Awareness

We don’t know the causes of most ovarian cancer. Research into the causes of ovarian cancer is continuing in Australia and overseas.

We do know that there are some factors that may increase a woman’s risk of developing ovarian cancer and that there are some protective factors that may reduce a woman's risk.

It is important to know that many women who develop ovarian cancer do not have any known risk factors — while many women who do have risk factors never develop ovarian cancer.

Known risk factors

• Age is the main risk factor for ovarian cancer. The risk increases with age, and women aged over 50 are more likely to develop ovarian cancer. However, ovarian cancer can affect women of all ages.
  Because you can't do anything about your age, it is especially important for all women to be aware of ovarian cancer symptoms.  Listen to your body and don't be tempted to put worrying symptoms down to menopause, age, stress or a busy life. Have any symptoms that are new, persistent or not quite right for you checked out by your doctor. If you are not comfortable with your doctor's diagnosis, or you are still concerned about unexplained persistent symptoms, you should seek a second opinion.
• Genetics and family history are responsible for around 10% of ovarian cancers. Click here to learn more about genetic risks and genetic testing.

Other factors that may increase your risk include:

• Being a white (Caucasian) woman living in a westernised country with a high standard of living.
• Being of Ashkenazi Jewish descent.
• Having no or few full-term pregnancies.
• Never taking oral contraceptives.
• Smoking cigarettes.
• Eating a high fat diet, or being overweight or obese.
• Multiple exposures to fertility drugs (studies are not conclusive).
• Using oestrogen-only hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for 10 or more years (studies are not conclusive).
• Genital contact with talcum or asbestos, which are sometimes used in talcum powders, douches and condoms (this is highly controversial and not proven).
  
  If you have any of these known or possible risk factors for ovarian cancer, talk to your doctor about what they may mean for you. If you and your doctor are concerned about your increased risk of ovarian cancer, you can ask to be referred to a gynaecological oncologist who can advise about ways of reducing the risk of developing ovarian cancer or suggest a surveillance program, which aims to look for early signs of the cancer.

Protective factors

There are some factors that may help to reduce your risk of ovarian cancer:

• Having children.
• Taking oral contraceptives.
• Removal of your uterus.
• Removal of your ovaries.
• Having your fallopian tubes tied.

These factors may be protective because they give the ovaries a ‘rest’ from ovulation.