Those with a family history of gynecological or breast cancer or symptoms of ovarian cancer should be screened for ovarian cancer. Testing may involve a transvaginal ultrasound or blood test.
Ovarian cancer is the most lethal form of gynecological cancer because it can develop without symptoms, and screening isn’t easy — or recommended for everyone.
Screening for ovarian cancer is currently not recommended for those without symptoms or without a family history of ovarian or breast cancers, according to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF).
Screening may result in false positives and unnecessary medical care.
Ovarian cancer screenings in the transgender community
Ovarian cancers are too often seen as a “women’s issue,” but cancer can sometimes occur in your ovaries regardless of your gender. Even the sources cited within this article often conflate sex and gender when describing their findings and can be presumed to have only cisgender participants.
Trans people are likely to have compounding complications preventing them from getting proper cancer screening. This can be because some gynecological cancer screenings may actively aggravate their gender dysphoria. Or because they’re far less likely to have a physician trained in caring for people of their gender.
There’s not enough data yet to determine whether transgender people are at a greater risk of ovarian cancer due to hormone therapies. At the moment, no transgender-specific cancer recommendations exist, but experts suggest that anyone with ovaries follow the standard screening procedures.
If the idea of invasive gynecological tests is off-putting, talk with a doctor about blood tests such as the CA-125 or other options that may be available.
At what age should you get regular screenings for ovarian cancer?
There isn’t a recommended age at which you should begin ovarian cancer testing.
Typically, this cancer develops as you get older and in those with a strong family genetic history of ovarian cancer.
Many people don’t receive an ovarian cancer diagnosis until after they reach menopause. Before this, symptoms of ovarian cancer may be similar to symptoms of other reproductive conditions.
If you experience symptoms or have a strong family risk of ovarian cancer due to inherited genetic mutations, talk with a doctor about when screening may be appropriate for you.
Your doctor can check for ovarian cancer in several ways, yet none are particularly exact. Cervical cancer is the
This is why paying close attention to your body and what it may be telling you is extremely important.
Pap smears and pelvic exams that may reveal other gynecological cancers or conditions aren’t especially helpful when it comes to screening for ovarian cancer.
Ovarian tumors are often difficult or impossible to feel until it has advanced to the point where a cure may be impossible.
The most commonly used
- Transvaginal ultrasound: This test identifies masses in your uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries. It can’t, however, determine if they’re cancerous or benign. Most masses this test finds aren’t cancer.
- CA-125 blood test: This test measures the level of CA-125 protein in your blood. Elevated levels are found in about 80% of women with later-stage and 50% of women with early stage ovarian cancer. CA-125 is mostly used to help stage cancer after diagnosis.
Both of these tests may help identify ovarian cancer, but they’re more useful in staging cancers and developing treatment plans. Research for ovarian screening tests is still ongoing.
According to the National Cancer Institute, the following are the
| Stage | Percent of cases |
|---|---|
| localized | 19% |
| regional | 20% |
| distant | 55% |
| unknown | 6% |
The CA-125 blood test gives doctors an idea of the effectiveness of your treatment but doesn’t indicate the cancer stage. The test result may appear elevated in the presence of:
The CA-125 test shouldn’t be used to diagnose ovarian cancer on its own. The USPSTF recommends its use alongside other tests to help screen for ovarian cancer only in symptomatic individuals or those at high risk.
If you have symptoms that you believe may be related to ovarian or another gynecological cancer, talk with your doctor about screening.
- bloating
- pelvic or abdominal pain
- quickly feeling full after eating
- loss of appetite
- frequent urination or always feeling like you have to urinate
Early detection and treatment is the best way to lower your chances of death. Talk with a doctor:
- about your overall cancer risk
- if you have a family history of ovarian or breast cancer
- if you have any unusual symptoms, especially if they come on suddenly or last more than 2 weeks
A CA-125 blood test may cost, on average, around $92 if you try to purchase it outside of your medical care. Reimbursement rates for this test are $31 to $36.
Some direct-to-consumer home testing companies advertise CA-125 testing kits for as little as $18.
A transvaginal ultrasound costs between $108 and $375.
Medicare currently covers both the CA-125 blood test and transvaginal ultrasound. Most insurance providers tend to follow Medicare’s guidelines.
Contact your insurance provider to see what part of your coverage they may fall under.
If you don’t have insurance and need testing assistance, contact organizations such as:
- Planned Parenthood
- your local public health department
- the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition
These organizations may have financial assistance and local resources available for testing and treatment of ovarian cancer.
Although ovarian cancer may develop without symptoms, resulting in a diagnosis at an advanced stage, routine screening isn’t recommended for those at average risk or without symptoms.
Few people notice symptoms in the early stages of ovarian cancer, but later-stage diagnosis can make it more difficult to treat.
If you have concerning gynecological symptoms such as frequent urination or pelvic pain, or if you have a family history of gynecological cancers, talk with a doctor about screening and testing for ovarian cancer.
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