Ovarian Cancer Prevention

The following risk factors can influence your chances of developing ovarian cancer, namely epithelial ovarian cancer, which begins on the outer surface of the ovary. Epithelial carcinomas account for 85% to 90% of ovarian cancers. Scientists have yet to pin down risk factors associated with other types of ovarian cancer. Here’s what we know about the more common form:

Age. A small percentage of ovarian cancers are diagnosed in girls and young women. But most ovarian cancers occur in women 40 and older, with half of these cases being diagnosed at 63 or older.

Obesity. While the link between obesity and ovarian cancer is not entirely understood, there is evidence that having a body mass index of 30 or greater increases your risk for this type of cancer.

Age at first childbirth. Women who give birth to their first child after 35 or who never carry a pregnancy to term are at increased risk of ovarian cancer.

Hormone therapy. There is an increased risk of ovarian cancer in women who use estrogen therapy with or without progesterone after menopause.

Family history of certain cancers. Having a first-degree relative (mother, sister or daughter) with ovarian cancer elevates a woman’s risk for developing the disease. Having a family history of colorectal or breast cancer also can increase risk. The more relatives you have with one of these types of cancer, the greater your risk.

Inherited traits. About a quarter of ovarian cancers can be attributed to inherited genetic mutations, such as those in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Having one of these genetic mutations greatly increases your risk for ovarian cancer.

Fertility treatment. Some research suggests that the use of in vitro fertilization (IVF) as treatment for infertility increases a woman’s risk for ovarian cancer, although the risk isn’t definitive.

Researchers are still determining exactly how to prevent ovarian cancer. In the meantime, the following recommendations may reduce the risk of ovarian cancer in average-risk women:

• Avoiding hormone replacement therapy after menopause or minimizing length of use.
• Using oral contraceptives – the longer duration, the better. Research shows using hormonal birth control pills for at least five years is associated with a 50 percent reduction in ovarian cancer risk.
• Undergoing tubal ligation (“getting your tubes tied”) or Bilateral Salpingo-oophorectomy (removing fallopian tubes and ovaries) reduces ovarian cancer risk in average-risk women who have a medical need for these procedures. Surgery is not recommended to prevent ovarian cancer if there is no other medical need.

If ovarian, breast or colorectal cancer runs in your family, talk to your doctor about genetic counseling and testing. Working with a genetic counselor can help determine whether you have inherited gene mutations that increase your risk for ovarian cancer.

Women with a BRCA1 gene mutation have a 35% to 70% chance of developing ovarian cancer in their lifetime. Those with BRCA2 gene mutations have an estimated lifetime risk of ovarian cancer between 10% and 30%. If you have either of these gene mutations, you and your doctor will devise a plan to reduce your risk of ovarian cancer, which may include the use of oral contraceptives or surgery to remove the uterus and ovaries.

Scientists are still trying to understand what causes ovarian cancer and how it can be prevented. That’s why Winship is involved in research to develop effective screening tests and prevention guidelines.