The main ovarian cancer signs go as follows: bloating, feeling full after having a bite or a small snack, tiredness and fatigue, pain in the low back, pain in the abdomen, nausea, indigestion, unexplained weight loss of weight, weight gain in the abdominal region, abdominal swelling, pain during sexual intercourse, urinary frequency, lack of appetite, diarrhea, constipation, malaise, dyspepsia. Menstrual disorder also belongs to possible ovarian cancer signs.

Sometimes it's possible that a person is sick having no ovarian cancer signs. The absence of ovarian cancer symptoms may go on late until development of the disease. It's extremely important to diagnose ovarian cancer on the early stage of its development.

The ovaries are often hidden away inside the pelvis, around other organs and fat deposits. Ovarian cancer may grow large and spread before it starts to show the mentioned above signs. In 15 per cent of the women in the US study for example, the ovarian cancer was discovered while the woman was being investigated for some other condition. Often, ovarian cancer is detected and diagnosed when women are investigated for some other more or less serious condition.

Having studied ovarian cancer symptoms doctors came to almost unanimous conclusion that there are no evident symptoms. Women usually complain of symptoms that include abdominal bloating or swelling, early satiety, abdominal discomfort, dyspepsia, lack of appetite, urinary frequency or change of weight (loss or gain). Women might have unexplained fluid in the abdominal cavity that causes abdominal discomfort.

Since ovarian cancer signs and the symptoms are not specific to ovarian cancer, it may be difficult to diagnose and identify. The problem is that the above mentioned symptoms may be mistaken for symptoms of less serious conditions. Even if those symptoms are shown off they are often quite vague; also such symptoms are present in other pelvic or abdominal conditions.

As with most forms of cancer, true ovarian cancer causes are still unknown. However, there are some general factors that increase the risks. Women who have not had children are more likely to have ovarian cancer. Women taking contraceptive pills are less vulnerable to ovarian cancer. Usage of infertility treatment drugs increases the possibility of having ovarian cancer.

There are also a number of genetic factors affecting cancer. Women may have inherited faulty gene. If your two closest relatives (mother, daughter) had ovarian cancer you are more likely to have it as well. In such case it's reasonable to undergo a number of tests.

Ovarian cancer is also linked with 3 hereditary syndromes: breast-ovarian cancer syndrome, site-specific ovarian cancer syndrome, hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer syndrome. Other risk factors include age over 50, no pregnancy, use of fertility drugs, asbestos exposure, some viruses. Breastfeeding decreases the risk of ovarian cancer.