Ovarian Cancer Facts

1 in 91
A woman’s approximate lifetime risk of developing ovarian cancer in the U.S.

21,010 
Estimated number of women who will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in the U.S. in 2026.

12,450
Estimated number of U.S. deaths each year from ovarian cancer. 

Early detection matters.
Ovarian cancer can be difficult to detect early because symptoms may be subtle or absent in its early stages. When ovarian cancer is found at a localized stage, the five-year relative survival rate is approximately 92%, compared with approximately 52% for all stages combined. 
     
A Pap smear does NOT screen for ovarian cancer.
A Pap test or Pap smear is used to screen for cervical cancer, not ovarian cancer. Currently, there is no recommended routine screening test for ovarian cancer for women at average risk who do not have symptoms.​

Know the Symptoms

Ovarian cancer symptoms can be subtle and may be mistaken for other common conditions. Pay attention when symptoms are new, persistent, or unusual for you.

Symptoms may include:

• Bloating or abdominal swelling
• Pelvic or abdominal pain or pressure
• Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly
• Urinary urgency or frequency
• Back pain
• Changes in bowel habits, including constipation
• Abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge

If symptoms persist or represent a change from what is normal for you, talk with your healthcare provider.

Ovarian Cancer Risk Factors

Having one or more risk factors does not mean that you will develop ovarian cancer. Some women who develop ovarian cancer have no known risk factors.

Factors associated with an increased risk include:

• Increasing age - the risk of ovarian cancer increases with age.
• Family history - having a mother, sister, daughter, or other close relative with ovarian cancer may increase risk.
• Inherited genetic mutations - particularly mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 and related genes, as well as genes associated with Lynch syndrome and other hereditary cancer syndromes.
• Personal history of certain cancers - including breast cancer in some women, particularly when associated with an inherited cancer-predisposition gene.
• Endometriosis - has been associated with an increased risk of certain types of ovarian cancer.
• Postmenopausal hormone therapy - some forms of hormone therapy have been associated with an increased risk.
• Reproductive history - never having been pregnant or having a first full-term pregnancy later in life may be associated with increased risk.
• Being overweight or having obesity - may be associated with an increased risk of developing some types of ovarian cancers.

What About TALC?

Does the use of talcum powder increase the risk of ovarian cancer?

For decades, researchers have studied whether the use of talc-containing powder in the genital or perineal area might be associated with ovarian cancer. Studies in women have produced mixed results, and a causal relationship has not been clearly established.

In 2024, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified talc as “probably carcinogenic to humans” (Group 2A). This classification was based on limited evidence for ovarian cancer in humans together with evidence from experimental and laboratory studies.

There are still important questions to answer about whether - and under what circumstances - talc exposure may influence ovarian cancer risk.

Factors Associated with Lower Risk

• Oral contraceptive pills (birth control pills) - Women who have used oral contraceptives have a lower risk of ovarian cancer. The protective effect generally increases with longer use and can persist for many years after the pills are stopped.
• Pregnancy - Having one or more full-term pregnancies is associated with a lower risk of ovarian cancer.
• Breastfeeding - Breastfeeding is associated with a reduced risk, with longer duration generally associated with greater reduction in risk.
• Removal of the fallopian tubes (salpingectomy) - Removal of both fallopian tubes can reduce the risk of ovarian cancer. Because many high-grade serous cancers are now understood to arise in the fallopian tubes, salpingectomy may be considered when appropriate in women who have completed childbearing and are already undergoing pelvic surgery.
• Risk-reducing removal of the fallopian tubes and ovaries - For women at high inherited risk, including women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations, risk-reducing surgery can substantially decrease the risk of ovarian, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal cancer.

Oral Contraceptives: A Significant Reduction in Risk

Oral contraceptive use is one of the best-established factors associated with a reduced risk of
ovarian cancer.

Women who have ever used oral contraceptive pills have approximately a 30–50% lower risk of developing ovarian cancer compared with women who have never used them. The reduction in risk becomes greater with longer use and can persist for many years after oral contraceptives are discontinued.

Oral contraceptives have other potential benefits and risks, so decisions about their use should be individualized and discussed with a healthcare provider.