The geographic association between ovarian cancer and tall stature sug
gests a link with rapid growth in early childhood. Among 5585 women bo
rn in Hertfordshire, UK, 41 who died from ovarian cancer had had a hig
h rate of weight in infancy. Whereas their mean birthweight was the sa
me as that of the other women, their mean weight at 1 year was higher
(22.3 pounds [10.1 kg] vs 21.4 pounds [9.7 kg], p=0.01). These observa
tions are consistent with the hypothesis that ovarian cancer is linked
to altered patterns of gonadotropin release established in utero when
the fetal hypothalamus is imprinted.