- About ovaries
- Ovarian cancer
2.1 Signs and symptoms
2.2 Early diagnosis is challenging
2.3 Prevention - Living with ovarian cancer
3.1 Diet and nutrition
3.2 Where to find support - Further resources and information
- Gender bias in healthcare
- References
About Ovaries
The ovaries are two small walnut-shaped organs located in the lower abdomen (pelvic) region, between the hips, on either side of the womb (uterus). They are part of the internal reproductive system in women, as well as some trans and non-binary people. For people who have periods, the ovaries are responsible for producing eggs and hormones like estrogen and progesterone. These hormones regulate several functions, including ovulation (the release of a mature egg into the fallopian tube, where it may be fertilised by a sperm), and the timing of menstrual periods. They also influence bodily changes during puberty, such as the development of breasts and body hair.
Ovarian cancer
Ovarian cancer is a general term for the growth of abnormal cells starting in one or both ovaries, the fallopian tubes, and the lining of the abdomen (peritoneum). These cells have the potential to grow uncontrollably, outlive normal cells and spread to other areas of the body.
There are several types of ovarian cancer, with close to 2000 Australians diagnosed each year. For the most recent data on ovarian cancer, visit Cancer Australia.
Ovarian cancer can affect any person with ovaries at any age but is more common after menopause, or from the age of 50.
You can find more detailed information about ovarian cancer on the Ovarian Cancer Australia website.
Signs and symptoms
Ovarian cancer is often difficult to diagnose early. In its early stages, ovarian cancer often presents with very mild symptoms or none at all. Later stage signs and symptoms can be non-specific, overlapping with other common, less serious conditions. Consequently, ovarian cancer may not be suspected.
Being aware of these commonly reported symptoms can help improve treatment outcomes:
- increased abdominal size or persistent abdominal bloating
- abdominal or pelvic pain
- feeling full after eating a small amount
- needing to wee often or urgently
- changes in bowel habits
- unexplained weight loss or gain
- excessive fatigue
- lower back pain
- indigestion or nausea
- bleeding after menopause or in-between periods
- pain during sex, or bleeding after sex
Getting to know what’s normal for your body, taking note of any changes, being aware of the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer, and seeking care when something doesn’t feel right can also help protect your health. Earlier detection can lead to better outcomes.
If you start to experience any of these symptoms, or they are persistent and occurring most days over a period of 2-3 weeks, make an appointment with a general practitioner (GP).
You can find a comprehensive list of common signs and symptoms on the Ovarian Cancer Australia and Cancer Council Australia’s website.
Ovarian Cancer Australia have produced a symptom diary you can use to keep track of your symptoms, alongside tips for communicating with your doctor. You can take this resource with you to your appointment to support your conversation.
You know your body best. If you’re still concerned after your discussion with your healthcare provider, seek a second opinion.
Early diagnosis is challenging
In addition to non-specific symptoms, early diagnosis is complicated by the absence of an effective population screening or early detection test. Ovarian cancer is not a single disease, but a group of more than 30 different subtypes with distinct features. Its complexity means that multiple detection approaches are likely needed, rather than a single test. Progress towards better early detection and treatment has also been limited by historically lower levels of research funding for gynaecological cancers, including ovarian cancer, compared with many other cancer types.
Most people are diagnosed in the advanced stages of the disease, making it more difficult to treat and more likely to come back. Ovarian cancer has the highest gynaecological cancer mortality rate. Only around 1 in 2 women in Australia survive five years after diagnosis (around 49%). – an outcome which has changed little over time. These factors are contributed to by longstanding gender bias in healthcare and research.
Prevention
The exact cause of most ovarian cancers is unknown and there is no proven method of preventing ovarian cancers. However, there are some factors which may reduce the risk, including:
- Use of the oral contraceptive pill (the pill)
- Having had a full-term pregnancy before the age of 35, and breastfeeding
- Having your fallopian tubes tied (tubal ligation) or removed
Beyond ovarian cancer, there are steps you can take to protect your health and reduce your overall risk of cancer. These include:
- stopping or never smoking/vaping,
- regularly moving your body,
- protecting your skin from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation,
- eating nutritious foods and limiting alcohol intake.
For further details on how you can reduce your cancer risk, visit the Cancer Council Australia website.
Other factors may increase the risk of ovarian cancer, including:
- Increasing age
- Family history of breast, bowel or ovarian cancer
- Inherited changes in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene
- Being of Ashkenazi Jewish descent (due to a higher chance of carrying BRCA gene changes)
Improving ovarian cancer outcomes means not only diagnosing the disease earlier, but also ensuring people are supported at every stage of their journey. Living with ovarian cancer can bring complex physical, emotional and practical challenges, shaped by treatment side effects, ongoing symptoms, and the wider impacts on daily life. Too often, people are left to navigate this experience with limited guidance or support. The resources below highlight practical, evidence based supports that can help people with ovarian cancer, and their loved ones, feel more informed, confident and supported throughout diagnosis, treatment and life beyond cancer.
Living with ovarian cancer
Cancer Council Australia have produced a guide to Understanding Ovarian Cancer , intended to support people and their loved ones better understand ovarian cancer diagnosis and management. On page 67, you’ll find a checklist with questions you may like to ask your treatment team about your diagnosis, possible treatments, side effects, and post-treatment, to help you make informed choices.
Diet and nutrition
Ovarian cancer, along with its symptoms and treatments like chemotherapy and surgery, can significantly impact your daily life. These treatments may change how your body absorbs nutrients and can affect your appetite. Eating well can help ease these symptoms and support you in feeling more like yourself.
Ovarian Cancer Nutrition has a free recipe e‑book you can download, along with easy‑to‑read information on eating well during ovarian cancer. They explain what a healthy, balanced diet looks like, how to manage common tummy problems such as diarrhoea, gas, bloating, and constipation, what foods can support you during and after treatment, and which foods you may want to avoid.
Eating for You’s TEAL CARE framework developed by cancer dietitian Jane Freeman, is another great tool that provides a practical and compassionate approach to help women with ovarian cancer feel more confident about food during treatment.
Where to find support:
There are some great support services available to help you and your loved ones.
- Ovarian Cancer Australia offers Psychosocial services including counselling, support groups (online and face-to-face), practical help (e.g., assistance with finances, housing, transport), and straight forward, reliable information for anyone affected by ovarian cancer. This includes a Resilience Kit to support people recently diagnosed, just starting treatment or living with ovarian cancer and a Sexuality, Body Image and Relationships booklet.
- Cancer Council Victoria’s My Cancer Guide brings together trusted information and support options, including help with side effects, wellbeing, daily life, and caring for someone with cancer.
- Counterpart’s Ovarian Cancer Navigator is an easy online guide that helps you find reliable information at each stage of ovarian cancer—whether you’ve just been diagnosed, are having treatment, or are looking for support afterward. It includes things like questions to ask your care team, practical help, understanding treatment options, managing side effects, support groups and more, all from trusted Australian sources.
Further resources and information:
These resources and general healthcare information are designed to support your understanding of ovarian cancer and help you feel informed and confident when having conversations with your doctor.
Your team of qualified healthcare professionals and medical practitioners are best placed to provide guidance tailored to your individual situation and needs. If anything you read raises questions or concerns, we encourage you to talk it through with your doctor. And if you would feel more confident hearing another perspective, seeking a second opinion is always an option.
- Talk with your GP (doctor): You can locate a GP and other healthcare services that suits your needs using the Healthdirect service finder. If you’re looking for SRH services and information in the Loddon Mallee Region, you can find a list on our website.
- Ring Nurse-On-Call: (1300 60 60 24) for expert health advice from a registered nurse 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If it’s an emergency, call triple zero (000).
- Virtual Women’s Health Clinic: A free telehealth service providing access to expert care, information and support on a range of women’s health issues. Open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Phone 1300 003 224 or book online. Click here for more information, provided by the Better Health Channel.
- Ovarian Cancer Australia: Established in 2001 by those directly affected by ovarian cancer, this not-for-profit organisation is Australia’s leading body for ovarian cancer awareness, support, advocacy, and research. You can call their helpline (1300 660 334) any time between 9am-5pm AET Monday-Friday.
- Cancer Council Australia: Australia’s peak independent cancer authority, supporting evidence-based cancer information on prevention, research, treatment and support provided.
- Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation: Australia’s leading independent funder of ovarian cancer research.
- Australia New Zealand Gynaecological Oncology Group (ANZGOG): The peak national gynaecological cancer research organisation for Australia and New Zealand
- Better Health Channel: Provide a wide range of trusted health and medical information in consultation with subject matter experts.
Gender bias in healthcare
The Victorian Government’s recent landmark report from the Inquiry into women’s pain – Bridging the Gender Pain Gap highlighted that women’s health remains under‑researched and poorly understood, with many medical models and clinical guidelines based on male biology. Women and gender-diverse people often face significant systemic barriers when seeking care for pain—a common symptom of ovarian cancer. Women’s pain is being dismissed, minimised, normalised, or misattributed, contributing to delayed or misdiagnosis and inappropriate care. Rural and regional women face additional challenges in accessing and navigating health care, with more limited provider choice, extensive travel and wait times.
Grounded in the lived experiences of women and gender‑diverse people, the Victorian Government’s Inquiry and recommendations are a positive step toward gender‑responsive, evidence‑based healthcare. By shining a light on systemic gender bias, the Inquiry creates an important opportunity to strengthen investment in historically overlooked conditions – like ovarian cancer.
Its findings underscore clear priorities for reform that are essential to improving ovarian cancer outcomes. This includes increased and sustained funding for women’s health research, embedding women’s health and gender bias into medical education, and strengthening education and training across health services.
In parallel, organisations like Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation, Australia New Zealand Gynaecological Oncology Group (ANZGOG) and Ovarian Cancer Australia remain dedicated to collectively improving ovarian cancer care, establishing the Gynaecological Cancer Transformation Initiative (GCTI). This is a national plan led by a partnership of clinicians, clinical and pre-clinical researchers and women with lived experience who have joined together to catalyse progress in the diagnosis, management and care of women and people affected by gynaecological cancers. The initiative continues to advocate for a funding commitment by the Australian Government to support collaborative action.
References
Cancer Council Australia. Cancer information and support. https://www.cancer.org.au/
Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation. Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation Australia. https://www.ocrf.com.au/
Women’s Health Victoria. Victorian Women’s Health Atlas. https://victorianwomenshealthatlas.net.au/#!/
Cancer Australia. Ovarian cancer. https://www.canceraustralia.gov.au/cancer-types/ovarian-cancer
Better Health Channel. Ovarian cancer. State Government of Victoria. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/ovarian-cancer
Ovarian Cancer Australia. Ovarian Cancer Australia. https://ovarian.org/
Boban S, Downs J, Codde J, Cohen PA, Bulsara C. Women Diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer: Patient and Carer Experiences and Perspectives. Patient Relat Outcome Meas. 2021 Feb 16;12:33-43. doi: 10.2147/PROM.S272688. PMID: 33623464; PMCID: PMC7896761.
Australia New Zealand Gynaecological Oncology Group (ANZGOG). More than half of women diagnosed will die — the ovarian cancer reality Australia can’t ignore. https://www.anzgog.org.au/more-than-half-of-women-diagnosed-will-die-the-ovarian-cancer-reality-australia-cant-ignore
Counterpart. (2024). Ovarian, fallopian tube and primary peritoneal cancer navigator. Women’s Health Victoria. https://app.counterpart.org.au/navigators/ovarian/
Ovarian Cancer Nutrition. Ovarian Cancer Nutrition. https://www.ovariancancernutrition.com/?utm_source=OvarianCancerResources
Eating For You: Finding Balance Through Mindfulness. Ovarian Cancer & Nutrition Support. https://eatingforyou.com.au/ovarian-cancer-nutrition-support/
The Gynaecological Cancer Transformation Initiative (GCTI) https://www.anzgog.org.au/gcti/ Australian Institute of Health and Wellbeing (AIHW), Cancer data in Australia Report https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/cancer/cancer-data-in-australia/contents/about