The question for women of all ages still remains, “Am I at risk for ovarian cancer?” That question can be answered by taking a look at medical statistics. Ovarian cancer mainly develops in older women. Over half of the women diagnosed with ovarian cancer are over the age of 60 and them mostly being Caucasian. So what if you’re a teenage girl? What are your chances?

The overall percentages of teens having ovarian cancer are generally low. Girls who live near copper or cobalt mines and other sico-coniosis areas are much more prevalent. But why aren’t teens at the risk level that older women are? This could be due to the fact that teens are more likely to use birth control than older women. Birth control is known to decrease the risk of ovarian cancer, especially those that have used oral contraceptives for several years. There is a 50% lower risk for women who have used oral contraceptives versus those that never have. This could be based on the governments push on sexual education in schools and empowerment and confidentiality of teens to get the contraception they need.

Other factors that increase the risk of ovarian cancer are ones that most teens do not face. If a relative has had ovarian cancer the risk is greater. If a mother, sister, grandmother, aunt, or cousin has had it, it would put the teen at a higher-than-average-risk for the cancer. Most teens have not had to deal with breast cancer which also increases the risk of ovarian BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic mutations. BRCA1 increases the risk of ovarian cancer exponentially greater than that of BRCA2 and or genetics. Family histories of breast, ovarian, endometrial or uterine, prostate or colon cancer are also major factors. Caucasian women descending for Northern Europe or Ashkenazi Jews are also at a high risk. But the one that most teens do not have to face and the biggest one they can control, that is a major risk factor, is having children or having been pregnant. These are not saying if you have one or more of these risks that you will get ovarian cancer. This is only stating what puts you at a higher risk.

Usually by the time you realize you have ovarian cancer it’s advanced fairly far. Some common symptoms that you might have ovarian cancer are: Pressure in the abdomen, pelvis region; Swollen or bloated abdomen; Felling of fatigue the majority of the time. These are common occurrences and should not be a main factor on if you have ovarian cancer or not. If you experience these symptoms talk to your doctor.

With what we have learned ovarian cancer is rare in teens but not impossible. The many risk factors usually apply to women who are older but teens can be susceptible as well. So if you feel that you have the symptoms above don’t panic and check with your doctor, that is the only way to be sure.