Women's Health Partnership, PC

Gynecologic Health

Symptoms of ovarian cancer can mimic some GI disorders


Although most gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are related to problems originating in the GI tract, ovarian cancer can also cause bowel problems. Research is lending strong support to the idea that ovarian cancer often causes a cluster of vague but persistent and recognizable symptoms. Studies show the majority of women who have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer had experienced recurring symptoms, including back pain, fatigue, bloating, constipation, abdominal pain and urinary symptoms; sometimes people had symptoms as frequently as 30 times a month. Currently there are no good screening tests that can detect ovarian cancer at an early, more curable stage. So women and their doctors must work together to interpret the seriousness and origin of their symptoms.