Lacking little children, women are at risk of uterine cancer

More and more women are reported to have uterine cancer, because they give birth less or even not give birth, the latest figures reveal.

Artwork: Hoang Ha.

In the UK alone, the incidence of this disease has increased nearly 50% in the past 30 years.

Doctors say women who choose to have fewer children or do not give birth to their careers are one of the main causes of this condition.

Figures from the British Cancer Research Center show that about 1,700 women die from uterine cancer each year. For every 100,000 women, 19 were sick, compared with only 13 people in 1975 - corresponding to an increase of nearly 50%.

Uterine cancer is the fourth most common form of cancer for women, but has a faster rate than most other diseases.

The disease usually occurs after menopause, aged 60 to 69. However, experts say women are at risk of developing the disease if they have high levels of estrogen in their blood.

The level of this hormone decreases during pregnancy, so women who have fewer babies are at risk of being exposed to this chemical for a long time.

People who are overweight or obese are also at higher risk, because fat tissues convert other hormones into estrogen.

The data also show that women tend to marry later - meaning they tend to have fewer children than in previous decades.