Uterine cancer risk

Preventable cases

Uterine cancer cases are preventable, UK, 2015

 

Caused by obesity

Uterine cancer cases caused by overweight and obesity, UK, 2015

 

The estimated lifetime risk of being diagnosed with uterine cancer is 1 in 39 (3%) for females born in 1961 in the UK.[1]

These figures have been calculated on the assumption that the possibility of having more than one diagnosis of uterine cancer over the course of a lifetime is very low ('Current Probability' method).[2]

See also

Lifetime risk for all cancers combined and cancers compared

Uterine cancer incidence statistics

How risk is calculated

Want to generate bespoke preventable cancers stats statements? Download our interactive statement generator.

References

  1. Lifetime risk estimates calculated by the Cancer Intelligence Team at Cancer Research UK 2023.
  2. Estève J, Benhamou E, Raymond L. Statistical methods in cancer research. Volume IV. Descriptive epidemiology. IARC Sci Publ. 1994;(128):1-302.

About this data

Data is for UK, past and projected cancer incidence and mortality and all-cause mortality rates for those born in 1961, ICD-10 C15.

Calculated by the Cancer Intelligence Team at Cancer Research UK, 2023 (as yet unpublished). Lifetime risk of being diagnosed with cancer for people in the UK born in 1961. Based on method from Esteve et al. 1994 [2], using projected cancer incidence (using data up to 2018) calculated by the Cancer Intelligence Team at Cancer Research UK and projected all-cause mortality (using data up to 2020, with adjustment for COVID impact) calculated by Office for National Statistics. Differences from previous analyses are attributable mainly toslowing pace of improvement in life expectancy, and also to slowing/stabilising increases in cancer incidence.

Last reviewed:

34% of uterine cancer cases in the UK are preventable.[1]

Uterine cancer is associated with a number of risk factors.[2-4]

Uterine Cancer Risk Factors

  Increases risk Decreases risk
'Sufficient' or 'convincing' evidence
  • Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) (oestrogen-progestogen and oestrogen-only)
  • Tamoxifen
  • Body fatness
  • Oestrogen-progestogen contraceptives
'Limited' or 'probable' evidence
  • Diethylstilbestrol
  • Glycaemic load
  • Physical activity
  • Coffee

International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR) classifications.

All classifications are for endometrium

See also

Want to generate bespoke preventable cancers stats statements? Download our interactive statement generator.

Find out more about the definitions and evidence for this data

Learn how attributable risk is calculated

References

  1. Brown KF, Rumgay H, Dunlop C, et al. The fraction of cancer attributable to known risk factors in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the UK overall in 2015. British Journal of Cancer 2018.
  2. International Agency for Research on Cancer. List of Classifications by cancer sites with sufficient or limited evidence in humans, Volumes 1 to 122*. Accessed October 2018.
  3. Lauby-Secretan B, Scoccianti C, Loomis D, et al. Body Fatness and Cancer--Viewpoint of the IARC Working Group. N Engl J Med. 2016 Aug 25;375(8):794-8.
  4. World Cancer Research Fund / American Institute for Cancer Research. Continuous Update Project Findings & Reports. Accessed October 2018.
Last reviewed:

The majority of endometrial cancers are oestrogen-driven.[1,2] Oestrogen and progesterone work in balance to regulate the female reproductive system, with oestrogen stimulating endometrial cell growth. But oestrogen unopposed by progesterone (e.g. after menopause, or during use of oestrogen-only hormone replacement therapy) increases endometrial cancer risk. Endometrial cancer risk is 2.1-2.7 times higher in women with the highest circulating oestrogen levels, a cohort study showed.[3]

Many factors associated with uterine cancer risk are causes or markers of higher/lower oestrogen exposure, e.g. hormone replacement therapy (HRT), higher parity and longer menstrual lifespan are linked with higher oestrogen exposure, and use of oral contraceptives is linked with lower exposure. This is probably their mechanism of association with uterine cancer risk.

Irregular, infrequent, absent or anovulatory menstrual cycles may reflect exposure to oestrogen unopposed by progesterone, and so may be associated with increased uterine cancer risk.[4]

References

  1. Evans T, Sany O, Pearmain P, Ganesan R, Blann A, Sundar S. Differential trends in the rising incidence of endometrial cancer by type: data from a UK population-based registry from 1994 to 2006. 2011 April 26:104(9):1505-10.
  2. National Cancer Intelligence Network (2013): Outline of Uterine Cancer in the United Kingdom: Incidence, Mortality and Survival.
  3. Allen NE, Key TJ, Dossus L, et al. Endogenous sex hormones and endometrial cancer risk in women in the European Prospective Investigation into cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). Endocr Relat Cancer 2008l; 15(2): 485-97.
  4. Baird DT, Balen A, et al. Health and fertility in World Health Organization group 2 anovulatory women. 2012 Sep-Oct;18(5):586-99.
Last reviewed:

International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies the role of this risk factor in cancer development.[1]

Oestrogen-only HRT

Endometrial cancer risk is 2.3 times higher in oestrogen-only hormone replacement therapy (HRT) ever-users versus non users, a meta-analysis showed.[2] Studies with endometrial cancer as the endpoint are now rare, because the risks of oestrogen-only HRT users are now well-known, so users are closely monitored and their treatment stopped or changed if endometrial hyperplasia develops.[3]

Endometrial hyperplasia risk is not associated with use of low-dose oestrogen-only HRT for a year, a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCT) showed.[4] At moderate and high doses, and at low-dose but 18-24 months use, endometrial hyperplasia risk is markedly higher in oestrogen-only HRT users versus placebo users.[4]

Endometrial cancer risk increases with duration of oestrogen-only HRT use.[2] Endometrial cancer risk decreases after cessation of oestrogen-only HRT use, though risk is still higher in ex-users than never users some years after cessation.[2,5] Endometrial cancer risk may only be associated with oestrogen-only HRT use in healthy-weight women, perhaps because endogenous oestrogen levels are already so high in women with excess body weight, that exogenous oestrogen has limited additional impact.[6]

Oestrogen-progestogen HRT

Endometrial cancer risk is 22% lower in ever-users of continuous combined HRT (oestrogen and progesterone taken together daily), versus non-users, a meta-analysis of observational studies showed.[7]

Endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial cancer risk is not associated with use of continuous combined HRT, a meta-analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs) showed.[4]

The association between endometrial cancer and cyclic/sequential combined HRT (oestrogen taken daily with progesterone added for part of the menstrual cycle) varies with the proportion of the cycle where progesterone is used. Endometrial cancer risk is not associated with ever-use of cyclic/sequential combined HRT with 10-24 days progesterone per month, a meta-analysis of observational studies showed; but is 76% higher in ever-users of cyclic/sequential combined HRT with less than 10 days of progesterone per month, versus non-users.[7]

Endometrial hyperplasia risk is not associated with use of combined sequential/cyclic HRT overall, a meta-analysis of RCTs showed.[7]

Endometrial cancer risk is 1.79-3.56 times higher in ever users of tibolone (synthetic oestrogen) versus non-users, a systematic review showed.[5]

References

  1. International Agency for Research on Cancer. List of Classifications by cancer sites with sufficient or limited evidence in humans, Volumes 1 to 122. Accessed October 2018.
  2. Grady D, Gebretsadik T, Kerlikowske K, Ernster V, Petitti D. Hormone replacement therapy and endometrial cancer risk: a meta-analysis 1995 Feb;85(2):304-13.
  3. Marjoribanks J, Farquhar C, Roberts H, Lethaby A. Long term hormone therapy for perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. 2012 Jul 11;7:CD004143.
  4. Furness S, Roberts H, Marjoribanks J, Lethaby A. Hormone therapy in postmenopausal women and risk of endometrial hyperplasia. 2012 Aug 15;8:CD000402.
  5. Sjögren LL, Mørch LS, Løkkegaard E. Hormone replacement therapy and the risk of endometrial cancer: A systematic review. Maturitas. 2016 Sep;91:25-35.
  6. Beral V, Bull D, Reeves G. Endometrial cancer and hormone-replacement therapy in the Million Women Study. Lancet, 2005. 365(9470): 1543-51.
  7. Brinton LA, Felix AS. Menopausal hormone therapy and risk of endometrial cancer. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2014 Jul;142:83-9.
Last reviewed:

Having children

Endometrial cancer risk is 35-42% higher in nulliparous women (those who have had no children), compared with parous women (those who have had children), a cohort study and pooled analysis showed.[1,2] Endometrial cancer risk decreases with greater number of full-term pregnancies.[2]

Increased progesterone levels during pregnancy and physical changes to the uterus during and after childbirth may explain the link between parity and endometrial cancer risk.[1,2]

Younger age at first giving birth

Endometrial cancer risk is 44% higher in women who were aged 25 or younger when they gave birth to their last child, compared with women who did so aged 40+, a pooled analysis showed.[3]

Younger age at menarche

Endometrial cancer risk among parous women is 11% higher in those aged under 13 at menarche (first menstrual period), compared with those aged 13+ at menarche, a pooled analysis showed.[1] Endometrial cancer risk among nulliparous women is not associated with age at menarche.[1]

Older age at menopause

Endometrial cancer risk among parous women is 22% higher in those aged 50-54 at menopause, compared with those aged under 45 at menopause, a pooled analysis showed.[1] Endometrial cancer risk among nulliparous women is 34% higher in those aged 50-54 at menopause, compared with those aged under 45 at menopause.[1]

Longer menstrual lifespan results in greater cumulative oestrogen exposure, which may explain the link between parity and endometrial cancer risk.[2]

References

  1. Schonfield SJ, Hartge P, Pfeiffer RM et al. An aggregated analysis of hormonal factors and endometrial cancer risk by parity. Cancer. 2013 Apr 1;119(7):1393-401.
  2. Dossus L, Allen N, Kaaks R et al. Reproductive risk factors and endometrial cancer: the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition. Int J Cancer. 2010 Jul 15;127(2):442-51.
  3. Setiawan VW, Pike MC, Karageorgi S et al. Age at last birth in relation to risk of endometrial cancer: pooled analysis in the epidemiology of endometrial cancer consortium. Am J Epidemiol. 2012 Aug 15;176(4):269-78. Epub 2012 Jul 23.
Last reviewed:

International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR) classify the role of this risk factor in cancer development.[1,2] 34% of uterine cancer cases in the UK are caused by overweight and obesity.[3]

Endometrial cancer risk is 54% higher per 5-unit body mass index (BMI) increase, an umbrella study of meta-analyses showed.[4] 

Endometrial cancer risk is 16% higher per 5 kg- gained during adulthood, an umbrella study of meta-analyses showed.[4] It is 29% higher per 10cm increase in hip circumference and 27% higher per 10cm increase in waist circumference, an umbrella study of meta-analyses showed.[4]

Greater body fatness is associated with higher sex hormone levels (fatty tissue produces more oestrogen) and higher leptin levels, which may partly explain the link between body fatness and endometrial cancer risk.[2,5,6]

UK portrait version shown here. Country versions, cancers caused by other risk factors, and landscape formats are available for free from our cancer risk publications.

See also

See IARC and WCRF's classifications on the role of this risk factor

Find out more about the definitions and evidence for this data

Learn how attributable risk is calculated

View our statistics on obesity and cancer

View our health information on obesity, weight and cancer

References

  1. Lauby-Secretan B, Scoccianti C, Loomis D, et al. Body Fatness and Cancer--Viewpoint of the IARC Working Group. N Engl J Med. 2016 Aug 25;375(8):794-8.
  2. World Cancer Research Fund / American Institute for Cancer Research. Continuous Update Project Findings & Reports. Accessed May 2017.
  3. Brown KF, Rumgay H, Dunlop C, et al. The fraction of cancer attributable to known risk factors in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the UK overall in 2015. British Journal of Cancer 2018.
  4. Kyrgiou M, Kalliala I, Markozannes G, et al. Adiposity and cancer at major anatomical sites: umbrella review of the literature. BMJ 2017;:j477.
  5. Wang PP, He XY, Wang R, et al. High leptin level is an independent risk factor of endometrial cancer: a meta-analysis. Cell Physiol Biochem 2014;34(5):1477-84.
  6. Esposito K, Chiodini P, Capuano A, Bellastella G, Maiorino MI, Giugliano D. Metabolic syndrome and endometrial cancer: a meta-analysis. Endocrine. 2014 Feb;45(1):28-36.
Last reviewed:

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

Endometrial cancer risk is 2.8 times higher in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) versus those without the condition, a meta-analysis showed.[1] Endometrial cancer risk is 4.1 times higher in women aged 54 and under (e.g. premenopausal), versus women of a similar age without PCOS.[1]

Increased endometrial cancer risk in PCOS probably reflects exposure to unopposed oestrogen. PCOS often coexists with metabolic syndrome so insulin pathways may also be implicated.[2]

Endometrial polyps

Among women with endometrial polyps, endometrial cancer occurs in 2-5% of cases, a meta-analysis showed.[3] Endometrial polyps are more likely to be malignant in postmenopausal than in premenopausal women.[3]

Diabetes

Endometrial cancer risk is 40-81% higher in diabetics compared with non-diabetics, meta-analyses have shown,[4,5] however overweight/obesity in diabetics may largely explain this association.[6] Endometrial/uterine cancer risk among diabetics does not vary with diabetes treatment.[7,8]

References

  1. Barry JA, Azizia MM, Hardiman PJ. Risk of endometrial, ovarian and breast cancer in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Hum Reprod Update. 2014 Sep-Oct;20(5):748-58.
  2. Palomba S, Falbo A, Zullo F, Orio F Jr. Evidence-based and potential benefits of metformin in the polycystic ovary syndrome: a comprehensive review. Endocr Rev. 2009 Feb;30(1):1-50.
  3. Lee SC, Kaunitz AM, Sanchez-Ramos L, Rhatigan RM. The oncogenic potential of endometrial polyps: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Obstet Gynecol. 2010 Nov;116(5):1197-205.
  6. Luo J, Beresford S, Chen C, et al. Association between diabetes, diabetes treatment and risk of developing endometrial cancer. Br J Cancer 2014 Sep;111(7):1432-9.
  7. Becker C, Jick SS, Meier CR, et al. Metformin and the risk of endometrial cancer: a case-control analysis. Gynecol Oncol. 2013 Jun;129(3):565-9.
  8. Ferrara A, Lewis JD, Quesenberry CP Jr, et al. Cohort study of pioglitazone and cancer incidence in patients with diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2011 Apr;34(4):923-9.
Last reviewed:

World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR) classifies the role of this risk factor as probably protective against endometrial cancer.[1]

Endometrial cancer risk is 15-27% lower in the most physically active (recreational) women versus the least, meta-analyses have shown.[2-4] Endometrial cancer risk is 5% lower per 1 hour/week increment in leisure-time physical activity,[4] and 32% lower in women who spend the least time sitting versus those who spend the most.[5] Endometrial cancer risk is not associated with household physical activity, a meta-analysis showed.[6]

References

  1. World Cancer Research Fund / American Institute for Cancer Research. Continuous Update Project Findings & Reports. Accessed October 2018.
  2. Voskuil DW, Monninkhof EM, Elias SG, et al. Physical activity and endometrial cancer risk, a systematic review of current evidence. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2007; 16(4): 639-48.
  3. Moore SC, Gierach GL, Schatzkin A, et al. Physical activity, sedentary behaviours, and the prevention of endometrial cancer. Br J Cancer. 2010 Sep 28;103(7):933-8.
  4. Keum N, Ju W, Lee DH, et al. Leisure-time physical activity and endometrial cancer risk: Dose-response meta-analysis of epidemiological studies. Int J Cancer. 2013 Dec 20.
  5. Schmid D, Leitzmann MF. Television viewing and time spent sedentary in relation to cancer risk: a meta-analysis. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2014 Jun 16;106(7). pii: dju098.
  6. Shi Y, Li T, Wang Y, et al. Household physical activity and cancer risk: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of epidemiological studies. Sci Rep. 2015;5:14901
Last reviewed:

Oral contraceptives (OCs)

International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies the role of this risk factor as protective against endometrial cancer.[1] 25% of uterine cancer cases in the UK are prevented by OC use.[2]

Endometrial cancer risk is 26-43% lower in OC ever- versus never-users, meta-analyses have shown.[3,4] The lower risk may be limited to women with 5+ years OC use,[3] and may persist for 20 years after OC cessation.[5]

Intrauterine device (IUD)

Endometrial cancer risk is 19% lower in ever-users of IUDs compared with never-users, a pooled analysis showed.[6]

References

  1. International Agency for Research on Cancer. List of Classifications by cancer sites with sufficient or limited evidence in humans, Volumes 1 to 122. Accessed October 2018.
  2. Calculated by the Statistical Information Team at Cancer Research UK, 2018. Based on Brown KF, Rumgay H, Dunlop C, et al. The fraction of cancer attributable to known risk factors in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the UK overall in 2015. British Journal of Cancer 2018. 
  3. Havrilesky LJ, Gierisch JM, Moorman PG, et al. Oral contraceptive use for the primary prevention of ovarian cancer. Evid Rep Technol Assess (Full Rep). 2013 Jun;(212):1-514.
  4. Setiawan VW, Yang HP, Pike MC, et al. Type I and II endometrial cancers: have they different risk factors? J Clin Oncol. 2013 Jul 10;31(20):2607-18.
  5. Mueck AO, Seeger H, Rabe T. Hormonal contraception and risk of endometrial cancer: a systematic review. Endocr Relat Cancer. 2010 Sep 23;17(4):R263-71.
  6. Felix AS, Gaudet MM, La Vecchia C, et al. Intrauterine devices and endometrial cancer risk: a pooled analysis of the Epidemiology of Endometrial Cancer Consortium. Int J Cancer. 2015 Mar 1; 136(5): E410–E422.
Last reviewed:

World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR) classifies the role of this risk factor as probably protective against endometrial cancer.[1]

Endometrial cancer risk is 21% lower in women who have the highest intake of coffee, compared with those with the lowest intake, a meta-analysis showed.[2]

See also

See WCRF's classifications on the role of this risk factor

Find out more about the definitions and evidence for this data

Learn how attributable risk is calculated

References

  1. World Cancer Research Fund / American Institute for Cancer Research. Continuous Update Project Findings & Reports. Accessed October 2018.
  2. Lafranconi A, Micek A, Galvano F, et al. Coffee Decreases the Risk of Endometrial Cancer: A Dose–Response Meta-Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies. Nutrients 2017;9(11):1223.
Last reviewed:

Cancer stats explained

See information and explanations on terminology used for statistics and reporting of cancer, and the methods used to calculate some of our statistics.

Cancer stats explained

Citation

You are welcome to reuse this Cancer Research UK content for your own work.
Credit us as authors by referencing Cancer Research UK as the primary source. Suggested styles are:

Web content: Cancer Research UK, full URL of the page, Accessed [month] [year].
Publications: Cancer Research UK ([year of publication]), Name of publication, Cancer Research UK.
Graphics (when reused unaltered): Credit: Cancer Research UK.
Graphics (when recreated with differences): Based on a graphic created by Cancer Research UK.

When Cancer Research UK material is used for commercial reasons, we encourage a donation to our life-saving research.
Send a cheque payable to Cancer Research UK to: Cancer Research UK, 2 Redman Place, London, E20 1JQ or

Donate Online 

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the many organisations across the UK which collect, analyse, and share the data which we use, and to the patients and public who consent for their data to be used. Find out more about the sources which are essential for our statistics.