Reproductive History and Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)/Hormone Therapy (HT)
Prophylactic Oophorectomy

Note: Separate PDQ summaries on Screening for Ovarian Cancer and Ovarian Epithelial Cancer Treatment are also available.

Oral contraceptive use, having had at least one full term pregnancy, and having breast fed are associated with a reduced risk of ovarian cancer. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), also called hormone therapy (HT), in postmenopausal women may be associated with an increased risk of developing ovarian cancer.

Tubal ligation and hysterectomy may also be associated with a decreased incidence of ovarian malignancy.

Level of Evidence

3aii: Evidence obtained from well-designed and conducted cohort and case-control studies, preferably from more than one center or research group, that have a cancer incidence endpoint.

Prophylactic oophorectomy is generally reserved for women at high risk of developing ovarian cancer, such as women who have a deleterious mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes. Prophylactic oophorectomy is associated with a reduced risk of developing ovarian cancer.

Level of Evidence

3aii: Evidence obtained from well-designed and conducted cohort and case-control studies, preferably from more than one center or research group, that have a cancer incidence endpoint.

5: Opinions of respected authorities based on clinical experience or reports of expert committees.

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