Health Information
Ovarian Cancer
Cause
Experts don't know exactly what causes ovarian cancer. Genetics, such as Reference DNA Opens New Window changes, are a risk factor for some women.
In general, about 1 out of 100 women will get ovarian cancer. That risk goes up to 5 out of 100 if one family member has had ovarian cancer, and 7 out of 100 if two or three relatives have had it.Reference 2
About 10 out of 100 ovarian cancers are thought to be caused by gene mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes.Reference 3 The Reference risk for women Opens New Window Reference 
Opens New Window who have these gene changes is much higher than for women without them.
| By: | Reference Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: Reference October 22, 2012 |
| Medical Review: | Reference Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine
Reference Ross Berkowitz, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology |
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