How to lower your chances of ovarian cancer

NEWCASTLE – Research has shown ovarian cancer can affect one in five women. The recommended way to fight any life threatening disease is primarily prevention. Getting tested frequently can save your life.

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Here are a few tips on how to prevent being a victim of ovarian cancer:

1. Live a healthy lifestyle

Various studies have looked at the relationship between obesity and ovarian cancer. Overall, it has reported obese women have a higher risk of developing ovarian cancer.

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2. Procreate

Women who have been pregnant and carried to term before age 26 have a lower risk of ovarian cancer than women who have not. The risk goes down with each full-term pregnancy. Women who have their first full-term pregnancy after age 35 or who have never carried a pregnancy to term have a higher risk of ovarian cancer.

Breastfeeding may lower the risk even further.

3. Birth control

Women who have used oral contraceptives have a lower risk of ovarian cancer. The lower risk is seen after only 3 to 6 months of using the pill. This lower risk continues for many years after you stop taking the pill.

4. Using Talcum powder

It has been suggested that talcum powder applied directly to the genital area or on sanitary napkins may be carcinogenic to the ovaries. Some studies suggest a very slight increase in risk of ovarian cancer in women who used talc on the genital area. Although no evidence at present can be linked to cornstarch powders as the cause of female cancers, caution should be practiced.

5. Gynaecologic surgery

Tubal ligation (having your tubes tied) may reduce the chance of developing ovarian cancer by up to two-thirds. A hysterectomy (removing the uterus without removing the ovaries) also seems to reduce the risk of getting ovarian cancer by about one-third.