Fertility drugs such as clomiphene increase the risk of ovarian cancer.

Is it true that fertility drugs such as clomiphene increase the risk of ovarian cancer?

Partly. One review article states that fertility drugs such as clomiphene may increase ovarian cancer risk, but this is presented as a hypothesis rather than a measured finding. Other reviews and cohort studies report that fertility treatments do not increase ovarian cancer risk, though these largely address other cancer sites or summarize broadly.

Verdict: CONTESTED PARTIAL · 1 source for, 4 against · Last checked 3 Oct 2026

The private library was unavailable for some searches in this check. Missing library results are not evidence against the claim.

Use of fertility drugs and risk of ovarian cancer - PMC Lock. (n.d.). pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. https://doi.org/10.1097/GCO.0000000000000060

Melanoma, thyroid, cervical, and colon cancer risk after use of fertility drugs. (2005). doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2005.01.091

S, K., JA, M., HJ, K., & SA, C. (2026). Fertility treatment and risk of non-gynecological cancer: a systematic review.. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-025-08264-4

Fertility drugs and endometrial cancer risk: results from an extended follow-up of a large infertility cohort. (2013). doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/det323

Risk of cancer after assisted reproduction: a review of the available evidences and guidance to fertility counselors.. (2018). doi.org. https://doi.org/10.26355/eurrev_201811_16434