Are You at Risk for Ovarian Cancer

Posted: March 1, 2005

Although most cases of ovarian cancer occur in women aged 50 years or older, the disease can occur in younger women. The most common form — epithelial — is usually diagnosed in women aged 40 years or older; risk for all forms of the disease begins to increase at age 40.

Here is a list of factors that may increase your risk for developing ovarian cancer:

Age: The risk of developing ovarian cancer increases as a woman gets older.

Family history of ovarian cancer: A woman whose mother or sister has had ovarian cancer has a higher than average risk of developing ovarian cancer.

Hormone replacement therapy/hormone therapy: Hormone replacement therapy, also called hormone therapy, may be associated with an increased risk of ovarian cancer in postmenopausal women.

Fertility drugs
Fertility drug use has been associated with an increased risk of ovarian cancer.

Here is a list of factors that may decrease your risk for developing ovarian cancer:

Oral contraceptives: Studies suggest that the use of oral contraceptives may reduce the risk of developing ovarian cancer. The longer you use oral contraceptives the lower your risk might be. The decrease in risk may last for a long time after the use of oral contraceptives has ended.

Childbearing and breastfeeding: Women who have had at least one child are less likely to develop ovarian cancer than women who have never had children. Studies have also shown that women who breast-feed are less likely to develop ovarian cancer.

Tubal ligation or hysterectomy: Studies have shown that women who have undergone tubal ligation (sterilization) or hysterectomy are at decreased risk of developing ovarian cancer.

Other factors being studied:
Prophylactic oophorectomy: Sometimes women with a very strong family history of ovarian cancer decide to have prophylactic oophorectomy (removal of both ovaries). However, this has not been proven to avoid the risk of ovarian cancer; and ovarian removal can have unwanted effects. Careful discussion of pros and cons of this procedure is important before deciding if it is appropriate for you.

Talcum powder and high-fat diet. Two other risk factors that have been suggested for ovarian cancer are the use of talcum powder in the area between the vagina and the anus, and eating a high-fat diet. The exact relationship of ovarian cancer with these factors remains unclear.

Source: National Cancer Institute

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