The long-term health sequelae for women from assisted reproductive technology (ART) have not been studied extensively. There are a number of reasons that women's health may be compromised after ART procedures, including the consequences of the increased incidence of multiple births, operative deliveries, and preterm infants, the possible adverse effects of the drug regimens used for ovarian stimulation, and the instrumentation involved in ART procedures. In this paper we review the existing literature in these areas. It emphasizes the effects of the drugs used for ovarian stimulation, and in particular the incidence of cancer among women who have undergone ART. The review indicates that there is cause for concern about the long-term effects on women from ART treatments. It highlights the lack of research undertaken in almost all areas related to women's long-term health after ART. In the area of ART and cancer, it draws attention to the lack of conclusive evidence in relation to the posited association between fertility treatments and cancer, resulting from the limited number of very large studies and the need for longer follow-up periods. We make a number of recommendations regarding further research that is needed to address the current shortcomings in the published literature.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	reproductive techniques, fertility agents, women’s health, neoplasms
Research Division:	Medical and Health Sciences
Research Group:	Paediatrics and Reproductive Medicine
Research Field:	Reproduction
Objective Division:	Health
Objective Group:	Specific Population Health (excl. Indigenous Health)
Objective Field:	Women's Health
UTAS Author:	Venn, A (Professor Alison Venn)
ID Code:	134504
Year Published:	1999
Web of Science® Times Cited:	6
Deposited By:	Menzies Institute for Medical Research
Deposited On:	2019-08-15
Last Modified:	2019-09-16
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