Approximately 10–25% of ovarian cancers are associated with an identified hereditary genetic abnormality. Mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes are the most common hereditary genetic abnormalities and are associated with a 50% and 25% lifetime risk by the age of 75 years respectively.

Lynch syndrome carriers have a 40–60% lifetime risk of endometrial cancer.

The lifetime risk of developing epithelial ovarian cancer is 1 in 70 (1.4%) by 75 years of age.