Diagnosing
Symptoms and Preventive Tips for Ovarian Cancer
As women age, they face the risk of getting ovarian cancer. The risk substantially increases after menopause as the ovaries stop making estrogen. However, there are certain risk factors that women can avoid to prevent the onset of the disease. Here is a list of preventive methods for ovarian cancer. Oral contraception It may sound strange, but birth control pills significantly lower the risk of contracting ovarian cancer. This is especially true for a woman carrying the BRCA gene. If women have been using contraceptives since they were young, they have a 50% less chance of getting cancer. Although these pills are not without their own side effects, if you do decide to start taking these, it is important to consult your doctor first and get their honest opinion. Surgery There are two types of surgeries that can decrease your risk of getting ovarian cancer- tubal litigation and hysterectomy. However, these surgeries are always recommended for medical reasons, not just to lower the risk of cancer. If you plan on getting a hysterectomy and have a family history of ovarian cancer, you can consider getting both your fallopian tubes and ovaries removed. If a woman has gone through menopause, doctors sometimes suggest getting the ovaries removed along with the hysterectomy.
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