You told us that you don’t have any children, or that you first gave birth after age
30. Women who have no children or had their first child after 30 have a slightly higher
risk for ovarian cancer.

You told us that you have had one or more children. Having children lowers your risk
for ovarian cancer.

According to the height and weight you entered, your body mass index (BMI) is . A BMI of 30 or more means you are obese. You are at a higher risk for ovarian cancer.
It’s important to try to get to and stay at a healthier weight. You can do this by
eating well and exercising regularly. Staying at a healthy weight can lower your risk
for ovarian cancer. It also cuts your risk for many other diseases and illnesses.

According to the height and weight you entered, your body mass index (BMI) is . This BMI means you are overweight. Being overweight doesn’t raise your risk for
ovarian cancer. But being overweight can raise your risk for coronary heart disease
and many other health problems. It’s important to try to get to and stay at a healthier
weight. You can do this by eating well and exercising regularly. If your BMI reaches
30 or more, you will be at a higher risk for ovarian cancer.

Congratulations! According to the height and weight you entered, your body mass index
(BMI) is . By staying at a healthy weight, you have taken action to lower your risk for ovarian
cancer. A healthy weight also means you are at lower risk for many other diseases
and illnesses. Try to stay at a healthy weight by eating well and exercising regularly.

Because you have used estrogen-only treatment to ease symptoms of menopause, you are
at increased risk for ovarian cancer. Studies have shown that using estrogen-only
treatment for a long time can raise your risk for ovarian cancer. Talk with your doctor
about the benefits and risks of using hormones. Talk with your provider about other
treatments you can use.

Good news! You’re not at increased risk for ovarian cancer due to estrogen-only treatment.
Studies have shown that using estrogen-only treatment for a long time can raise your
risk for ovarian cancer. If you are thinking about using hormones for symptoms of
menopause, talk with your doctor about the benefits and risks of using hormones. Talk
with your provider about other treatments you can use.

Because you have had a hysterectomy or bilateral tubal ligation, you have cut your
risk for ovarian cancer. Studies have shown that having these surgeries can lower
your risk for ovarian cancer.

According to your answers, – you have not had a hysterectomy or bilateral tubal ligation.
Although these surgeries may lower your risk for ovarian cancer, medical experts agree
that they should only be done for valid medical reasons other than cutting your risk
for ovarian cancer. Ask your doctor if surgery would help you at this time.

You use or have used birth control pills. Using birth control pills at some point
in your life lowers your risk for ovarian cancer. The longer you take the pill, the
lower your risk becomes. This lowering of risk goes on long after you stop taking
the pill.

Birth control pills also may raise your risk for blood clots, breast cancer, and other
cancers. These risks seem to go back to normal after you stop taking the pill. Talk
with your healthcare provider about the risk and benefits of birth control pills.

You have never used birth control pills. Using birth control pills can lower your
risk for ovarian cancer. But the pills may raise your risk for blood clots, breast
cancer, and other cancers. If you think you are at a high risk for ovarian cancer,
you may want to talk to your healthcare provider about the risk and benefits of birth
control pills.

You have a family history of ovarian cancer. The more relatives you have with ovarian
cancer, the higher your risk. Your family history of ovarian cancer put you at higher
risk. You may want to talk with your healthcare provider about genetic testing. Gene
testing can tell you if you have an inherited gene mutation that raises your risk.

You have a personal history of breast cancer. Having been diagnosed with breast cancer
in the past raises your risk for ovarian cancer. You may want to discuss your risk
for ovarian cancer with your healthcare provider.

You have told us that you have been diagnosed with one of the inherited risk factors
for ovarian cancer. These are BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation and HNPCC. These inherited factors
can greatly boost your risk for ovarian cancer. They put you at a high-risk level.
Some women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation or HNPCC may choose to have surgery to remove
the ovaries and fallopian tubes. This surgery is done when they have decided not to
have any more children. This surgery greatly lowers their risk for ovarian cancer.

You have told us that you don’t have or don’t know if you have any inherited risk
factors for ovarian cancer. Genetic risk factors are BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations and
HNPCC. These factors can greatly increase your risk for ovarian cancer. If you have
close family relatives who have had breast, ovarian, or colorectal cancer, you may
want to talk with your provider about genetic testing. Testing can tell you if you
have any of these risk factors.

About risk factors

Most women with ovarian cancer don’t have any known risk factors. Still, it’s important
to know about risk factors. All women are at risk of developing ovarian cancer, but
the risk is generally low. Family history of ovarian cancer and gene mutations are
major factors that raise the risk for ovarian cancer. If this assessment shows that
you have higher risk of developing ovarian cancer, you should discuss this with your
healthcare provider. The risk of developing ovarian cancer goes up with age. This
cancer generally happens after menopause. Although most cases of ovarian cancer are
diagnosed in older women, the disease can still occur in younger women.

Early cancers of the ovaries tend to cause vague symptoms. They can be caused by many
conditions that are not cancer. These symptoms include:

• General abdominal discomfort or pain. This includes gas, indigestion, pressure, swelling,
  bloating, and cramps.

• Nausea, diarrhea, constipation, or frequent urination

• Feeling of fullness even after a light meal

• Shortness of breath

• Feeling tired all the time

• Abnormal bleeding from the vagina

If you have these symptoms—especially if they last more than a few weeks—see your
healthcare provider for a complete evaluation.

If your risk for ovarian cancer is high, your provider may suggest having checkups
more often. That way, if cancer develops, it can be found and treated as early as
possible. Some exams and tests that your healthcare provider might do are:

• Pelvic exam. This is done to look at the uterus, ovaries, bladder, and rectum. The doctor looks
  for any problems in their shape or size. He or she also looks to see if the fallopian
  tubes are dilated or filled with fluid. (A Pap test is used to find cancer of the
  cervix. It is often done along with the pelvic exam, but it is not a reliable way
  to find or diagnose ovarian cancer.)

• Transvaginal ultrasound. This test uses sound waves to create a picture of the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian
  tubes. This is done to figure out whether a growth is likely to be a cancer or a fluid-filled
  cyst.

• CA-125. Blood tests for ovarian cancer may include measuring the amount of CA-125. This is
  a protein that may be higher in women with ovarian cancer. This test is not always
  accurate because other diseases can raise the blood levels of CA-125. This makes a
  false positive. Some ovarian cancers may not make enough CA-125. This makes a false
  negative.

• Genetic testing. If you have close family members who have had breast or ovarian cancer, your provider
  may talk with you about genetic testing. This will tell you if you have a mutation
  in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene, or if you have HNPCC. These genetic conditions have been
  linked to increased risk for ovarian, breast, and colorectal cancer.