Symptoms of ovarian cancer

The symptoms of ovarian cancer can be very vague. They are also symptoms of other less serious conditions.

Common symptoms of ovarian cancer

The most common symptoms of ovarian cancer are:

Pain

You might have pain or discomfort in:

• your tummy (abdomen)

• the area between your hip bones (pelvis)

• your back - although this is less common

Swollen tummy

Feeling bloated or an increase in the size of your tummy that doesn’t go away can be a symptom of ovarian cancer.

Loss of appetite

You might feel full quickly when you eat. Or you may not feel like eating.

Urinary changes

You may need to pee more often, or have to go more urgently.

Other symptoms of ovarian cancer

You may also have some other symptoms. These include:

Tiredness

You might feel extremely tired for no obvious reason if you have ovarian cancer.

Bowel changes

You might have loose poo or need to poo more often (diarrhoea). Or you may go less often or have hard poo (constipation).

Weight loss and feeling sick

You might lose weight even if you aren’t trying to. This might be due to feeling sick.

Indigestion

Indigestion causes heartburn, bloating and sickness. It is a common problem in the general population, and for most people it isn't a sign of cancer.

Vaginal bleeding

You might notice bleeding in between your periods. Or you could have bleeding from your vagina after your menopause .

Ovarian cysts

Many women have cysts on their ovaries. These are fluid filled sacks. They are not usually cancerous. Sometimes they cause symptoms similar to ovarian cancer.

Most ovarian cysts will go away on their own, but some people need treatment to remove them. You should have tests if the cysts:

• don't go away on their own
• are unusually large
• cause symptoms
• develop when you are past your menopause