Men who father children through assisted reproduction could benefit from earlier screening for prostate cancer, with findings showing they face a “remarkably high risk” of developing the condition, researchers say.

In the Swedish study, men who had children through IVF had a 30% increased risk of developing prostate cancer, while those using intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) had a 60% higher risk than men who fathered children naturally over a mean of 12 years’ follow-up. 

Furthermore, men using ICSI were almost twice as likely to develop prostate cancer earlier, with onset before the age of 55.

The findings suggested that these men might benefit from early screening and long-term monitoring for prostate cancer, the researchers wrote in the BMJ.