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Ovarian cancer

On this page, learn about the main types of ovarian cancer, including the symptoms, causes, how it’s diagnosed and treatment options.

Topics on this page

What is ovarian cancer?

Ovarian cancer can form in one or both ovaries.

There are 3 main types of ovarian cancer:

  • Epithelial – the cancer starts in the surface layer of the ovary.
  • Germ cell – the cancer starts in the cells that produce eggs.
  • Stromal cell – the cancer starts in the tissues that support the ovary.

Most ovarian cancers are epithelial. Germ cell and stromal cell cancers are not as common.

Some ovarian cancers are called ‘borderline’ as they are slow growing, confined to the ovary and can be treated by surgery alone. About 15% of ovarian tumours are borderline and these usually affect people aged 20 to 40.

Diagram showing the uterus, ovaries, cervix and vagina
Diagram of uterus, ovaries, cervix and vagina

Symptoms of ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer is hard to detect in the early stages. It usually doesn’t cause symptoms until the cancer is quite large. Symptoms may include:

  • increased abdominal size or persistent abdominal bloating
  • abdominal or pelvic pain
  • feeling full after eating a small amount
  • needing to wee often or urgently
  • painful sex.

Other symptoms can include:

  • changes in bowel habits
  • unexplained weight gain or loss
  • feeling very tired
  • lower back pain
  • indigestion or heartburn
  • nausea
  • unusual vaginal bleeding, including bleeding after menopause.

People can experience these symptoms at different times in their lives, which is why ovarian cancer might not be diagnosed until it is quite advanced.

Talk to your doctor if you are worried about any of these symptoms. They may not be due to cancer, but it’s important to check.

Causes of ovarian cancer

We don’t know the exact cause of ovarian cancer, but it may be associated with a family history of cancer, certain genetic conditions and other health factors.

How is ovarian cancer diagnosed?

If you experience any symptoms of ovarian cancer for more than 2 weeks, talk to your doctor.

They will ask questions about your symptoms, medical history and family health history. You may also need to have blood and urine (wee) tests.

If your examination and test results suggest you may have ovarian cancer, your doctor will refer you to a gynaecological oncologist (a specialist in gynaecological cancers) straight away.

You may need more tests to diagnose ovarian cancer, for example:

  • an internal ultrasound via the vagina
  • a biopsy – a sample of cells is taken from your fallopian tubes and checked
  • imaging tests, for example, CT and PET scans.

Treatments for ovarian cancer

Treatment for ovarian cancer depends on the extent of the cancer. It may include:

  • surgery
  • chemotherapy
  • special therapies, drugs or chemicals used to target specific cancer cells
  • radiotherapy and immunotherapy, which are currently being used in clinical trials
  • palliative treatment.

Some cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy, can cause menopause. Learn more about medically induced menopause.

When to see your doctor about ovarian cancer

It’s important to see your doctor if you notice any symptoms of ovarian cancer. As with many cancers, early detection leads to the best treatment outcomes.

Online resources about ovarian cancer

For more information about ovarian cancer, visit:

If you would like to speak to a nurse for general information and support, call Cancer Council on 13 11 20 (9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday).

This con­tent has been reviewed by a group of med­ical sub­ject mat­ter experts, in accor­dance with Jean Hailes pol­i­cy.

© Jean Hailes Foun­da­tion. All rights reserved.

1
Cancer Research UK, Borderline ovarian tumours
Last updated: 
07 July 2025
 | 
Last reviewed: 
20 June 2025