If You Are Considering Using Fertility Drugs
If you are considering ART, you may want to ask your healthcare provider about your personal risk for ovarian cancer.
These are factors that are known to increase risk:
- A mother, sister, or daughter with ovarian cancer. The more relatives who have it, the greater the risk.
- The presence of an inherited genetic mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2. These can be measured by a special blood test.
- Advanced age.
- Not having children.
- Endometriosis.
- Obesity.
- Talcum powder use on the genital area.
- Use of hormone therapy for at least 10 years.
These are factors that lower risk:
- Having had several children. With each additional child a woman further reduces her risk.
- Breastfeeding.
- Using oral contraceptives.
- Having a tubal ligation or hysterectomy with the ovaries remaining.
- Using birth control pills for at least 5 years in a row.