Ovarian cancer - Symptoms (NHS)

Tier 1: Established: peer-reviewed research or government health authority
Publisher: NHS (National Health Service) · Published: September 9, 2026 · Accessed: September 9, 2026

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• Main symptoms of ovarian cancer are frequently (roughly 12 or more times a month): a swollen tummy or feeling bloated; pain or tenderness in the tummy or the area between the hips (pelvic pain); no appetite or feeling full quickly after eating; an urgent need to pee or needing to pee more often.
• Other possible ovarian cancer symptoms include indigestion, constipation or diarrhoea, back pain, feeling tired all the time, losing weight without trying, and unusual vaginal bleeding - including between periods, heavier periods, or after the menopause.
• NHS advice: see a GP if you have any symptoms of ovarian cancer, or if you have previously seen a GP but your symptoms have not gone away, are worse, or are more frequent.
• At the GP appointment you may have a blood test for CA125, a protein sometimes linked to ovarian cancer; if the CA125 level is high, you will have an ultrasound scan of your abdomen and pelvis. You may get an urgent referral, usually within 2 weeks, for more tests or a specialist if the GP thinks symptoms could be cancer.
• The symptoms of ovarian cancer are very common and can be caused by many different conditions, but it is still important to get them checked by a GP, because finding cancer early can mean it is more treatable.