Do Fertility Medications Cause Cancer? What the Research Actually Says

Written By Lora Shahine, MD

Do fertility medications increase the risk of breast cancer? Could IVF raise the chances of ovarian or uterine cancer later in life? And how can you separate scientific fertility research from fear-provoking headlines?

In this episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine examines why this fear exists and explores what decades of research actually reveal about fertility medications, IVF, and cancer risk. She explains why this topic is difficult to study, including the need to distinguish the effects of fertility treatment from underlying infertility diagnoses such as endometriosis, PCOS/PMOS, anovulation, and never having carried a pregnancy.

Dr. Shahine also discusses the important nuance around prolonged Clomid use, the role of personal risk factors and routine cancer screening, and why patients deserve to make fertility treatment decisions based on evidence rather than fear.

In this episode you’ll hear:

  • [1:32] A Common Question: Do fertility medications increase my risk of breast cancer?

  • [2:27] Why Research Is Hard

  • [4:44] Breast Cancer Evidence

  • [5:50] Key Study Highlights

  • [9:27] Clomid Cycle Nuance

  • [10:05] Other Cancer Risks (Uterine Cancer, Ovarian Cancer)

  • [12:46] Takeaways And Screening

Dr. Shahine’s Weekly Newsletter on Fertility News and Recommendations

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This episode was produced by Audiotocracy Podcast Production.

Lora Shahine, MD

Dr. Lora Shahine, reproductive endocrinologist at Pacific NW Fertility and Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Washington in Seattle, completed her residency in OBGYN at the University of California in San Francisco and fellowship in reproductive endocrinology at Stanford University. She is dedicated to educating and advocating for increased awareness of infertility, miscarriage, and the impact on environmental toxins on health through an active social media presence, teaching, clinical research, and authoring multiple blogs and books including best selling, ‘Not Broken: An Approachable Guide to Miscarriage and Recurrent Pregnancy Loss.’

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How to Prepare for Your First Fertility Doctor Appointment: What to Ask & What to Expect