Screening for Ovarian Cancer: What You Should Know

Updated on August 14, 2026 by Jillian Foglesong Stabile, MD, FAAFP, DABOM

Ovarian cancer has long been called a "silent killer," but that label is a little misleading. The disease often does cause symptoms; they are just vague and easy to mistake for everyday issues, which is part of why it is frequently found late.¹ In fact, only about 20% of ovarian cancers are caught at an early stage.¹

The good news is that when ovarian cancer is found early, about 94% of patients live longer than five years after diagnosis.¹ So is it possible to screen for ovarian cancer, and what can you do to catch it early, especially if you are at higher risk? This guide breaks down what the science currently says.

What Is Ovarian Cancer and Who Is at Risk?

Ovarian cancer begins in the ovaries or nearby structures. Researchers now believe that many high-grade cases actually start in the fallopian tubes rather than the ovaries themselves.² The most common form is epithelial ovarian cancer, which develops in the cells lining these organs.¹

Any woman can develop ovarian cancer, but several factors can raise your risk²:

• A family history of ovarian, breast, or colorectal cancer
• Inherited gene mutations such as BRCA1, BRCA2, or those linked to Lynch syndrome
• Older age (ovarian cancer is most common after menopause)
• Endometriosis
• Use of menopausal hormone (estrogen) therapy
• Never having been pregnant, or having children later in life
• Being overweight or having obesity

If any of these apply to you, talk with your doctor about whether genetic counseling or additional monitoring is right for you.

Is There a Screening Test for Ovarian Cancer?

For women at average risk, there is currently no reliable screening test for ovarian cancer.³ The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends against screening women who have no symptoms and who do not have a known hereditary cancer syndrome, because current methods have not been shown to reduce deaths and can lead to false alarms and unnecessary surgery.⁴

One important myth to clear up: a Pap test does not screen for ovarian cancer. It checks for cervical cancer only.²

Because there is no dependable screening test, the most effective steps are knowing what is normal for your body, paying attention to persistent symptoms, and understanding your personal risk.²

How Ovarian Cancer Is Evaluated and Diagnosed

When symptoms or a suspicious finding raise concern, doctors use a combination of tools, not as routine screening, but to investigate. These may include:^1,5

• Pelvic exam. A physical exam may detect an enlarged ovary or fluid in the abdomen, though small tumors are often not felt, especially early on.
• Transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS). Sound waves create an image of the ovaries and can reveal a mass, but they cannot tell whether it is cancer. Most masses found this way are benign.
• CA-125 blood test. This measures a protein that is often elevated in ovarian cancer, but it is not reliable on its own. Benign conditions like endometriosis can raise CA-125, and not all ovarian cancers raise it.
• Imaging. CT, MRI, or PET scans can help assess whether cancer has spread.
• Biopsy. A tissue sample, usually taken during surgery, is needed to confirm a diagnosis. If ovarian cancer is suspected, it is important to see a gynecologic oncologist.

Screening and Prevention for High-Risk Women

Women at high risk, such as those with a BRCA mutation or a strong family history, may be offered a combination of TVUS and CA-125 testing, though the evidence that this improves outcomes remains limited.¹ Many major cancer centers now run dedicated high-risk prevention clinics that offer personalized risk assessment, monitoring, and prevention planning.⁵

For some high-risk women, doctors may discuss risk-reducing surgery to remove the fallopian tubes and ovaries once childbearing is complete, which can substantially lower risk. These are decisions to make with a specialist.²

The Role of Genetic Testing

Genetic testing plays a growing role in ovarian cancer. Guidelines now recommend that everyone diagnosed with epithelial ovarian cancer be offered genetic counseling and testing, even without a family history.¹

While BRCA1 and BRCA2 are the best known, ovarian cancer is also linked to changes in other genes, including ATM, BRIP1, RAD51C, RAD51D, and the Lynch syndrome genes.⁶ Knowing your genetic status can guide prevention and screening for you and your blood relatives, and for people with a BRCA mutation, it may open the door to targeted treatments called PARP inhibitors.¹

One caution: be careful with direct-to-consumer genetic tests. Some FDA-authorized home tests check for only a handful of BRCA mutations out of more than 1,000 known variants, so they can miss meaningful risk. A genetic counselor can help you choose the right test and interpret the results.¹

Recognize the Symptoms

Ovarian cancer symptoms are often subtle, but they tend to be persistent and represent a change from normal. See a doctor if you notice these for more than a few weeks:^1,3

• Bloating or increased abdominal size
• Pelvic or abdominal pain
• Feeling full quickly or difficulty eating
• Urinary urgency or frequency

These symptoms are common and usually not cancer, but if they are new for you and do not go away, it is worth getting checked.³

How to Lower Your Risk of Ovarian Cancer

You cannot control every risk factor, but some choices are associated with lower risk⁷:

• Using oral contraceptives, particularly for several years (discuss the overall risks and benefits with your doctor)
• Having given birth
• Breastfeeding
• Having your tubes tied (tubal ligation) or, in some cases, removal of the fallopian tubes
• Maintaining a healthy weight

For high-risk women, risk-reducing surgery is the most effective option and should be discussed with a specialist.^2,7

Can You Test for Ovarian Cancer at Home?

There is no at-home diagnostic test that can confirm ovarian cancer.³ Newer multi-cancer early detection (MCED) blood tests can look for a signal shared by many cancers, including some, like ovarian, that have no standard screening. However, these tests are not ovarian-specific, do not diagnose cancer, and are meant to add to, not replace, medical evaluation and recommended screenings.

The most powerful at-home step remains awareness: know your body, track persistent symptoms, and understand your family history and risk.

Is Early Detection Possible?

Early detection is difficult because symptoms often do not appear until the disease has advanced, and only about 1 in 5 cases is caught early.¹ But the payoff of early detection is significant: roughly 94% of women whose ovarian cancer is found early live at least five years, compared with far lower survival at advanced stages.¹

That is why symptom awareness, prompt evaluation, and risk assessment matter so much, especially for women with a family history or genetic mutation.

Common Myths About Ovarian Cancer Screening

"A Pap smear detects ovarian cancer."

False. Pap tests detect cervical cancer, not ovarian cancer.³

"If I don't have symptoms, I don't need to worry."

Not quite. Ovarian cancer can develop quietly, so knowing your family history and genetic risk is an important part of staying proactive.³

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best test to detect ovarian cancer early?

There is no single reliable early-detection test. In high-risk women, a combination of transvaginal ultrasound and the CA-125 blood test is sometimes used, but it is not proven to reduce deaths.^1,4

Can ovarian cancer be found with a blood test?

The CA-125 blood test may be elevated in ovarian cancer, but it is not definitive and can miss early cases or be raised by benign conditions.¹

How can I check for ovarian cancer at home?

There is no at-home diagnostic test. Tracking persistent symptoms and knowing your risk factors is the best proactive approach.³

At what age should ovarian cancer screening start?

Routine screening is not recommended at any age for average-risk women. High-risk women may begin risk-reduction discussions with their provider earlier, often in their 30s or 40s.⁴

Is a Pap smear useful for ovarian cancer?

No. Pap tests screen for cervical cancer, not ovarian cancer.³

How Everlywell Can Help

While Everlywell does not offer a test that diagnoses ovarian cancer, it does offer tools to help you stay proactive about your health. The Caris Detect Multi-Cancer Early Detection Test screens for a signal shared by more than 50 types of cancer, including some, like ovarian, that lack routine screening, and Everlywell provides genetic counseling to help you understand your results.

Everlywell's Women's Health Test can also help you monitor key hormones tied to reproductive health. These insights can empower more informed conversations with your provider, especially if you have a family history of cancer or ongoing symptoms.

Taking a proactive role in your health starts with knowing your risks, tracking your symptoms, and understanding your body. If you have more questions or want to discuss your risk factors, you can talk with your healthcare provider or consider scheduling a virtual care visit with one of our credentialed healthcare providers.

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References

1. Ovarian cancer early detection, diagnosis, and staging. American Cancer Society. Revised March 16, 2026. Medical Citation URL. Accessed August 14, 2026.
2. Causes, risk factors, and prevention of ovarian cancer. American Cancer Society. Revised August 8, 2025. Medical Citation URL. Accessed August 14, 2026.
3. Screening for ovarian cancer. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Medical Citation URL. Accessed August 14, 2026.
4. Ovarian cancer: screening. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Published February 13, 2018. Medical Citation URL. Accessed August 14, 2026.
5. Ovarian cancer screening and diagnosis. Fred Hutch. Revised July 17, 2026. Medical Citation URL. Accessed August 14, 2026.
6. Jurgiel WA, Panasiuk B, Posmyk R. Hereditary ovarian cancer. Discover Oncology. 2026;17(1):260. doi:10.1007/s12672-026-04418-1
7. Reducing risk for ovarian cancer. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Medical Citation URL. Accessed August 14, 2026.