Gender of offspring and risk of ovarian cancer: The HOPE study

Cancer Epidemiol. 2020 Feb:64:101646. doi: 10.1016/j.canep.2019.101646. Epub 2019 Dec 10.

Abstract

Objective: To examine the association between gender of offspring and epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC).

Methods: We compared gender of offspring between 664 incident EOC cases and 1531 controls participating in a population-based study conducted in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New York from 2003-2008. Multivariable unconditional logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) adjusting for potential confounders.

Results: Bearing a male offspring was associated with an 8 % lower EOC risk; bearing all boys was associated with an 11 % lower risk. Compared to bearing all girls, bearing all boys was associated with a 14 % decrease risk. Increasing number of male offspring increased the protective effect (adjusted-OR: 0.92, 0.91, 0.84, for 1, 2, and 3+ boys compared to all girls). Results where similar when limiting cases to invasive disease and to the high-grade serous histotype.

Conclusion: Fetal sex, which influences maternal hormonal milieu, may impact EOC risk.

Keywords: Case-control study; Epithelial ovarian cancer; Gender of offspring.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • Gender Identity
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / etiology*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / pathology
  • Risk Factors