What are the silent signals of ovarian cancer? Let’s look at what’s known about these often overlooked symptoms.

Why does ovarian cancer often go undetected?

In its early stages, ovarian cancer may not present any noticeable signs.

When symptoms appear, they are often the kinds you normally associate with more common conditions like irritable bowel syndrome and urinary tract infections.

For many people, this means that ovarian cancer isn’t detected until it has spread. This, ultimately, can lower the survival rate for this type of cancer.

What are the so-called silent symptoms of ovarian cancer?

As already mentioned, many early signs of ovarian cancer overlap with symptoms of other common conditions.

However, you are the expert on your body. Trust your intuition if something feels wrong or different, and follow up with your doctor or healthcare professional as soon as possible.

Let’s take a closer look at 7 silent warning signs of ovarian cancer that are often ignored or overlooked.

1. Bloating

It’s typical to feel bloated around your menstrual period or when you’ve eaten certain foods. But bloating that doesn’t go away is a common symptom of ovarian cancer.

Around 72% of those with ovarian cancer say they experienced bloating. Here’s how some people describe the bloating:

• It feels as though you’re pregnant.
• It makes your clothes dig into your waist.
• It makes it hard to button or zip your pants.

Bloating is often related to the buildup of fluid in your abdomen. It happens partly due to changes in your abdominal blood supply and your body’s ability to drain fluids.

This fluid buildup is a concern because free-floating cancer cells can move through the fluid from one area of your body to another.

2. Abdominal or pelvic pain

One of the most commonly reported symptoms among people with ovarian cancer is pain in their abdomen and pelvis. In one study, around 39% of women with the diagnosis had experienced abdominal pain.

What the pain feels like can vary from person to person. Some say it feels like intense pressure. Others say it feels like menstrual cramping, as though you’re being gripped or squeezed from within.

Exactly what’s causing the pain can also differ. As tumors grow, they can put pressure on other parts of your body, including your bowels, bladder, rectum, and spine.

3. Change in your bathroom habits

About 20% of people with ovarian cancer notice constipation, diarrhea, or other bowel pattern changes.

Ovarian cancer can also result in a need for more frequent urination or a greater sense of urgency about having to urinate. Around 7% say they experienced urinary problems before their diagnosis.

In addition to urination frequency and urgency changes, some people also felt a burning sensation during urination, and others felt their bladder was still full even after urinating.

4. Back pain

Back pain is a common condition that affects millions of people every year. Most of the time, back pain is caused by injury, not cancer.

If you haven’t injured your back or your back pain isn’t getting better with treatments, talk with a healthcare professional. Back pain can be a symptom of ovarian cancer.

5. Appetite changes

For some people, ovarian cancer causes a loss of appetite. Others may feel full even after eating just a small amount. Some have indigestion, nausea, or vomiting after they eat. These appetite changes can lead to unintended weight loss.

It’s not uncommon for these symptoms to be misdiagnosed at first as acid reflux or a similar digestive condition.

6. Menstrual changes

If you have menstrual periods, ovarian cancer can affect your period in a number of ways. It may cause you to:

• miss a period
• bleed more heavily than usual
• have spotting or bleeding when you’re not having a period
• experience vaginal discharge that’s different from what you’re used to

In fact, research has found that a change from a regular to an irregular menstrual cycle can be a risk factor for ovarian cancer.

If you are postmenopausal, talk with your doctor if you experience vaginal bleeding. Bleeding after menopause is sometimes a sign of ovarian cancer.

Anytime your periods change, discussing what’s happening with a gynecologist, primary doctor, or another healthcare professional you trust is a good idea.

7. Pain during sex

Pain during sex is a lesser known sign of ovarian cancer. It can be caused by several other conditions, including:

• vaginal dryness
• endometriosis
• vaginismus
• inflammation

If sex is painful, a health professional can help you find out what’s causing the pain. Even if it’s not ovarian cancer, diagnosing and treating the problem can help you avoid emotional distress and physical symptoms.

What are the risk factors for ovarian cancer?

You may be at higher risk for ovarian cancer if you have:

• a family history of ovarian cancer
• a history of breast, gynecological, or colon cancer
• BRCA1 or BRCA2 genetic mutations and the mutations that cause Lynch syndrome
• obesity
• never had a pregnancy
• have endometriosis

How is ovarian cancer diagnosed?

Unlike other types of cancer, there’s currently no screening test to detect ovarian cancer at an early stage.

There’s also no single test to detect ovarian cancer. Instead, your doctor will use several tests to look for a tumor in your ovaries and then test it to determine whether it’s benign or malignant (cancerous).

The diagnostic tests most often used to detect ovarian cancer include:

• Pelvic exam. Your doctor will feel your lower abdomen and pelvis to check for changes to the size and shape of your ovaries and uterus.
• Transvaginal ultrasound. This involves inserting an instrument into your vagina which uses sound waves to create a picture of the inside of your fallopian tubes, ovaries, and uterus.
• CA-125 blood test. This test detects higher levels of a protein sometimes produced by tumors.
• CT scan. This test can visualize larger cancerous tumors.

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