Gynecologic cancer risks

Risk factors for gynecologic cancers vary depending on the type, however, medical history, medicines, family history, age, and lifestyle can all increase your chances of developing these types of cancer.

Medical history: A history of chronic health issues like diabetes or high blood glucose, hypertension or high blood pressure, premenopausal breast cancer and persistent HPV infections all create increased risk for gynecologic cancers. Additionally, late menopause (after the age of 52) and some genital skin conditions also be factors.
Medicine: Long-term use of hormone medications like birth control and taking estrogen without progesterone are both known causes of gynecologic cancers. Your risk also goes up if you are on some medications used to treat breast cancer.
Family history: Family medical history plays a significant role when it comes to risks for gynecologic cancers. Alert your physician to any family history of fallopian tube cancer, primary peritoneal cancer, premenopausal breast cancer, male breast cancer and both colon and endometrial cancers. Due to an inherited gene mutation, Ashkenazi Jewish women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer at a much higher rate than other women.
Age: Cervical cancer generally affects women between 30 and 50 but can be found in younger women as well. For other gynecologic cancers, the risk goes up with age, particularly after menopause.
Lifestyle: Smoking, which weakens the immune system, and unprotected sex can cause frequent human papillomavirus (HPV) infections that commonly lead to certain types of cancer. Not maintaining a healthy weight can also lead to gynecologic cancers.

Women’s cancer

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