A recent study published in the British Medical Journal has raised concerns about a potential link between male fertility treatments and an increased risk of prostate cancer. The research, conducted by scientists from Lund University in Sweden, examined over 1.2 million pregnancies over the course of 20 years.
The study found that men who underwent ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection), a treatment designed for male infertility, had a higher risk of developing prostate cancer. However, experts from Prostate Cancer UK cautioned that further research is needed to confirm whether fertility treatments directly contribute to this risk.
The researchers used data from Sweden’s national birth and cancer registers, covering more than a million births between 1994 and 2014. They analyzed the cancer diagnoses and fertility treatment records. Of the total births, 97% were conceived naturally, 1.7% via IVF, and 1.3% via ICSI. The study did not specify whether infertility was caused by the man or the woman.
Among the natural conception group, 0.28% of men were diagnosed with prostate cancer. The incidence was slightly higher in the IVF group (0.37%) and even higher in the ICSI group (0.42%). Men who had ICSI also faced a higher likelihood of developing early-onset prostate cancer, before the age of 55.
Professor Yvonne Lundberg Giwercman, who led the study, noted that while the number of prostate cancer cases was small, these men were very young. She emphasized that they represent a high-risk group and should be monitored more closely. She also called for further studies to explore why this link exists.
Professor Allan Pacey from the University of Sheffield added that male infertility might be an early warning sign of broader health issues. He suggested that men diagnosed with fertility problems in their 20s and 30s should be informed of potential long-term health risks, including prostate cancer, and encouraged to visit their doctor sooner.
Despite the study’s findings, Simon Grieveson from Prostate Cancer UK stressed that it was too early to draw definitive conclusions. He pointed out that prostate cancer typically affects men over 50, and the men in this study were younger on average, meaning their risk was still very low. Grieveson also emphasized that the study’s narrow age range makes it insufficient to determine whether fertility treatments are a contributing factor to prostate cancer risk.
He urged that couples considering fertility treatment should not be discouraged by the findings, adding that more research is needed to better understand the relationship between fertility treatments and prostate cancer. Grieveson advised that men, especially those over 50, should remain aware of prostate cancer risks and consult their GP if concerned.
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