Ovarian cancer - Key Facts

• Ovarian cancer is the fifth most common cancer in females in the UK and the second most common gynaecological cancer after uterus.
• There are around 6,600 new cases of ovarian cancer diagnosed each year in the UK, that is around 125 women every week.
• Ovarian cancer is more common in women who have been through the menopause: more than 8 in 10 new cases are diagnosed in women aged over 50 years.
• Since the mid 1970s, the incidence of ovarian cancer in women over 65 has increased by more than 40%.
• Worldwide, there are more than 204,000 new cases of ovarian cancer diagnosed each year.
• The incidence of ovarian cancer is highest in USA and Northern Europe and lowest in Africa and Asia.

Read more in-depth UK ovarian cancer incidence statistics

• Ovarian cancer survival rates are higher the earlier the cancer is diagnosed. Women with early stage ovarian cancer have survival rates in excess of 70%.
• Survival rates for ovarian cancer have increased slowly since the 1970s. Latest rates show that around 40% of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer live for at least five years.
• Ovarian cancer survival rates are highest in younger women who are more often diagnosed with early cancer.

Read more in-depth ovarian cancer survival statistics

• Ovarian cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer death in women in the UK and the most common cause of gynaecological cancer death.
• Around 4,300 women die of ovarian cancer each year in the UK.
• Despite increasing incidence, ovarian cancer mortality has remained fairly stable over the last thirty years, and in younger women it has decreased.
• Worldwide, an estimated 125,000 women die of ovarian cancer each year.

Read more in-depth ovarian cancer mortality statistics

• The risk of ovarian cancer increases with age; more than 4 out of 5 cases are diagnosed in women over 50 years.
• Women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation have an increased risk of ovarian cancer.
• Women who have not had children have a higher risk of ovarian cancer than women who have given birth.
• Oral contraceptive use reduces the risk of ovarian cancer and the protective effect persists for many years after stopping the Pill.
• Women taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for more than five years have an increased risk of ovarian cancer.
• Women with endometriosis have a greater than average risk of ovarian cancer.
• Research shows that women who have difficulties conceiving may have a higher risk of ovarian cancer than fertile women.
• Sterilisation by tubal ligation (having your tubes tied) has been shown to reduce the risk of ovarian cancer.
• The evidence suggests that women who breastfeed their children have a lower risk of ovarian cancer than those who do not.
• Research suggests that women who are overweight or obese have an increased risk of ovarian cancer.

Read more in-depth ovarian cancer risk factors information

*age-standardised to the European population ** period estimates