There are a variety of risk factors that may increase a woman’s risk of developing cancer of the ovary, but being lesbian in itself does not increase your risk. However, some of the lifestyle choices that women make, may slightly increase their risk of ovarian cancer.

We don’t really know exactly what causes ovarian cancer. But we do know that it is more common in women who have not had any children, and that greater protection is gained the more children a woman has. It is also thought that there is a slightly increased risk of developing ovarian cancer in women who are infertile or who have had ovarian stimulation as part of treatment for their infertility. A small number of women will develop ovarian cancer because they have a strong family history, or if they know they have one of the cancer genes that have been linked to ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer, like many other types of cancer, is more common as women get older.

Women who take the oral contraceptive pill are less likely to develop ovarian cancer, as are women who have been sterilised by having a hysterectomy or their fallopian tubes tied (tubal ligation). Other less established risk factors that may increase risk include smoking, obesity (or a high body mass index - BMI), and a diet high in animal fats. The BMI is calculated by measuring the person’s height and weight – the higher the BMI, the greater the obesity.

Some risk factors cannot be controlled, like age or a strong family history. Other factors, such as use of the pill, the diet a woman eats, or the number of children a woman has, can generally be altered. 

As a lesbian is less likely to have children or to take the pill she may be exposed to some of the risk factors for ovarian cancer.  A small research study, from 2002, showed that lesbians were at slightly more risk of developing ovarian cancer because they were less likely to gain any of the protective effects that pregnancy or the contraceptive pill gives. The study also showed that they were more likely to have a higher body mass index. Obviously these risk factors will not apply to all lesbians.

Although sometimes it can be useful to group people together to help identify at risk groups, there will always be people from these groups that won’t have the same risks. As a lesbian you may be at an increased risk if you have never had any children, or taken the contraceptive pill. But you may have a very healthy lifestyle that includes a diet low in animal fat, regular exercise, and no smoking, which may reduce your risk. All women should be aware of the potential risk factors so that they can make lifestyle choices to reduce their risk, if they want to.