Ovarian Cancer Risk Factors & Prevention

There is no way to guarantee that you won’t develop cancer in your ovaries, peritoneum (a layer of tissue that lines your abdomen), or fallopian tubes. Most women have an approximately 1 in 70 chance of being diagnosed with one of these three cancers at some point in their lives. Aging is one risk factor; average age at diagnosis is 62.

Being aware of your risk level can help you make more-informed decisions about what to do to protect yourself and other family members.

Approximately 5 to 10 percent of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer have inherited an increased risk for the disease, which means that the cancer runs in the family. Risk is increased if a blood relative such as a mother, sister, grandmother or aunt has had ovarian cancer.

You are at a risk level near that of the general population if you have:

• no family history of breast or ovarian cancer
• a personal history of breast cancer diagnosed at age 41 or older
• no Ashkenazi Jewish heritage (individuals of Eastern European Jewish descent)
• a history of infertility and/or use of assisted reproductive therapies, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF)
• a history of endometriosis (a condition in which tissue from the lining of the uterus grows outside of the uterus)
• a history of hormone replacement use for the management of symptoms related to menopause