Categories Pregnancy & Fertility

Update : Ovarian suppression may reduce breast cancer recurrence

Relevance: Medium-High

Research Timeline: Post Approval

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Most relevant for: Premenopausal women before or during early breast cancer treatment

Ovarian suppression—blocking estrogen production in the ovaries—can improve breast cancer outcomes in premenopausal women. This review provides information about ovarian suppression and describes who might benefit. (Posted 3/6/25)

Topic : Addressing the needs of young adults with breast cancer

Relevance: Medium-High

Research Timeline: Post Approval

Most relevant for: Young women with breast cancer concerned about survivorship issues

This update addresses common concerns faced by young adults with breast cancer, particularly fertility and childbearing, psychosocial health and treatment-related side effects. (Posted 2/28/25)

Study : Impact of breast cancer and BRCA mutations on fertility preservation

Relevance: Medium

Strength of Science: Medium

Research Timeline: Post Approval

Most relevant for: People considering fertility preservation.

Timely family planning discussions are important for people diagnosed with breast cancer as well as those who have an inherited a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation. This study looked at the number of mature eggs recovered when ovaries were stimulated for fertility preservation or preimplantation genetic testing among three groups and found that the number of eggs collected was similar. (Posted 10/31/24)

Este artículo está disponible en español.

Study : Pausing hormone therapy to pursue pregnancy does not increase the short-term risk of early-stage cancer recurrence

Relevance: Medium-High

Strength of Science: Medium-High

Research Timeline: Post Approval

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Most relevant for: Women with breast cancer who are considering pregnancy

Women who paused hormone therapy treatment of early-stage hormone receptor-positive (HR-positive) breast cancer to attempt to get pregnant had no increase in short-term recurrence. (Posted 11/3/23)

Este artículo está disponible en español.

Study : Progestin birth control may slightly increase breast cancer risk

Relevance: Medium-High

Strength of Science: High

Research Timeline: Post Approval

Most relevant for: People who are using or have recently used birth control containing only the hormone progestin

Different types of birth control carry different cancer risks. Birth control using the hormone progestin slightly increases the risk of breast cancer during use and for a few years after use. (Posted 7/10/23)

Este artículo está disponible en español.

Topic : Impact of new laws on cancer treatment during pregnancy

Relevance: Medium

Most relevant for: People who have cancer who are pregnant

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2022 that abortion is no longer a protected right under the Constitution.  This landmark decision leaves regulation of abortion to the states. Cancer treatment during pregnancy may now be impacted in states that have abortion bans or limitations. (Posted 5/31/23)

Este artículo está disponible en español.

Study : Hormonal birth control may reduce ovarian cancer risk in people with BRCA mutations

Relevance: Medium-High

Strength of Science: Medium

Research Timeline: Human Research

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Most relevant for: Women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations who are interested in reducing their ovarian cancer risk

Hormonal birth control pill is linked to reduced ovarian cancer among people with an inherited BRCA mutation. Longer-acting forms of birth control given by implant, injection or as an intrauterine device may be associated with lower ovarian cancer risk for people with an inherited BRCA mutation. (Posted 4/28/23)

Este artículo está disponible en español.

Study : Women can have safe pregnancies after breast cancer treatment

Relevance: High

Strength of Science: Medium-High

Research Timeline: Post Approval

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Most relevant for: Women who have had breast cancer who are considering pregnancy.

In a large analysis of all published studies to date, most women who become pregnant after breast cancer treatment had safe pregnancies, with no increase in their cancer recurrence risk. Infants of mothers treated for breast cancer were more likely to have low birth weight, preterm birth and small size at birth but there was no increase in birth defects. Breast cancer survivors who became pregnant had a similar risk of recurrence and survival as survivors who did not become pregnant. (posted 6/24/21)

Este artículo está disponible en español.

Study : Birth control pills may offer long-term protection against endometrial and ovarian cancer

Relevance: High

Strength of Science: High

Research Timeline: Post Approval

Most relevant for: People concerned about endometrial, ovarian or breast cancer risk

A large study showed that birth control pills may protect against endometrial and ovarian cancers, even years after use was discontinued. (posted 6/1/21)

Este artículo está disponible en español.

Study : Breastfeeding may lower risk of ovarian cancer in women with BRCA mutations

Relevance: Medium-High

Strength of Science: Medium-High

Research Timeline: Human Research

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Most relevant for: Women considering breastfeeding who have inherited BRCA mutations.

Data from a large-scale study suggests that breastfeeding may protect against ovarian cancer in women with inherited mutations in BRCA1 or BRCA2. (1/28/21)

Este artículo está disponible en español.