Fertility
Fertility treatment not tied to cancer risk, research finds
Fertility treatment was not linked to a higher overall risk of invasive cancer in women, a large Australian study has found.
The study, published today in JAMA Network Open, analysed health records of more than 417,000 women and found some specific cancers were slightly more common, while others were less common.
The researchers said the findings need to be interpreted with caution, and in the context of the many factors that influence cancer risk.
Adrian Walker, joint lead author from UNSW’s Centre for Big Data Research in Health, said the overall findings were reassuring, with women who receive fertility treatment not having a higher total incidence of cancer than other women.
“Women who’ve had assisted fertility should continue to participate in routine cancer screening programs they’re eligible for,” he said.
“And they should discuss their cancer risk with their doctor, to understand how else they can reduce their risk.”
The study analysed national health and cancer records from 417,984 Australian women who underwent medically assisted reproduction between 1991 and 2018.
This included IVF, intrauterine insemination and treatment with the fertility drug clomiphene. Cancer outcomes were examined over an average of 10 years.
The researchers compared how often cancer occurred in these women with how often it occurred in Australian women of the same age and in the same calendar years.
While the overall cancer rate was not higher, some specific cancers were slightly more common in women who had fertility treatment, while others were less common.
Uterine and ovarian cancer were slightly more common, as was melanoma. A non-invasive form of breast cancer was also more common in women who had IVF, but invasive breast cancer was not increased.
At the same time, some cancers, including cervical and lung cancer, were less common.
“It is very normal for a specific group of people to have a slightly different cancer profile from the general population,” Walker said.
“But as we see here, that doesn’t mean that their overall risk is increased.”
Claire Vajdic, professor at UNSW’s Kirby Institute and study lead, said the findings need to be interpreted carefully.
“This study focused on comparing rates of cancer in different populations, not whether fertility treatments themselves cause cancer.
“As such, we must consider the pre-existing risks of cancer in these populations when interpreting the findings.
“Women with infertility who are having or have had treatment, like all women, should ensure that they have regular check-ups, and seek further evaluation if they have concerns about unusual symptoms.”
Of the cancers that occurred at a higher rate than in the general population, uterine cancer was between 23 per cent and 83 per cent more common, depending on the type of fertility treatment.
Ovarian cancer was around 18 per cent to 23 per cent more common in women who had IVF or related treatments, while melanoma was about 7 per cent to 15 per cent more common.
On the other hand, some cancers were less common. Cervical cancer rates were about 40 per cent lower than in the general population, and lung cancer rates were about 30 per cent lower.
However, when the researchers looked at the actual number of additional cases, the difference was small. Across the cancers that were more common, the largest increase amounted to three to seven extra cases per 100,000 women per year.
So even where a relative increase was observed, the overall chance of developing cancer remained low.
Very few medical treatments are without risk, but the elevated cancer incidence here is low,” Vajdic said.
The researchers said there could be many reasons why certain cancers were more common in women who had fertility treatment.
“Women who need fertility treatment may differ from other women in ways that affect cancer risk,” Vajdic said.
Certain underlying causes of infertility, such as endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome, are known to increase the risk of uterine and ovarian cancers.
The researchers showed Australian women who underwent fertility treatment were more likely to live in major cities and be socioeconomically advantaged.
Although not examined in this study, women having fertility treatment are also more likely to have fair skin and be less likely to smoke. Additionally, before starting fertility treatment, doctors must check that women are up to date with any recommended routine cancer screening.
All these factors will contribute to the cancer patterns observed in this study, including reduced lung cancer rates and reduced cervical cancer rates.
“What this study does is describe cancer patterns we’re seeing at a population level,” Walker said.
“It doesn’t tell us the risk of receiving treatment, or the risk for individual women who undergo treatment.”
Because many women in the study were still relatively young at the end of follow-up, the researchers said longer follow-up would provide additional insights.
“Continued cancer awareness is important as this population ages,” Vajdic said.
The researchers concluded that cancer risk after fertility treatment was not higher overall, and that further research to better understand differences in incidence for individual cancers will help women and their doctors make informed decisions.
AI could transform ovarian care by personalising cancer and fertility treatment, but more clinical validation is needed before routine use.
A systematic review and meta-analysis found AI models showed high diagnostic accuracy for ovarian cancer when combining data such as ultrasound scans and blood test results.
Across 81 studies, AI models correctly identified ovarian cancer in around nine out of 10 cases, with pooled rates of 89 to 94 per cent.
They were also highly accurate at ruling out ovarian cancer when it was not present, with specificity of 85 to 91 per cent.
The analysis also found that explainable AI tools could predict complete surgical cytoreduction in advanced ovarian cancer.
Complete surgical cytoreduction means removing all visible cancer during surgery, which can be an important goal in treatment planning.
The tools achieved a pooled AUC of 0.87. AUC is a measure of how well a model distinguishes between different outcomes, with higher scores showing stronger performance.
In reproductive medicine, AI algorithms helped physicians optimise ovarian stimulation protocols and predict follicular growth during IVF.
Ovarian stimulation is the use of hormones to encourage the ovaries to produce eggs, while follicles are the small sacs in the ovaries where eggs develop.
The review found AI could reliably model ovarian response in IVF with a pooled AUC of 0.81.
However, researchers said challenges remain in translating promising research findings into routine clinical practice.
They identified substantial variation across studies, driven by retrospective study designs, variable AI systems and a lack of standardised validation.
Only 22 per cent of analysed studies reported prospective, multicentre external validation, where models are tested forward in time across multiple healthcare settings.
The authors called for rigorous validation to help close the gap between research and routine clinical practice, alongside standardised methodological and reporting frameworks, smooth integration with clinical workflow and robust governance to support responsible and ethical AI use.
They concluded: “Artificial intelligence is a transformative force in the management of ovarian conditions.
“In gynaecologic oncology, AI enhances every phase of care, from early detection and accurate diagnosis to prognostic stratification and surgical planning.”
In reproductive medicine, AI personalises ovarian stimulation and refines the diagnosis of heterogenous endocrine disorders such as PCOS.
PCOS, or polycystic ovary syndrome, is a hormonal condition that can affect periods, skin, weight and fertility.
Housing, work and fertility pressures are stopping many Britons growing the families they want, new research suggests.
A UK fertility report found that 79 per cent of people surveyed who had tried to conceive in the past five years would like more children than they currently have.
Among parents with one child, that figure rises to 88 per cent.
The report surveyed more than 1,000 people across the UK who had tried for a baby in the past five years.
While birth rates continue to fall, the findings suggest it is not because people no longer want children. Instead, many respondents said external pressures are making it harder to grow their families.
The findings, from wellness brand Wild Nutrition’s Fertility Disconnect report, highlight how financial pressures, fertility struggles and gaps in reproductive health knowledge are shaping modern family life in the UK.
Gail Madalena, fertility nutritional therapist at Wild Nutrition, said: “People often assume fertility begins the moment they decide to try [for a baby].
“In reality, egg and sperm health are shaped months and years earlier.
“By the time someone starts thinking about fertility, their body has already been responding to its environment for a long time.”
Among the biggest barriers, 26 per cent said career progression affected their family plans, 25 per cent cited housing affordability and lack of space, and 52 per cent said they required medical intervention during their fertility journey.
The report also found that almost a quarter of respondents had spent more than two years trying to conceive.
Trying for a baby can take a significant toll on mental health and relationships, especially for those navigating fertility treatment.
According to the research, 38 per cent of respondents said trying to conceive had negatively affected their mental health. That figure rose to 99 per cent among people undergoing fertility treatment.
Julianne Boutaleb is a perinatal psychologist.
She said: “Navigating a fertility journey is about so much more than medical appointments and procedures.
“It’s an emotional marathon that can take a huge toll on your mental wellbeing.
“Sadly, the stats show that 15 per cent of couples going through fertility treatment say their relationship has been irrevocably impaired.”
The report also highlighted the realities of secondary infertility, which affects around one in 20 people, challenging the assumption that having one child means conceiving again will be straightforward.
Researchers found many people felt under-informed about fertility, particularly younger adults.
Ten per cent of Gen Z respondents said they “know nothing” about fertility, while only one in five respondents said they know “a lot” about egg health.
The report also found that 60 per cent of women were unaware of fertility testing options, and one in five Gen Z respondents said they felt uncomfortable discussing fertility, even with their partner.
Around 40 per cent of those surveyed supported fertility education being included in schools, covering topics such as egg health, sperm health and hormonal health.
The report also explored how lifestyle and long-term health may influence fertility outcomes.
Many respondents said they only made changes once they started trying to conceive.
Some 44 per cent improved their diet when trying for a baby, while 32 per cent reduced alcohol intake at that stage.
The report also referenced emerging research that suggests ultra-processed foods and microplastics could have an impact on reproductive health.
While fertility conversations often focus on women, the findings showed male fertility issues are also affecting many families.
Seventeen per cent of respondents cited sperm health issues as a barrier to conception, while male factors contribute to around half of all fertility challenges.
Only one in four men said they would share fertility struggles with friends.
“Many causes of male infertility are entirely treatable yet so often the last resort is the first response,” said Ian Stones, co-founder at Test Him Ltd.
The findings come as UK birth rates remain below replacement level.
The report noted that the UK fertility rate is now 1.41, meaning that on average women give birth to 1.41 children over their lifetimes. The replacement rate, or rate that maintains population numbers, is 2.1.
It also said the average age of mothers has risen to 31, while birth rates are falling across most age groups except among over-40s.
“There is no single fertility story, and it is rarely a simple, linear narrative,” said Dr Zeynep Gurtin, lecturer in women’s health at UCL.
Dr Gurtin added that better fertility education, fairer access to treatment and more open conversations around infertility and pregnancy loss are needed.
Femtech World is thrilled to reveal the shortlist for the Fertility Innovation Award.
The award, sponsored by FinDBest IVF, celebrates a pioneering product, service or initiative that is transforming fertility care and support.
FinDBest IVF is a global B2B digital platform created to simplify and accelerate how IVF and ART manufacturers connect with trusted, pre-vetted distributors around the world.
This year’s nominees represent a remarkable breadth of approaches to fertility care: from clinic-floor breakthroughs to at-home hormone intelligence to truly borderless access.
Three companies made the cut, with each tackling a real, persistent barrier in reproductive health.
Congratulations to the shortlist and many thanks to everyone who entered.
Fertility Innovation Award Shortlist
HRC Fertility’s Needle-Free IVF is a pioneering advancement designed to transform one of the most challenging aspects of fertility treatment: daily hormone injections.
Developed by board-certified reproductive endocrinologist Dr Rachel Mandelbaum, this innovative approach reimagines how stimulation medications are delivered during IVF and egg freezing, dramatically improving the patient experience while maintaining the same trusted clinical outcomes.
Inspired by feedback from patients who struggled with the injection process, Dr Mandelbaum adapted an innovative drug-delivery system commonly used in other areas of medicine and applied it to reproductive care
Mira is a hormonal health technology company that provides lab-grade hormone testing and AI-driven insights to help women and couples understand their fertility.
The platform has already supported more than 200,000 couples on their fertility journeys worldwide, helping over 60,000+ users achieve pregnancy.
For some users, pregnancy rates have reached up to 89 per cent within six months, demonstrating how accurate hormone data can significantly improve fertility outcomes.
Founded in 2021 by Marija Skujina, a Certified Fertility Nurse Specialist accredited by the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, with nearly 15 years of clinical experience at one of the world’s top IVF clinics, and having navigated her own fertility journey as a patient, Marija built the clinic she had always wished existed.
Plan Your Baby began with a bold, but simple mission – make best quality fertility and pregnancy available anywhere.
Plan Your Baby has created a new generation fertility and pregnancy clinic with patients accessing expert consultations remotely, while blood tests and ultrasound scans are available at over 450 locations across the UK, eliminating the exhausting travel burden that often forces people to take days off work, relocate appointments, or abandon treatment altogether
What happens now
The shortlist will be judged by a representative from category sponsor FindBestIVF, with the winner announced at a virtual event on June 19.
Winners will receive a trophy and be interviewed by a Femtech World journalist.
News4 weeks agoWomen’s digital health market set to reach US$5.28 billion in 2026 – report
Insight4 weeks agoWhy the UK’s fertility rate keeps falling – and what it means if you’re trying now
Wellness4 weeks agoWomen’s HealthX unveils Northwell Health, Corewell Health, Biogen & more to headline Chronic Disease stage
Opinion3 weeks agoWhat Maternal Mental Health Month reveals about where postpartum support actually breaks down
Fertility4 weeks agoToxins and climate harms having ‘alarming’ effect on fertility, research warns
News3 weeks agoNIH Grant terminations disproportionately impact minority scientists, research finds
Wellness2 weeks agoWUKA brings Period-Positive Pool Party to London Aquatics Centre to keep girls swimming through puberty
Fertility4 weeks agoResearcher explores weight loss jab impact on PCOS