What should you know about ovarian cancer after menopause?

Ovarian cancer after menopause may present with ongoing bloating, pelvic or abdominal discomfort, feeling full quickly, changes in bowel or bladder habits, or unexplained weight change. These symptoms do not identify the cause on their own; digestive, urinary, hormonal, and other gynaecological conditions can produce similar changes. New bleeding after menopause also deserves medical review because it can have several causes.

There is no single symptom that confirms ovarian cancer. A clinician considers the duration and pattern of symptoms, examines you, reviews your history, and chooses tests that may include imaging or tissue sampling. Family history and inherited gene changes can affect the discussion.

Make an appointment if symptoms persist, recur, or change your usual routine. Record when they began, whether meals affect them, and any bowel, bladder, bleeding, or appetite changes. Bring medicine details and family cancer history. The assessment may include [Pelvic Ultrasound](/treatments/diagnostics-and-imaging/pelvic-ultrasound/); if cancer is found, the team may discuss [BRCA Genetic Testing](/treatments/risk-reduction-and-prevention/brca-genetic-testing/), [Genomic Tumour Profiling](/treatments/diagnostics-and-staging/genomic-tumour-profiling/), surgery, or [Chemotherapy](/treatments/systemic-therapy/chemotherapy/).

Contact a clinician promptly for new post-menopausal bleeding, persistent swelling, increasing pelvic pain, repeated vomiting, or difficulty eating. Seek emergency help for severe sudden pain, fainting, heavy bleeding, inability to keep fluids down, or new breathing difficulty. These warning signs call for assessment because of their nature and severity, not because every symptom indicates cancer.

Ask: Which causes should we consider? Does post-menopausal bleeding require a separate examination? Would ultrasound help? Should my family history lead to genetic counselling? If a mass is found, what test confirms its type and how would treatment be selected?