[Cancer of the ovary and medically assisted reproduction]

Case reports and epidemiologic studies have recently indicated a possible link between ovarian stimulation, ovarian cancer and ovarian tumours. We sent a questionnaire to 116 French IVF centers to determine whether ovarian cancer had occurred in women treated during the last 10 years. The 19 cases of ovarian cancer reported have since been studied more thoroughly in a follow up questionnaire. Six can now be excluded, and the 13 remaining cases are compared. Five of these patients had fewer than 4 stimulation cycles here. Imputability was considered probable for 2 patients, possible for 5 patients, improbable for 3 and highly improbable for 3. Histologically, 6 (46%) cases involved borderline lesions. These results indicate that there is no need to change medical practice, but we are convinced that prospective epidemiologic research should be carried out immediately.