(NewsNation) — Women with endometriosis face a significantly higher risk of ovarian cancer, especially those with more severe forms of the condition, according to a new study from the University of Utah.
The research, published in the JAMA Network, found that women diagnosed with endometriosis were over four times more likely to develop ovarian cancer compared to those without the disorder.
For women with the most severe subtypes — deep infiltrating endometriosis and ovarian endometriomas — the risk jumped to nearly 10 times higher.
Endometriosis, a condition where tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, affects about 11% of reproductive-age women. It’s commonly associated with pelvic pain and infertility, but its link to cancer has been less clear until now.
The Utah-based study examined health records of nearly 450,000 women, including over 78,000 with endometriosis. Researchers found the strongest associations between endometriosis and certain ovarian cancer subtypes, particularly clear cell and endometrioid cancers.
While all forms of endometriosis increased cancer risk, women with deep infiltrating endometriosis or ovarian endometriomas faced the highest danger. These severe subtypes were associated with a 19-fold increase in risk for some ovarian cancers.
The study’s findings suggest that women with severe endometriosis may need more aggressive cancer prevention strategies. However, the researchers note that more work is needed to understand how the two conditions are linked.