Hormone Therapy and Ovarian Cancer

“Deciding to use MHT is a personal choice and should
involve discussions about the benefits and risks with
a healthcare professional who knows your health history”.1

Umbrella

What may the Hormone Therapy and Ovarian Cancer Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Cancer of the Ovary
  • Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  • Hormone Therapy (HT)
  • Menopausal Hormone Replacement Therapy (MHT)
  • Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian Cancer Risk

Does hormone therapy (HT) increase the risk of ovarian cancer?

In Ovarian Cancer Symptoms & Risks: What Are the Risk Factors for Ovarian Cancer? the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition explain:

“Hormone Replacement –
Your risk may be higher if you have taken hormone replacement”.2

Combined HRT

Does combined hormone replacement therapy (HRT) increase the risk of ovarian cancer?

In Menopausal Hormone Replacement Therapy and Cancer Risk: Types of Hormone Treatments for Menopause and Their Risks – Estrogen-Progestin Therapy (EPT) and Cancer Risk: Ovarian Cancer, last revised 22 January 2026 the American Cancer Society (ACS) note:

“EPT is linked to a small increase in ovarian cancer risk, especially while it is being taken. Overall, the risk remains low and drops after EPT is stopped”.3

Oestrogen-Only HRT

Does oestrogen-only HRT increase the risk of ovarian cancer?

In Menopausal Hormone Replacement Therapy and Cancer Risk: Types of Hormone Treatments for Menopause and Their Risks – Estrogen Therapy and Cancer Risk: Ovarian Cancer  the ACS also note:

“EPT is linked to a small increase in ovarian cancer risk, especially while it is being taken. Overall, the risk remains low and drops after EPT is stopped”.4

Health Care Provider

If I choose to use hormone therapy (HT) what is my risk of ovarian cancer?

Different women who choose to use HT can have different risks of ovarian cancer. It may therefore be in your best interest to also choose to ask your health care provider about this.

On page one in Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use, published February 2025, the Menopause Society (formerly the North American Menopause Society) explain:

“Every woman is different, and you will decide about whether to use HT based on the severity of your symptoms, your personal and family health history, and your own beliefs about menopause treatments. Your healthcare professional will be able to help you with your decision”.5

Hormone Therapy and Ovarian Cancer On page three of Menopause and Menopause Hormone Therapy: 1. Who Is MHT For? Women With Existing Medical Conditions the International Menopause Society’s (IMS) Leaflet for Women for World Menopause Day 2024, the IMS include:

“Women with certain medical histories such as breast cancer and blood clots should talk to their healthcare professional about whether MHT is safe for them. Deciding to use MHT is a personal choice and should involve discussions about the benefits and risks with a healthcare professional who knows your health history”.6

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Hormone Therapy and Ovarian Cancer?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Hormone Therapy and Ovarian Cancer?

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Links

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New or Updated

  1. ACOG Explains: Managing Menopause Symptoms [American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists]
  2. ASCO: Conjugated Equine Estrogen May Increase Risk for Ovarian Cancer
  3. Askearlymenopause.org [Ask Early Menopause]
  4. Bioidentical Hormones: Are They Safer?
  5. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) for Menopausal Symptoms
  6. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2024 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Preparing for Your Menopause Health Care Visit
  7. Deciding About Hormone Therapy
  8. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use
  9. Does Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Increase the Risk of Cancer?
  10. Does Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Increase the Risk of Cancer? Does Combined HRT Increase the Risk of Cancer? Ovarian Cancer
  11. Does Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Increase the Risk of Cancer? Does Oestrogen-Only HRT Increase the Risk of Cancer? Ovarian Cancer
  12. EMAS On-Demand Webinars [European Menopause and Andropause Society] [Multiply Languages]: FDA Decision on MHT Warnings – A Live EMAS Roundtable
  13. FDA Direct: Removing Black Box Warnings for HRT (Part 1/2)
  14. FDA Direct: Removing Black Box Warnings for HRT (Part 2/2)
  15. February Is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month [Australia]
    Hormone Therapy and Ovarian Cancer
  16. Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
  17. Find A Practitioner [Australasian Menopause Society i.e. Australia and New Zealand]
  18. Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
  19. Five Facts
    Hormone Therapy and Ovarian Cancer
  20. Foundationforwomenscancer.org [Foundation for Women’s Cancer, United States]
  21. HRT
  22. HRT Questions Answered
  23. HRT and Ovarian Cancer: Is There A Link?
  24. HRT – Types, Doses and Regimens
  25. HRT: Benefits and Risks – What You Should Know
  26. Handling Hot Flushes and Night Sweats| Dr Louise Newson
  27. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  28. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Alternatives To Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  29. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Benefits and Risks of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  30. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Types of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  31. Hormone Therapy: Is It Right for You?
  32. Hot Flashes
  33. How To Find Relief for Hot Flashes At Night
  34. Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause
  35. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) [+ Video: Is HRT Bad for You?] [Other Languages and Formats]
  36. Mayo Clinic Q&A: Get the Facts on Ovarian Cancer
  37. Menopausal Hormone Replacement Therapy and Cancer Risk
  38. Menopausal Hormone Therapy
  39. Menopausal Hormone Use and Ovarian Cancer Risk: Individual Participant Meta-Analysis of 52 Epidemiological Studies
  40. Menopause
  41. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
    Hormone Therapy and Ovarian Cancer
  42. Menopause Treatment
  43. Menopause, Perimenopause, Hormone Therapy and Other Treatments With Madelyn Butler, MD [Podcast]
  44. Menopause: Identification and Management [NICE Guideline]
  45. Menopause: Identification and Management [NICE Guideline]
    Hormone Therapy
  46. Menopause: Menopause – Hormone Treatments
  47. Navigating Menopause: Honest Answers To All Your Questions [+ Video: What To Expect in Menopause]
  48. OCCAM Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine [National Cancer Institute, United States]
  49. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: IMS Partnership Symposia Series – What’s Hot? Options for Treatment of Hot Flushes 2025
  50. Ovarian Cancer
  51. Ovarian Cancer
  52. Ovarian Cancer
  53. Ovarian Cancer Risk Factors
  54. Ovarian Cancer Risk and Causes of Ovarian Cancer
  55. Ovarian Cancer Symptoms & Risks – What Are the Risk Factors for Ovarian Cancer?
  56. Ovarian Cancer Testing & Detection
    Ovarian Cancer
  57. Ovarian Cancer/Primary Peritoneal
  58. Ovarian Cancer: Essential Facts You Need To Know – Mayo Clinic Health System [Video] [30 August 2024]
  59. Ovarian Cancer: Reducing Risk of Ovarian Cancer
  60. Risks and Causes
  61. The 2022 Hormone Therapy Position Statement of The North American Menopause Society: Ovarian Cancer
  62. The Risk of Ovarian Cancer In Hormone Replacement Therapy Users: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
  63. Tips for Tracking Your Bleeding
  64. Types of Hormone Therapy
  65. Use of Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Ovarian Cancer Risk In A French Cohort Study
  66. Video & Podcast Library: Videos – World Menopause Day 2024: Menopause and Hormone Therapy: Current Perspectives and Controversies
  67. Videos & Podcasts: Videos – Menopause and Hormone Therapy: Current Perspectives and Controversies
  68. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – How Do I Deal With the Menopause After A Diagnosis of Gynaecological Cancer
  69. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Menopause and Abnormal Bleeding
  70. What Is Ovarian Cancer?
  71. World Menopause Day 2024: Leaflet for Women [Multiply Languages]
  72. World Menopause Day 2024: Poster for Women
  73. World Ovarian Cancer Day May 8, 2025
    Hormone Therapy and Ovarian Cancer

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Menopause and Menopause Hormone Therapy: 1. Who Is MHT For? Women With Existing Medical Conditions. 2024:3. International Menopause Society https://www.imsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024-WMD-Leaflet_English.pdf Accessed: 16 March 2026
  2. Ovarian Cancer Symptoms & Risks: What Are the Risk Factors for Ovarian Cancer? World Ovarian Cancer Coalition https://worldovariancancercoalition.org/about-ovarian-cancer/symptoms-risk-factors/ovarian-cancer-symptoms/ Accessed: 16 March 2026
  3. The 2022 Hormone Therapy Position Statement of The North American Menopause Society: Ovarian Cancer – Key Points. July 2022:783. North American Menopause Society  https://menopause.org/wp-content/uploads/professional/nams-2022-hormone-therapy-position-statement.pdf Accessed: 16 March 2026
  4. Menopausal Hormone Replacement Therapy and Cancer Risk: Types of Hormone Treatments for Menopause and Their Risks – Estrogen-Progestin Therapy (EPT) and Cancer Risk: Ovarian Cancer. Last Revised: 22 January 2026. American Cancer Society https://www.cancer.org/cancer/risk-prevention/medical-treatments/menopausal-hormone-replacement-therapy-and-cancer-risk.html Accessed: 16 March 2026
  5. Menopausal Hormone Replacement Therapy and Cancer Risk: Types of Hormone Treatments for Menopause and Their Risks – Estrogen Therapy and Cancer Risk: Ovarian Cancer. Last Revised: 22 January 2026. American Cancer Society https://www.cancer.org/cancer/risk-prevention/medical-treatments/menopausal-hormone-replacement-therapy-and-cancer-risk.html Accessed: 16 March 2026
  6. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use. 2025:1. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/wp-content/uploads/default-document-library/MenoNote-Deciding-About-HT-2025.pdf Accessed: 16 March 2026
  7. Menopause and Menopause Hormone Therapy: 1. Who Is MHT For? Women With Existing Medical Conditions. 2024:3. International Menopause Society https://www.imsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024-WMD-Leaflet_English.pdf Accessed: 16 March 2026
Topic Last Updated: 16 March 2026 – Topic Last Reviewed: 16 March 2026

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