Is the chance of developing Ovarian Cancer higher if you have never had children

Hi sunangel,

Thank you for reaching out to the EmpowHER community with your question! It's always a good idea to be aware of the risk factors and causes associated with ovarian cancer.

Some common symptoms and risk factors for ovarian cancer include:

• fatigue
• nausea
• constipation
• gas and indigestion
• family history of ovarian cancer
• being 55 or older and never being pregnant
• pressure in pelvic area or abdomen
• swollen or bloated abdomen
• taking estrogen-only menopausal hormone therapy for at least 10 years

It is true that women who have never had children are at a higher risk of developing ovarian cancer. This is because when women are not pregnant, their ovaries do not have a rest from going through a monthly menstrual cycle. According to WebMD, there is a link between the number of periods in a woman's life and her risk for ovarian cancer. Women who have children over the age of 30 are also at a higher risk.

However, not having children does not always mean that you will develop ovarian cancer. Here is a great resource on EmpowHER that talks about the risk factors of ovarian cancer: https://www.empowher.com/ovarian-cancer/content/are-you-risk-ovarian-cancer-get-informed.

Are you concerned about the possibility of developing ovarian cancer due to not having children? I hope this has helped! Please let me know if you have further questions.

Best,
Erin