Endometriosis Patients Have Small Increased Long Term Ovarian Cancer Risk

Several studies have showing women with endometriosis are at risk for endometrioid type and other types of ovarian cancer as they age.

A Dutch study looked at over 130,000 women with proven endometriosis and evaluated their long term risk of ovarian cancer.

The average age of diagnosis of ovarian cancer was 56.

What was notable is that even as women aged into menopause, and no longer had specific symptoms of endometriosis their risk was increased.

It’s important to know there are strategies for reducing the long term risk of ovarian cancer. If you had infertility, a suspicion of endometriosis, or a history of chronic pelvic pain, you may be at increased risk for ovarian cancer.

Specifically, you should not skip yearly gynecologic visits, and have on going conversations about what monitoring, or interventions would be right for you.