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Recommended Screening
Warning Signs & Symptoms
About 25% of ovarian cancers are found at an early stage. Early detection improves the changes that ovarian cancer can be treated successfully. When ovarian cancer if found early at a localized stage, about 90% of patients live longer than 5 years after diagnosis. At this time, there are no blood tests or imaging studies recommended for ovarian cancer screening of women who do not have an increased risk of this disease. Women with a high risk of developing epithelial ovarian cancer, such as those with a very strong family history of this disease, may be screened with transvaginal sonography (an ultrasound test performed with a small instrument placed in the vagina) and blood test (including measuring the amount of CA-125 - also known as OC-125).
Screening Tests
| Test or Procedure |
Age |
Frequency |
Pap Test and Pelvic Exam
This painless examination should be done annually for every woman age 18+ or when a woman becomes sexually active, whichever is earlier. During this exam, the health care professional will use a small brush (swab) to take a few cells from the cervix (the opening to the womb at the top of the vagina). A lab will check the cells for cancer or other problems.
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Any woman who is sexually active or age 18+ |
Annually |
Transvaginal Sonography
This test uses sound waves to create images of the uterus and ovaries. A probe inserted into the vagina releases sound waves that echo off tissue of the pelvic organs. The pattern of echoes is analyzed by a computer to create images on a computer screen. These images often help determine whether a tumor is present and whether it extends in to the myometrium.
For an ultrahysterosonogram or saline infusion sonogram, saline (saltwater) is introduced into the uterus through a catheter before the transvaginal sonogram is done. This will allow the doctor to see abnormalities of the uterine lining more clearly.
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Check with your doctor. |
CA-125 Blood Test(also known as OC-125)
A test measuring the amount of a specific protein in the blood of many women with ovarian cancer and some other noncancerous diseases of the ovaries. Some ovarian cancers may not produce enough CA-125 to cause a positive test. When these tests are positive, it may be necessary to do more x-ray studies or to takes samples of fluid from the abdomen or tissue from the ovaries to find out if a cancer is really present. Because the CA-125 blood test and transvaginal sonography are not considered accurate enough for ovarian cancer screening in women, those with known risk factors should have further studies to screen for possible ovarian cancers.
The main value of the CA-125 blood test is in women who have already had surgery to remove an epithelial ovarian cancer. In these women, CA-125 tests are done periodically to assess response to therapy and to follow patients after therapy is stopped. A positive result can be a valuable warning sign that the cancer may have recurred.
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Check with your doctor |
Warning Signs and Symptoms
Early ovarian cancers usually do not cause any symptoms. By the time a woman has symptoms, ovarian cancer may have already spread beyond her ovaries. Nonetheless, prompt attention to symptoms can improve the odds of successful treatment. If you have symptoms of ovarian cancer, report them to your health care provider right away. These symptoms include a swelling of the abdomen (due to a mass or accumulation of fluid), digestive problems, such as gas, bloating, or long-term stomach pain or indigestion, unusual vaginal bleeding, pelvic pressure or leg pain.
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