In the U.S., ovarian cancer ranks 5th among all cancer deaths for women. It's most common in older women who have been through menopause. This tool will help you figure out if you are at higher risk for ovarian cancer. But it's not a complete look at all risks. For a full review of your risks, see your healthcare provider.
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About your results
Changing the risk factors you can control can help lower your chance for ovarian cancer. Below is a list of these risk factors along with a brief explanation of how each risk relates to you according to the answers you gave.
Reproductive history
You told us that you don't have any children, or that you first gave birth after age 35. Women who never carried a pregnancy to term or had their first child after 35 have a slightly higher risk for ovarian cancer.
You told us that you have had one or more children. Having children lowers your risk for ovarian cancer.
Obesity
According to the height and weight you entered, your body mass index (BMI) is . A BMI of 30 or more is considered obese. This puts you at a higher risk for ovarian cancer. It's important to try to get to and stay at a healthy weight. You can do this by eating well and exercising regularly. Staying at a healthy weight can lower your risk for ovarian cancer. It also cuts your risk for many other kinds of cancer and health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Ask your healthcare provider for help reaching your goal weight.
According to the height and weight you entered, your body mass index (BMI) is . This BMI means you are overweight. Being overweight doesn't raise your risk for ovarian cancer. But it can raise your risk for heart disease, diabetes, and many other health problems. It's important to try to get to and stay at a healthier weight. You can do this by eating well and exercising regularly. If your BMI reaches 30 or more, you will be at a higher risk for ovarian cancer and many other kinds of cancer, too. Ask your healthcare provider for help reaching your goal weight.
According to the height and weight you entered, your body mass index (BMI) is . By staying at a healthy weight, you have taken action to lower your risk for ovarian cancer. A healthy weight also means you are at lower risk for many other diseases and illnesses. Try to stay at a healthy weight by eating well and exercising regularly.
Hormone therapy
Because you have used hormone therapy to ease symptoms of menopause, you are at increased risk for ovarian cancer. This is especially true if you have used it for a long time. Risk goes down over time after you stop hormone therapy. Talk with your healthcare provider about the benefits and risks of using hormones.
Good news! You're not at increased risk for ovarian cancer because of hormone therapy. Studies have shown that using hormone therapy for a long time can raise your risk for ovarian cancer. If you are thinking about using hormones for symptoms of menopause, talk with your healthcare provider about the benefits and risks. Also talk with your provider about other treatments that can help.
Surgical history
Because you have had a hysterectomy or bilateral tubal ligation, you might have lowered your risk for ovarian cancer. Studies have shown that having these surgeries can help lower your risk for ovarian cancer.
According to your answers, you have not had a hysterectomy or bilateral tubal ligation. These surgeries may help lower your risk for ovarian cancer, but medical experts agree that they should only be done for valid medical reasons. They should not be done only to reduce your risk for ovarian cancer.
Oral contraceptives
You use or have used birth control pills. Using birth control pills at some point in your life lowers your risk for ovarian cancer. The longer you take the pill, the lower your risk becomes. This lowering of risk goes on long after you stop taking the pill.
Birth control pills also may raise your risk for blood clots, breast cancer, and other cancers. These risks seem to go back to normal after you stop taking the pill. Talk with your healthcare provider about the risk and benefits of birth control pills.
You have never used birth control pills. Using birth control pills can lower your risk for ovarian cancer. But it may raise also your risk for blood clots, breast cancer, and other cancers. If you think you are at a high risk for ovarian cancer, you may want to talk to your healthcare provider about the risk and benefits of birth control pills.
Personal and family history
You have a family history of ovarian cancer. This puts you are higher risk for it, too. The more relatives you have with ovarian cancer, the higher your risk. You may want to talk with your healthcare provider about genetic testing. Testing can tell you if you have an inherited gene mutation that raises your risk.
You have a personal history of breast cancer. Having been diagnosed with breast cancer in the past raises your risk for ovarian cancer. You may want to discuss your risk for ovarian cancer with your healthcare provider.
Genetic mutations
You have told us that you have one of the inherited risk factors for ovarian cancer. That is a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation or HNPCC. These inherited factors greatly raise your risk for ovarian cancer. Some women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation or HNPCC may choose to have surgery to remove the ovaries and fallopian tubes. This surgery is done when they have decided not to have any more children. This surgery greatly lowers their risk for ovarian cancer. Talk with your provider about how these mutations affect your cancer risk and what you can do to help reduce your risk.
You have told us that you don't have or don't know if you have any inherited risk factors for ovarian cancer. Genetic risk factors are BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations and HNPCC. These factors can greatly increase your risk for ovarian cancer. If you have close family relatives who have had breast, ovarian, or colorectal cancer, you may want to talk with your provider about genetic testing. Testing can tell you if you have these or other genetic risk factors for cancer.
About risk factors
Most women with ovarian cancer don't have any known risk factors. Still, it's important to know about risk factors. All women are at risk of developing ovarian cancer, but the risk is generally low. Family history of ovarian cancer and gene mutations are major factors that raise the risk for ovarian cancer. If this assessment shows that you have higher risk of developing ovarian cancer, you should discuss this with your healthcare provider. The risk of developing ovarian cancer goes up with age. It usually starts after menopause. Most cases of ovarian cancer are diagnosed in older women, but it can still occur in younger women.
Cancers of the ovaries may not cause symptoms until they are big and have spread. Even then, they tend to cause vague symptoms that can be caused by many changes that are not cancer. These symptoms include:
General belly (abdominal) discomfort or pain. This includes gas, indigestion, pressure, swelling, bloating, and cramps.
Nausea, constipation, or frequent urination
Feeling of fullness even after a light meal
Shortness of breath
Feeling tired all the time
Pain with sex
Discharge or abnormal bleeding from the vagina
If you have these symptoms—especially if they last more than a few weeks—see a healthcare provider for a complete evaluation.
If your risk for ovarian cancer is high, your provider may suggest having checkups more often. That way, if cancer develops, it can be found and treated as early as possible, when it's small and before it has spread. Some exams and tests that your healthcare provider might do are:
Pelvic exam. This is done to look at the uterus, ovaries, bladder, and rectum. The healthcare provider looks for any problems in their shape or size. (A Pap test is used to find cancer of the cervix. It is often done along with the pelvic exam, but it doesn't help find or diagnose ovarian cancer.)
Transvaginal ultrasound. This test uses sound waves to create a picture of the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes. It can be used to look for ovarian tumors. It can also be done to figure out whether a growth may be cancer or a fluid-filled cyst.
CA-125. Blood tests for ovarian cancer may include measuring the amount of CA-125. This is a protein that may be higher in women with ovarian cancer. This test is not always accurate because other diseases can raise the blood levels of CA-125. This makes a false positive. And some ovarian cancers don't make a lot of CA-125. This makes a false negative.
Genetic testing. If you have close family members who have had breast or ovarian cancer, your provider may talk with you about genetic counseling and testing. This will tell you if you have a mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene, or if you have HNPCC. These genetic conditions have been linked to increased risk for ovarian, breast, colorectal, and some other kinds of cancer.
This information is not intended as a substitute for professional health care. Always consult with a healthcare provider for advice concerning your health. Only your healthcare provider can determine if you have ovarian cancer.
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