Study of the status of abortion in women with breast cancer in Ardabil city

Background: The relationship between a history of abortion and breast cancer is still an unknown issue, and various studies have been conducted with conflicting results. This study aimed to determine the status of abortion in women with breast cancer in Ardabil. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in ۲۰۲۴ in Ardabil city, after obtaining the ethics code (IR.ARUMS.REC.۱۴۰۲.۳۲۱). The statistical population of this study was women with breast cancer referring to private and public hospitals and clinics who were studied using the census method. According to initial studies, the approximate number of these patients in Ardabil was ۲۱۰. Due to unavailability, ۳۰ patients were excluded from the study. Inclusion criteria were women with breast cancer (all stages of the disease) and no severe cognitive impairment. Incomplete or incomplete questionnaires were exclusion criteria. Data analysis was carried out using ver ۱۶ SPSS by descriptive statistics. Results: Of the ۱۸۰ women with breast cancer, ۹۳ (۵۱.۶%) had a history of miscarriage. Of these, ۷۹ (۴۳.۹%) had a history of ۱ miscarriage and ۱۴ (۷.۸%) had a history of two miscarriages. In terms of abortion time, ۶۸ abortions (۳۷.۸%) occurred at an age of less than ۱۳ weeks of pregnancy and ۲۴ abortions (۱۳.۳%) occurred at ۱۳ weeks and above of pregnancy. Considering the distribution of a history of miscarriage in the general population of women during their reproductive life (approximately ۲۵%), in women with breast cancer, the prevalence of abortion (at least once) was almost twice that of the general population, and this difference was statistically significant (p< ۰.۰۵). Conclusion: According to the abortion-breast cancer hypothesis, hormone levels increase in early pregnancy, leading to breast growth. If this process is altered by abortion, more cells that are immature remain, and these immature cells could increase the risk of developing breast cancer over time. The results of studies in this area are inconsistent, and it is not possible to draw definitive conclusions about the relationship. In the present study, the rate of miscarriage in women with breast cancer was higher than expected, supporting the existence of an abortion-breast cancer relationship, although further epidemiological studies are needed to determine whether there is a relationship.

کلیدواژه ها:

Intentional abortion ، breast cancer ، pregnancy