Signs and Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer may cause several signs and symptoms. Women are more likely to have symptoms if the disease has spread, but even early-stage ovarian cancer can cause them.

The most common symptoms of ovarian cancer

• Bloating
• Pelvic or abdominal (belly) pain
• Trouble eating or feeling full quickly
• Urinary symptoms such as urgency (always feeling like you need to urinate) or frequency (having to urinate often)

When to talk to your doctor

These symptoms are also commonly caused by benign (non-cancerous) diseases. When they are caused by ovarian cancer, they tend to be persistent and a change from normal. For example, they occur more often or are more severe. If you have these symptoms more than 12 times a month, see your doctor so the problem can be found and treated if necessary.

Other symptoms of ovarian cancer

• Fatigue (extreme tiredness)
• Upset stomach
• Back pain
• Pain during sex
• Constipation
• Changes in a woman's period, such as heavier bleeding than normal or irregular bleeding
• Abdominal (belly) swelling with weight loss