at the relationship between infertility and breast cancer. The study followed over 100,000 female registered nurses from the Nurses' Health Study. The conclusions spell some good news for women who do not ovulate. In past studies, these women were found to have a higher rate of uterine cancer and ovarian cancer. The current study finds that women who are infertile due to ovulatory disorders are about 25% less likely to develop breast cancer than women who report no fertility problems. Even more importantly, women with ovulatory disorders who have received ovulation-induction therapy for their infertility were 40% less likely to develop the breast cancer. This is a remarkable finding since fertility medications are often criticized for possibly increasing the risk of ovarian cancer.