[Ovulation induction and the risk of ovarian tumors]

In the last years it has been observed a more and more increasing number of women submitted to therapies for induction of ovulation (disorders of the ovulation represent 33% of the causes of female infertility). In 1998, these therapies had been administrated to approximately two million of USA women. Various Authors have assumed a possible relationship between induction of ovulation and ovarian tumors. Between 1982 and 1997, at least 43 cases of ovarian tumors have been published (among these, there were also 25 cases of epithelial tumors) occurring in women previously treated with ovulation induction. The mean age of patient was 30.3 years, approximately 20 years younger than normal patient population for the same tumors. Among the possible causes of epithelial ovarian tumors, there is the trauma of the ovary surface caused by the continuous repeating of the ovulation phenomenon (incessant ovulation). Gynecologist should be aware of this potential risk for their patients. Multicentric studies should be evaluated in order to establish the risk of ovarian cancer in women treated for infertility problems. A survey of the international literature is made in order to analyse the epidemiological studies and to discuss the relationship between ovulation inducing agents and ovarian tumors.