1.2 Risk factors

1.2 Risk factors

The risk factors for developing endometrial cancer include:

  • age
  • obesity
  • diabetes
  • endometrial hyperplasia
  • Lynch syndrome (40–60 per cent lifetime risk of endometrial cancer)
  • a family history of endometrial cancer in a first-degree relative
  • PTEN gene mutations
  • unopposed postmenopausal oestrogen therapy
  • endometrial hyperplasia
  • nulliparity
  • anovulation
  • early menarche and late menopause
  • tamoxifen use in postmenopausal women
  • hormone secreting tumour of the ovary (granulosa cell tumour) (Cancer Australia 2019b; NCI 2019).