Comparison of colorectal cancer survival rate in women with and without infertility - a retrospective cohort study

Introduction: Infertility and cancer represent distinct medical challenges. Some studies suggest a potential link between these conditions, particularly focusing on the potential impact of infertility on cancer survival. Some studies show a slight increase in the risk of cancers in the population of infertile women, and on the other hand, some studies suggest an increased risk of certain cancers, such as ovarian and breast cancer, associated with fertility treatments, but the exact relationship between fertility treatments and cancer risk is unclear. It is fruitless. Therefore, further research is necessary to fully understand these potential connections. Notably, the direct impact of infertility itself on cancer survival is insufficiently defined. This study seeks to evaluate the survival rate of rectal cancer in women, comparing women with and without a history of infertility.Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on ۲۵۳ female patients diagnosed with rectal cancer (RC) between February ۲۰۰۷ and February ۲۰۱۷. The study scrutinized their reproductive status (with or without infertility) and various clinicopathological tumor features. Patients were classified into two groups based on their infertility status. Data analysis employed the Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test to compare the survival rates of RC patients, considering their infertility status.Results: The study's cohort comprised entirely of women, with an average age of ۵۶.۴۹ ± ۱۴.۲ years, ranging from ۱۸ to ۸۸ years. The five-year survival rate for patients with a history of infertility was ۴۶%, whereas it was ۴۱% for those without infertility (Figure ۱). Notably, the difference between the two groups did not yield statistically significant results (p=۰.۶).Conclusions: The findings from this investigation suggest that infertility did not significantly impact the prognosis of patients with rectal cancer.