Women who experience early menopause or primary ovarian insufficiency have an increased risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer, according to research presented at ENDO 2024, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in Boston, Mass.

The study explored the association between early menopause, primary ovarian insufficiency (POI), and the risk of hormonally influenced cancers. The researchers also examined cancer risk in family members using data from two major health care systems in Utah.

"Women who have infertility from low egg numbers or experience early menopause should make sure they are regularly screened for breast cancer, especially if they have family members with cancer," lead investigator Corrine Welt, M.D., said. "There is also a higher risk of breast, prostate, and colon cancer in relatives of these women."

The researchers identified 613 women with POI (aged 40 or younger) and 165 women with early menopause (aged 40-44) using ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes from EMRs dated 1995-2021. The women and their relatives were linked to the Utah Population Database for genealogy information and the Utah Cancer Registry for cancer diagnoses, focusing on breast, ovarian, endometrial, colon, testicular, and prostate cancers.

The study found that women with POI had a 1.9 times greater risk for breast cancer and a borderline increased risk for ovarian cancer. When women with early menopause were included, the risk for breast cancer remained increased, and ovarian cancer risk was nearly four times higher. There was no increased risk for endometrial cancer or colon cancer.

Among second-degree relatives of women with POI, there was a significantly increased risk of breast cancer (1.3 times) and colon cancer (1.5 times). Prostate cancer risk was increased in first-, second-, and third-degree relatives by 1.3 to 1.6 times.

The researchers identified 27 POI pedigrees with an excess number of observed cancer cases compared to expected numbers in population controls, suggesting common genetic risk factors for POI and these cancers.

"Doctors who practice general medicine, gynecology, and fertility treatment should be aware that early menopause increases the risk for a number of diseases, and they should now be aware that breast cancer may be one of these diseases to watch for," Welt said.

No conflicts of interest were disclosed.