Women at Risk for Uterine Cancer

According to the Mayo Clinic, the most common type of uterine cancer, also called endometrial cancer, starts in the lining of the uterus. Increases in estrogen thicken the uterine lining, making some women more susceptible to this cancer.

Ovulation

• Irregular ovulation increases the exposure to estrogen. Doctors speculate that this may be one reason women who have never been pregnant are at increased risk for endometrial cancer, since irregular ovulation is a frequent cause of infertility.

Obesity

• According to the American Cancer Society, obese women are three times more likely to develop endometrial cancer, and overweight women are twice as likely. High-fat diets also contribute to the risk.

Age

• Older women and those who have been menstruating for many years have a greater risk of uterine cancer. Women who start menstruating early or enter menopause late are exposed to more estrogen.

Diseases

• Women with diabetes are at greater risk of endometrial cancer, along with those who have had breast or ovarian cancer. Women with hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer have a 40 to 60 percent chance of developing endometrial cancer, says the American Cancer Society.

Hormone Replacement Therapy

• Women who elect to use estrogen-only hormone replacement therapy after menopause may be putting themselves at greater risk of uterine cancer. Adding progestin may reduce this risk, but it comes with other concerns, including breast cancer and blood clots.