The Complete Guide to Tests, Results, and Next Steps
Cancer Research
Genomic Testing
Precision Medicine
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Ovarian cancer genetic testing looks for inherited gene changes that significantly raise the lifetime risk of developing ovarian cancer. The most common are changes in BRCA1 or BRCA2, or in the genes associated with Lynch syndrome. For women who qualify, this is not a precautionary measure. It is an evidence-based step that major clinical guidelines recommend, and it comes with real options at every stage of the result.
This guide covers everything you need to know: what ovarian cancer genetic testing is, who qualifies, what the process looks like, how to understand your results, and what your options are after a positive finding.
Ovarian Cancer Risk The Gap Genetic Testing Is Designed to Identify
1.2
%
Lifetime ovarian cancer risk for the general population (no hereditary mutation)
36–44
%
Lifetime ovarian cancer risk for BRCA1 carriers up to 37 times higher
There is no reliable early screening test for ovarian cancer. Genetic testing is how high-risk women identify their risk before symptoms appear.
BRCA1 carriers face a lifetime ovarian cancer risk up to 37 times higher than the general population.
Source: NCI BRCA Fact Sheet, American Cancer Society
What Is Ovarian Cancer Genetic Testing?
Ovarian cancer genetic testing is a type of hereditary cancer panel test. It analyzes your inherited DNA, the DNA present in every cell of your body that you were born with and inherited from your parents, looking for gene changes linked to elevated ovarian cancer risk.
The test answers a specific clinical question: “Does this person carry an inherited mutation that significantly elevates their lifetime risk of developing ovarian cancer?” The answer shapes surveillance plans, risk-reduction conversations, and decisions for biological family members who may carry the same mutation.
It is different from tumor genomic testing, which analyzes mutations inside a cancer tumor after a diagnosis, and from liquid biopsy, which detects tumor DNA in the bloodstream. Ovarian cancer genetic testing is a prevention-focused tool used before a diagnosis, not after.
Why Ovarian Cancer Genetic Testing Matters Key Facts
The core clinical reasons comprehensive hereditary testing matters in ovarian cancer.
Every ovarian cancer diagnosis qualifies.
Unlike most cancers, all ovarian cancer diagnoses, at any age and any subtype, meet clinical criteria for hereditary genetic testing. No other cancer has this universal standard.
Source: NCCN
36–44%
Lifetime ovarian cancer risk for BRCA1 carriers, compared with about 1.2% in the general population.
Source: NCI BRCA Fact Sheet
80–96%
Reduction in ovarian cancer risk from risk-reducing surgery for BRCA carriers. It is the most effective single protective option available.
Source: NCI
BRCA-only testing misses key genes.
Lynch syndrome genes, as well as BRIP1, RAD51C, and RAD51D, all carry clinically relevant ovarian cancer risk and require a comprehensive panel to detect.
No early screening exists.
There is currently no validated population screening test that reliably detects ovarian cancer early. For high-risk women, genetic testing is the primary tool for identifying risk before symptoms appear.
Source: NCI
Ovarian cancer is one of the most genetically driven cancers. Knowing inherited risk before diagnosis is when that knowledge is most useful.
Source: NCI, NCCN
Who Should Get Genetic Testing for Ovarian Cancer Risk?
Clinical Eligibility Criteria
Major clinical guidelines (American Cancer Society) recommend ovarian cancer genetic testing for women who have any of the following:
A personal history of ovarian cancer at any age, any subtype. All ovarian cancer diagnoses qualify.
A mother, sister, or daughter who has had ovarian cancer
A family member with a confirmed BRCA1, BRCA2, or Lynch syndrome gene mutation
Breast cancer diagnosed before age 50, or triple-negative breast cancer at any age
A family pattern of breast and ovarian cancer across generations, or male breast cancer or pancreatic cancer in the family
Lynch syndrome in the family (ovarian cancer risk is elevated in Lynch syndrome carriers) (NCI, BRCA Fact Sheet)
Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry combined with any personal or family cancer history
Meeting any one of these criteria is enough to make testing clinically appropriate. Talk to your physician or a genetic counselor if any of these apply to you.
You Do Not Need a Diagnosis to Get Tested
Ovarian cancer risk testing is not only for women who have been diagnosed or who have a confirmed family mutation. Prevention-oriented women, particularly those with any of the risk factors above, increasingly pursue testing proactively to understand their inherited risk before a diagnosis.
The clinical value of proactive testing is clearest for BRCA carriers: risk-reducing surgery (RRSO), which reduces ovarian cancer risk by approximately 80–96%, is most effective when performed before cancer develops. Knowing carrier status before menopause, when RRSO timing is most consequential, requires proactive testing. Your genetic information is private and protected, accessible only to you and your care team.
Get clarity on your inherited ovarian cancer risk. Kadance members receive access to hereditary cancer risk testing covering 26 genes, including BRCA1, BRCA2, and Lynch syndrome genes, through a CAP-accredited, CLIA-certified laboratory.
What Genes Does Ovarian Cancer Genetic Testing Cover?
BRCA1 and BRCA2, Primary Ovarian Cancer Genes
BRCA1 and BRCA2 are the genes most strongly associated with hereditary ovarian cancer risk. When they are working normally, they help the body repair damaged DNA and stop cells from growing out of control. Think of them as the body's built-in cancer defense system. When a harmful change is present in either gene, that defense is significantly weakened.
BRCA1: Lifetime ovarian cancer risk of approximately 36-44%, compared to about 1.2% in the general population. 1 of 3 CDC Tier 1 hereditary cancer conditions, meaning the evidence for screening and acting on results is strong. (NCI, BRCA Fact Sheet) (CDC Genomics)
BRCA2 mutations: Lifetime ovarian cancer risk of approximately 11–17%. Also associated with elevated breast, prostate, and pancreatic cancer risk in both women and men.
An important point many people miss: BRCA mutations can be inherited from either parent. A woman whose father carries a BRCA mutation faces the same elevated ovarian cancer risk as one whose mother carries it. Male carriers can pass the mutation to both sons and daughters.
Other Genes Included in Ovarian Cancer Testing Panels
A comprehensive panel goes beyond BRCA1 and BRCA2 to cover other genes linked to ovarian cancer risk:
Lynch syndrome genes (MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, PMS2): Primarily associated with colorectal cancer, Lynch syndrome also increases ovarian cancer risk to approximately 4–12% over a lifetime, depending on the specific gene. Lynch syndrome is also a CDC Tier 1 condition.
BRIP1: Associated with moderate ovarian cancer risk, approximately 5–10% lifetime risk. Increasingly included in clinical hereditary ovarian cancer panels.
RAD51C and RAD51D: Growing evidence supports their association with moderate ovarian cancer risk. Included in most comprehensive hereditary cancer panels.
PALB2, ATM: Primarily breast and pancreatic cancer risk genes with emerging ovarian cancer associations, typically included in comprehensive panels.
What Does the Ovarian Cancer Risk Testing Process Involve?
How Ovarian Cancer Risk Testing Works
A step-by-step view of the testing workflow, from sample collection through clinical follow-up.
How Ovarian Cancer Risk Testing Works
1
Sample Collection:
Members receive an at-home cheek swab kit that makes sample collection simple, painless, and easy to complete at home.
2
Lab Analysis:
DNA is analyzed across 26 genes selected for clinical actionability. Results are ready within 2–4 weeks from sample receipt.
3
Results:
A genetic counselor reviews all positive test results with the member. For negative results, a genetic counselor reviews the report upon request or when the member indicates a strong family history of cancer.
4
Action:
If positive, a licensed genetic counselor explains the clinical implications of your results and builds a personalized risk-reduction plan your physician can act on.
The hereditary cancer risk testing process: from counseling to clinical action in 4 steps.
How Ovarian Cancer Risk Testing Works
1
Sample Collection
Members receive an at-home cheek swab kit that makes sample collection simple, painless, and easy to complete at home.
2
Lab Analysis
DNA is analyzed across 26 genes selected for clinical actionability. Results are ready within 2–4 weeks from sample receipt.
3
Results
A genetic counselor reviews all positive test results with the member. For negative results, a genetic counselor reviews the report upon request or when the member indicates a strong family history of cancer.
4
Action
If positive, a licensed genetic counselor explains the clinical implications of your results and builds a personalized risk-reduction plan your physician can act on.
The hereditary cancer risk testing process: from counseling to clinical action in 4 steps.
How to Understand Your Ovarian Cancer Genetic Test Results
A Positive Result: What It Means and What Happens Next
A positive result means a harmful inherited gene mutation was found in one of the tested genes. For ovarian cancer risk, a positive BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation finding is the most significant, as it substantially elevates lifetime ovarian cancer risk and leads to a clinical response plan built with a gynecologic oncologist.
A positive result does not mean cancer is certain. It means your risk is elevated and that evidence-based options are available. What happens next depends on which gene is involved, your age, your reproductive plans, and your overall health.
A Negative Result: What It Does and Does Not Mean
A negative result means no harmful gene change was found in the tested genes. This significantly reduces the likelihood of a hereditary ovarian cancer syndrome, but it does not eliminate all cancer risk. Sporadic ovarian cancer, the kind not caused by inherited gene changes, can still occur. And family history-based monitoring may still apply even with a negative result.
Variants of Uncertain Significance: What They Are
A variant of uncertain significance, often called a VUS, is a DNA change that was found during testing, but where current science does not yet have enough evidence to say whether it is harmful or harmless. A VUS is not a positive result and should not be treated as one.
Not all laboratories report VUS findings. Some choose to report only results that are clinically actionable, meaning there is a clear next step to take. If your lab does not report VUS findings, your genetic counselor will focus only on results with a clear clinical meaning.
What Are Your Options After a Positive Ovarian Cancer Genetic Test?
A positive hereditary ovarian cancer risk test result opens clinical conversations and options that are not available to women who don't know their status. Options, discussed and managed in partnership with a physician and appropriate specialists, typically include:
Enhanced surveillance: Transvaginal ultrasound and CA-125 blood testing on a regular schedule (typically every 6 months) through a gynecologic oncologist. Important note: Surveillance alone has limited efficacy for ovarian cancer detection compared to BRCA carriers who pursue risk-reducing surgery.
Risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO): Surgical removal of fallopian tubes and ovaries is the most effective risk-reduction strategy for BRCA1/BRCA2 carriers, reducing ovarian cancer risk by approximately 80–96%. Timing is individualized based on reproductive plans, age, and menopausal status. This decision is made with a gynecologic oncologist.
Breast cancer surveillance: BRCA mutations also elevate breast cancer risk significantly. A positive ovarian cancer test result triggers a parallel breast cancer monitoring plan.
Cascade testing: First-degree relatives each have a 50% chance of carrying the same mutation. A genetic counselor helps navigate when and how to share results with family members who may benefit from testing.
FAQ, Ovarian Cancer Genetic Testing Questions
Is ovarian cancer risk testing the same as a BRCA test?
Not exactly. A BRCA test looks specifically at BRCA1 and BRCA2. Ovarian cancer genetic testing today typically means a multi-gene panel that includes BRCA1 and BRCA2 plus other genes linked to ovarian cancer risk, such as Lynch syndrome genes, BRIP1, RAD51C, and RAD51D. A multi-gene panel is more comprehensive and is now the clinical standard. When someone says they are getting BRCA testing for ovarian cancer risk, they usually mean a panel that includes BRCA, not a single-gene test.
Can ovarian cancer genetic testing detect cancer?
No. Ovarian cancer genetic testing identifies inherited gene changes that raise the risk of developing ovarian cancer in the future. It does not detect whether cancer is currently present. There is currently no validated screening test that reliably detects early ovarian cancer in the general population. Genetic testing identifies risk so that appropriate monitoring can be put in place before a diagnosis.
Is ovarian cancer genetic testing covered by insurance?
Coverage varies by health plan, testing situation, and location. Testing is most likely to be covered when a physician has documented medical necessity based on family history or a personal cancer diagnosis. The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, known as GINA, provides federal protections against health insurers using genetic test results to discriminate, but it does not guarantee that testing costs are covered. A genetic counselor can help clarify what is likely to be covered before you begin.
Ovarian Cancer Genetic Testing: The Earlier You Know, the More You Can Do
For women with a family history of ovarian cancer or a risk profile that includes any of the criteria above, ovarian cancer genetic testing is one of the most valuable health decisions available. Ovarian cancer is notoriously difficult to detect in its early stages through standard care. Identifying hereditary risk before a diagnosis changes what monitoring is possible and when protective options can be used.
A positive result does not guarantee cancer. A negative result provides clarity and reassurance. Either way, knowing changes what comes next, and before a diagnosis is when that knowledge is most useful.
Take control of your health before a diagnosis does. Explore Kadance membership for access to hereditary cancer risk testing, genetic counseling, and the clinical infrastructure to turn results into informed decisions.
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