27
Sep 2019
Prostate cancer risk linked to male fertility treatment
A recent study has suggested that men who have fertility treatment carry an increased risk of prostate cancer later in life.
The research looked at 1.2 million pregnancies over the course of 20 years and found that men who had received ICSI, a male fertility treatment, had an increased risk of developing prostate cancer.
Professor Yvonne Lundberg Giwercman of Lund University in Sweden, said “The prostate cancer numbers are quite small, but these men are very young. They are a small, high-risk group, and we should be following them more closely.”
Professor of andrology, Allan Pacey of the University of Sheffield, said “It has been proposed that male infertility might serve as a ‘canary in the coal mine’ for men’s health, which both men and their doctors should be better attuned to.”
He went on to say “It is important to be clear that this is not because the techniques of assisted reproduction go on to cause prostate cancer, but probably because the two have a common cause in some way.
“Perhaps all men who are diagnosed with fertility problems in their 20s and 30s should be given a leaflet explaining what this might mean for them in their 50s and 60s, so that they can be aware of possible future problems, and be encouraged to visit their GP a bit quicker than they often do.”
However, Prostate Cancer UK’s Simon Grieveson, said it was important not to “leap to any conclusions” on the basis of this study.
“Prostate cancer is more common in men over the age of 50. The men involved in the study were younger on average, and therefore already have a very low risk of prostate cancer.
“This study would need to look at a much broader age range to fully understand whether men who undergo fertility treatment actually have a higher risk overall.
“We believe it’s important that all men are aware of the risks of prostate cancer, and men concerned about the disease should speak to their GP. However, couples considering fertility treatment should not be put off by these results.”
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Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.
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