[Epidemiology of ovarian cancer and female sex hormones].

The etiology of ovarian cancer (CO) is multifactorial. Several factors have been consistently observed to modify the risk of CO; however, the role of many other factors remains inconclusive. The possible relationship between sex hormones and ovarian cancer has received increasing attention through the last 20 years as it has been documented that sex hormones can be linked to the development or promotion of CO. Parity, reproductive life and the use of oral contraceptives have been shown to influence the incidence of CO. Infertility treatment has been one of the most discussed subjects, but the short treatment period of ovulation-induction, which causes high gonadotropin concentrations in blood and the target organ, does not appear to increase the risk of development of CO. Identification of genetic markers and measurement of the level of steroids in follicular fluid and the ovarian epithelial microenvironment may influence future research in CO epidemiology. The article reviews the relationship between sex hormones and ovarian cancer as being the most consistent factors associated with decreased or increased risk of CO.