What are risk factors for ovarian cancer?
Factors that can increase your risk of ovarian cancer include:
- Older age: As you age, your risk of developing ovarian cancer rises. Older folks are most frequently diagnosed with it.
- Inherited gene changes: Changes in your DNA that you inherit from your parents account for a minor portion of ovarian tumors. BRCA1 and BRCA2 are two of the genes that raise the risk of developing ovarian cancer. Breast cancer risk is also increased by these genes.
- Family history of ovarian cancer: You may be at a higher risk of developing the disease if you have blood relations who have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
- Being overweight or obese: Ovarian cancer may be more likely to affect you if you have blood relatives who have been affected by the condition.
- Postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy: Ovarian cancer risk may rise if hormone replacement treatment is used to manage menopause symptoms and signs.
- Endometriosis: Endometriosis is a condition where tissue that resembles the tissue that lines the interior of your uterus grows outside of your uterus. It is frequently uncomfortable.
- Never having been pregnant: If you’ve never been pregnant, your chance of developing ovarian cancer may be higher.