The statistics are sobering. Ovarian cancer is the fifth most common cancer among women, causing more deaths than any other type of female reproductive cancer. In fact, roughly one in 95 women in the US will die of ovarian cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. A comprehensive new study suggests that the size and shape of your body may play a role in your risk of the disease.

20 Ways to Prevent Cancer

Researchers from the University of Oxford in England analyzed cancer data collected from 47 studies of more than 100,000 women, and made some surprising discoveries. The first involves height. For women over 5 feet tall, every two inches of added height was shown to increase their risk for ovarian cancer by about 7 percent

And then there’s your weight. The study finds that every two and a half-point increase in body mass index (BMI) above 20 increases your risk for the cancer by 10 percent. (Check your body mass index with thisBMI calculator.)

The researchers aren’t certain why body size plays a factor, but they say it could simply be a numbers game: The larger the body, the greater the number of cells at risk for developing cancer. Your body’s levels of certain growth hormones may also play a role.

[sidebar] There's no reliable screening test for ovarian cancer, says Karen Orloff Kaplan, CEO of the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance, but women can protect themselves by recognizing the symptoms.

If you experience any of these ovarian cancer warning signs more than 12 times in a month, see your doctor:

Bloating

Nausea

Indigestion

Constipation or diarrhea

Pelvic or abdominal pain

Feeling full quickly

More frequent urination

Abnormal vaginal bleeding

Unusual fatigue

Unexplained weight changes

Learn more about ovarian cancer and how you can fight the disease with Prevention's report How To Protect Yourself From Ovarian Cancer.

Markham Heid Markham Heid is an experienced health reporter and writer, has contributed to outlets like TIME, Men’s Health, and Everyday Health, and has received reporting awards from the Society of Professional Journalists and the Maryland, Delaware, and D.C.

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