Having one or more risk factors for ovarian cancer doesn’t mean a woman will definitely develop ovarian cancer. In fact, many women with ovarian cancer have no obvious risk factors.
Risk factors for ovarian cancer
Known risk factors for ovarian cancer include:- getting older: women who are over 50 are more likely to develop ovarian cancer than younger women
- inheriting a faulty gene (called a gene mutation) that increases the risk of ovarian cancer
- having a strong family history of ovarian cancer, breast cancer, or some other cancers, including colorectal cancer and endometrial cancer.
Only around 5–10% of all ovarian cancers are due to inherited factors.
Research suggests that the risk of ovarian cancer is slightly higher for women who:
- have medical conditions such as endometriosis
- use long-term hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
- smoke cigarettes
- are obese.
Protective factors for ovarian cancer
There’s currently nothing that can be done to prevent ovarian cancer. However, there are some things that are thought to protect against ovarian cancer. These are called protective factors. Women with protective factors may still develop ovarian cancer.Research has shown that the following are associated with a reduced risk of certain types of ovarian cancer:
- removal of the uterus (womb)
- removal of the ovaries and having the fallopian tubes tied
- having children
- using oral contraceptives.
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