Ovarian Cancer (cont.)

Prevention

Any factor that prevents ovulation (the release of an egg) seems to decrease the risk of ovarian cancer.

• Taking oral contraceptives (birth control pills)
  
  
• Pregnancy
  
  
• Starting menstrual cycles later in adolescence
  
  
• Early menopause
  
  
• Tubal ligation (having the tubes tied)

If a woman has a strong family history of ovarian cancer or she knows that she has the BRCA1 gene mutation or HNPCC (Lynch syndrome II), she may want to talk to her health care provider about the possibility of having her ovaries removed after childbearing or after age 35-40 years.

Many of the screening tests available for ovarian cancer do not detect early disease. In fact, the US Preventive Services Task Force does not recommend routine screening because there is no evidence that screening reduces the severity of illness or number of deaths due to ovarian cancer. By itself, each single testing method is imperfect. When used together, however, these tests may contribute to earlier diagnosis.

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