[Cancer of the ovary and the treatment of infertility. Analysis of the article by Whittemore et al].

Whittemore and al. recently published a general paper concerning the risk factors of ovarian cancer, combining the data from 12 epidemiological studies realised from 1979 to 1988. Three of these studies allowed to analyze the role of infertility treatments which were associated to an increased risk (odds ratio = 2.8), specially in nulligravid women (OR = 27.0). However potential bias could not be rejected, and information on drugs was too scanty, so that no definite conclusion could be drawn, even if the results were in accordance with the main physicopathogenical theories. In conclusion, it appears necessary to undertake a large epidemiological study, and, in the same time, even if patients must be reassured, to recommend attention to the doctors when prescribing infertility treatments.