The risk factors for ovarian cancer are not the causes of cancer. Rather, they influence how cancer develops. Let’s take a look at the ones that make the biggest differences.

1. Family History
   When there is a history of breast or ovarian cancer in the family, it increases the risk‌ ‌factors‌ ‌for‌ ‌ovarian‌ ‌cancer‌. This is because genetic mutations that cause cancer may be passed on from one generation to another. One must also be aware if there is a history of any other cancers in the family.
2. Gene Mutations
   Studies have found that genetic mutations cause between 10 percent and 20 percent of all cases of ovarian cancer. So, when a patient is diagnosed with this condition, it is recommended that they undergo gene testing for the presence of cancer-causing genes such as BRCA1 and BRCA2, RAD51, and PALB. This testing is recommended even if there is no history of cancer in the family. If a mutation is found, the first and second lines of blood relatives should also be tested.
3. Other Genetic Conditions
   Certain genetic conditions also increase the risk of ‌ovarian‌ ‌cancer‌. Lynch syndrome is a hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer. It increases not only the risk for ovarian cancer but also for several other cancers. Peutz-Jeghers syndrome is a genetic mutation that causes polyps in the digestive tract and dark spots on the skin of the face and hands. It raises the risk of many cancers. Gorlin syndrome increases the risk of developing fibromas or fibrous tumors in the ovaries. These have a risk of developing ovarian cancer. Li-Fraumeni syndrome and ataxia-telangiectasia are also risk‌ ‌factors‌ ‌for‌ ‌ovarian‌ ‌cancer‌.
4. Weight
   Obesity increases the risk of many diseases. But obesity in the early stages of adulthood is one of the risk‌ ‌factors‌ ‌for‌ ‌ovarian‌ ‌cancer‌. So, it’s essential to keep a check on weight gain as well as loss.
5. Ethnicity
   Risk‌ ‌factors‌ ‌for‌ ‌ovarian‌ ‌cancer‌ as well as BRCA mutations have been found to be higher in women from North European, North American, and Ashkenazi Jewish heritage. This is based on myriad studies done on this condition.
6. Reproductive History
   Women who have never given birth, who have unexplained infertility, who started menstruating before the age of 12, who have used an IUD, who had a late menopause (after 51), and have never taken birth control pills have an increased risk‌ ‌of ‌ovarian‌ ‌cancer‌. The longer a woman breastfeeds the lower the risk for ovarian cancer. More full-term pregnancies lower the risk.
7. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
   The longer a woman has been on estrogen-only HRT, the greater the risk‌ ‌factors‌ ‌for‌ ‌ovarian‌ ‌cancer‌. After the therapy ends, the risk decreases over time. It has been proven that fertility medications do not increase the risk‌ ‌of ovarian ‌cancer‌.