NHS Choices has assessed a report in the Daily Telegraph that in vitro fertilisation (IVF) doubles the risk of non-fatal ovarian cancer.

The report is based on a large, long-term Dutch cohort study that examined the risk of ovarian cancer associated with IVF treatment. Its findings were published in ‘Human Reproduction.’ The study compared the risk of developing ovarian cancer in the 15 years following treatment with the risks of cancer in the general population and in women who had difficulty conceiving but did not undergo IVF treatment. The researchers found that the IVF group was over four-times as likely to have developed borderline ovarian tumours (not yet cancerous) compared to the non-IVF group. However, they were at no greater risk of developing cancerous tumours.

The assessment notes that generally, the media reported the study accurately and appropriately. It concludes “although this was a large, well-conducted study, the small number of cancer cases seen make the results uncertain and further research is required to confirm the findings. Women who are concerned about the risks of past or present IVF use can discuss the issue with their specialist or GP, although it is worth remembering that even in women who had used IVF the rates of cancer seen were still low at around 0.71%.”