Assessment of Reproductive and Gynecological Risk Factors in Ovarian Cancer Development

Background: Ovarian cancer (OC) is the most deadly gynecological cancer in women. It is usually presented with non-specific symptoms leading to late diagnosis.
Aim: To investigate some reproductive and gynecological risk factors for OC in Nineveh governorate in an attempt to participate in the prevention strategy.
Methods: The current study has been conducted in Mosul city, Northern Iraq. It is a case-control study that has included 100 women diagnosed histopathologically with OC (cases) and 200 women with no ovarian problems by ultrasonographical examination (control). Using Minitab version 20 software statistical program, descriptive and analytic statistics have been done.
Results: This study reveals that there is a highly significant risk of OC with nulliparity (OR= 4.72, P-value<0.001), the history of hysterectomy (OR=6,32, P-value=0.018), the past history of period of infertility (OR= 3.27, P-value< 0.001), and the women who used medications for induction of ovulation for more than or equal to six months (OR=2.25, P-value=0.031). While highly significant protective effects against OC have been shown in the parous women as (OR=0.16, 0.19, 0.26), (P-value<0,001, <0.001, 0.001) for women with parity (1-2), (3-4), ( 5) respectively and the usage of any type of oral contraceptive pills (OCP) as (OR=0.32, P-value <0.001).
Conclusion: This study explores some important risk factors for OC development in Nineveh governorate like nulliparity, hysterectomy, and the history of periods of infertility.