✔ Backed by: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · U.S. Preventive Services Task Force · Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (HHS) · HealthCare.gov. Each fact links to its source, and the full list is at the bottom of this post.
Picture this. Your sister mentions over coffee that she has felt bloated for weeks. “My jeans don’t fit. I fill up after a few bites. It’s probably just stress, or getting older.” She laughs it off and changes the subject. You nod along. But something about “for weeks” sticks with you, because lasting bloating can be one of the signs of ovarian cancer.
September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, and this is the kind of moment it is meant for. The early signs of ovarian cancer can be easy to mistake for everyday problems. So let’s talk about what to notice, what to say, and when to push a little, like two friends at the kitchen table.
Ovarian cancer signs that are easy to brush off
Many people think ovarian cancer has no signs. It can cause symptoms. The tricky part is that they feel so ordinary. Watch for:
- Bloating
- Pelvic or belly pain
- Feeling full quickly or trouble eating
- Needing to urinate urgently or often
- Unusual vaginal bleeding, especially after menopause
- Changes in bowel habits or back pain [1]
If any of these are new and last two weeks or more, see your clinician [1]. Most of the time they are caused by something else, but it is worth checking. The key words are new and won’t go away. One bloated day after a big meal is normal life. Weeks of feeling full after a few bites is worth a visit.
And please don’t wait two weeks if pain is sudden or severe, or if you have heavy bleeding. Get care right away. In an emergency, call 911.
“It’s probably nothing.” Why we wait
So many of us brush off bloating or belly pain as “just stress” or “just age.” We are busy. We are caring for everyone else. We don’t want to seem dramatic, or waste the doctor’s time. And some of us are scared of what we might hear.
Those feelings are real. But a visit is not an overreaction. It is information. If it turns out to be nothing, that is good news you can stop worrying about. Have you ever put off a visit because you didn’t want to make a fuss?
Why there is no simple ovarian cancer screening test
Here is something that surprises many people. There is no screening test that works well for people at average risk. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends against routine screening in people without symptoms who are not at high risk [2].
Many also believe their Pap test would catch it. It won’t. A Pap test does not check for ovarian cancer [2]. That is why knowing your body, and speaking up when something changes, matters so much.
Family history: the talk worth having
There is no way to know for sure who will get ovarian cancer. But some things may raise your risk. These include being middle-aged or older, or having close family members, such as a mother, sister, aunt, or grandmother, who had ovarian cancer. Risk may also be higher if you have an inherited gene change such as BRCA1, BRCA2, or one linked to Lynch syndrome. Other factors include having had breast, uterine, or colon cancer, having an Eastern European or Ashkenazi Jewish background, having endometriosis, or never having given birth or having had trouble getting pregnant [3].
Having a risk factor does not mean you will get ovarian cancer. And most women who get it are not at high risk [3]. So “no one in my family had it” does not mean you can ignore symptoms. Transgender men and nonbinary people who have ovaries should know these signs too.
Family health history can be hard to gather. Some families just don’t talk about cancer. Others never knew the details. You might start with something like this:
You: “Mom, I’m putting together our family health history for my doctor. Did anyone on your side have ovarian, breast, or colon cancer?”
Your mom: “Oh, honey, why bring up all that sad stuff?”
You: “I know it’s hard to talk about. But it could help me, and maybe my kids, get the right care. Even a little bit helps.”
Ask on both your mother’s and father’s side. And if you learn something, share it with your relatives. It may help them talk with their own clinicians. What would make that talk easier in your family?
Genetic counseling, lowering risk, and cost
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force says clinicians should check BRCA risk in women who have had breast, ovarian, tubal, or peritoneal cancer, who have a family history of these cancers, or whose ancestry is linked to BRCA gene changes. Women found to be at higher risk should be offered genetic counseling, and testing if they want it after counseling. The Task Force recommends against routine genetic testing for women who are not at higher risk [5].
Some things are linked to a lower chance of ovarian cancer. These include using birth control pills with estrogen and progesterone for 5 or more years, having your tubes tied, having both ovaries or both fallopian tubes removed, having given birth, and breastfeeding [4]. These choices are not right for everyone, and some have their own risks. For example, birth control pills can raise the chance of breast cancer [4]. Talk with your clinician about what makes sense for you.
Worried about cost? BRCA genetic counseling for women at higher risk is on the list of preventive services that Marketplace plans and many other plans must cover. These services are generally free when you use an in-network provider, but $0 cost is not guaranteed in every case [6]. Call your plan before your visit and ask, “Is BRCA genetic counseling covered for me? What will I pay?”
What to say at your visit
Before you go, keep a simple symptom diary: what you feel, how often, and when it started. Bring your family health history and a list of your medicines. Then try opening with something clear:
You: “I’ve had bloating and feeling full quickly almost every day for three weeks. That’s new for me. Could this be related to my ovaries?”
Then: “What tests would help find the cause?”
And: “Does my family history mean I should see a genetic counselor?”
Before you leave, ask what the next step will be if your symptoms do not go away. If you still have concerns, it is OK to ask for a follow-up visit or a second opinion. Speaking up for yourself is not being difficult.
When it’s someone you love
Back to your sister at coffee. What could you say? Maybe something like this:
You: “You said you’ve felt bloated for weeks. I’m not trying to scare you. But that’s one of those things worth getting checked. Want me to drive you?”
Your sister: “I’m sure it’s nothing.”
You: “It probably is. But then we’ll know, and you can stop wondering. I’ll come and take notes.”
Offering a ride or going along can make all the difference. It turns “you should” into “we will.”
Let’s talk
Now it’s your turn. We would love to hear from you in the comments below.
Have you ever brushed off a symptom for weeks? What finally got you to get it checked?
How did you start the family health history talk with a parent or relative? What words worked?
What helps you speak up when you feel like a doctor isn’t hearing you?
One Tru Step: Write down any symptom that has lasted two weeks or more, and when it started, before your next visit.
Sources and further reading
- CDC: Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer
- USPSTF: Ovarian Cancer: Screening
- CDC: Ovarian Cancer Risk Factors
- CDC: Reducing Risk for Ovarian Cancer
- Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (HHS): BRCA-Related Cancer: Risk Assessment, Genetic Counseling, and Genetic Testing
- HealthCare.gov: Preventive Care Benefits for Women
Sources checked October 10, 2026. General education; individual care and coverage questions require an appropriate professional.
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