Ovarian Cancer

My mother died from ovarian cancer at a very young age (38 years old), and of course this gives me a lot of anxiety but more so because I (27 years old) am currently undergoing fertility treatments, and will likely be moving to IVF soon. As part of the fertility treatments, I am having regular internal ultrasounds. I was just wondering if there is a way that I can further monitor for ovarian cancer and whether there was any increased risks due to fertility medication taken (letrozole, gonal-f and clomid).

Thank you.

  • Hello PinkCola, and thank you for posting,

    I am sorry to learn that your mum sadly died at such a young age, and I can appreciate that with everything you are going through, you are wondering about your own risk.

    One of the main tests that is done when diagnosing ovarian cancer is an ultrasound scan, which, as you know, is also done during IVF treatment, whereby the ovaries and the womb are looked at closely. Therefore, it is likely that nothing has been found on the ovaries; otherwise, you would expect further tests.

    Research has not found a direct link between having IVF and an increased risk of ovarian cancer. You may find it helpful to read our page on the risks and causes of ovarian cancer.

    If you are concerned about your risk of ovarian cancer with your family history, it is worth speaking to your GP as they can tell you whether you may benefit from being referred to a genetics clinic.

    I hope this is helpful in some way, and I wish you all the best with your treatment. Please feel free to get back to us if you need to.

    Jemma