Which of the following is a risk factor for developing ovarian cancer?

Family history is a significant risk factor for developing ovarian cancer. Women with a first-degree relative, such as a mother or sister, who has had ovarian cancer are at a higher risk themselves. This increased risk can be attributed to inherited genetic mutations, most notably in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, which are associated with both breast and ovarian cancers. Women who have a family history of ovarian cancer should be monitored more closely and may benefit from genetic counseling to explore their risk in detail.

In contrast, the other factors listed do not carry the same level of association with an increased risk of ovarian cancer. Multiple pregnancies and regular menstrual cycles are generally considered protective against ovarian cancer because they reduce the overall number of ovulatory cycles a woman experiences, which is thought to decrease the risk. Early menopause typically reduces the time a woman is exposed to estrogen, which could further lower the risk of developing ovarian cancer. Thus, family history stands out as a critical factor in assessing a woman’s risk for this disease.