All women are at risk for ovarian cancer, but it is important for women and their healthcare providers to be aware of those factors that may put them at higher risk for the disease. These factors include the following:

• Increasing age [56 percent of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer are older than age 65]: Although ovarian cancer can strike women at any age, the incidence increases dramatically after the age of 50, peaking between the ages of 55 and 65. Though advanced stage diagnosis is a problem for all women, it is particularly acute for older women. Nearly two thirds of the women diagnosed with ovarian cancer over 50 are detected in late stage when the 5-year survival rate is only about 25 percent. As a result, it is important that women continue regular gynecologic exams, even after childbearing is complete.
  
  
• Having a family or personal history of ovarian, breast, or colon cancer: Personal and/or family history is the most significant risk factor for ovarian cancer. Approximately 5 to 10 percent of ovarian cancer cases are associated with hereditary risk. Women can inherit risk from either parent, particularly if a first-degree relative has or has had breast, ovarian, colon, or uterine cancer. Some researchers believe that a family history of prostate cancer may also be linked to increased risk for ovarian cancer. Women with personal or family histories of these types of cancer are more likely to develop ovarian cancer before the age of 50.
  
  
• Not bearing children: It is well established that ovarian cancer risk is reduced with each subsequent pregnancy. Consequently, women who do not bear children are believed to be at greater risk for ovarian cancer. Women who have experienced difficulty getting pregnant are at an increased risk of developing the disease as well.

Note: Statistics may vary slightly from article to article based on the source and timing of the data.