Prevention
The following factors can reduce the risk of ovarian cancer:
- Use of oral contraceptives
- When used for 5 years or longer, oral contraceptives can reduce risk of ovarian cancer by up to 50%. This long-term effect has been shown to continue after use of oral contraception has stopped.
- Full-term pregnancy
- Ovulation stops or occurs less often in women who are pregnant. Some experts believe that this interruption reduces a woman’s risk of developing ovarian cancer.
- Tubal ligation
- If a woman is having tubal ligation, it is recommended that she have her fallopian tubes removed if they are no longer needed for reproduction.
- Removal of the fallopian tubes, and ovaries
- Research shows that the most common form of ovarian cancer starts in the fallopian tubes. As such, doctors recommend that women having gynecologic surgery of any kind consider removing their tubes at the same time.
- In pre-menopausal women, removal of the ovaries is known to trigger early-onset menopause. Be sure to discuss possible side effects with your healthcare professional before deciding to proceed with surgery.
Speak to your doctor about your risk for developing ovarian cancer to determine whether preventive action is right for you.