February is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, a chance to pause and learn something new.
Ovarian cancer is often difficult to detect early, which is why knowing what to look for, understanding risk factors, and acting on health changes can really make a difference.
What This Article Covers
- Test what you already know about ovarian cancer
- Overview of ovarian cancer and possible symptoms
- Factors that can increase risk
- Ways women can help lower risk
- How partners, friends, and family can offer meaningful support
Start With the Quiz: How Much Do You Know?
Before reading on, we encourage you to take the Ovarian Cancer Australia knowledge quiz.
It’s quick, eye-opening, and highlights just how much there is to learn about this disease.
👉 Take the ovarian cancer knowledge quiz.
Many people are surprised by the results. Taking the quiz first helps the information in this article land more clearly and stay top of mind.
Ovarian Cancer, Briefly Explained
Ovarian cancer begins in the ovaries or nearby tissue and often develops without obvious early signs. When symptoms do appear, they can be subtle and easy to dismiss.
Some symptoms women may notice include:
- Persistent bloating or abdominal discomfort
- Feeling full quickly when eating
- Changes in bladder habits
- Ongoing pelvic or lower back pain
- Unusual fatigue
Something important to note is that these symptoms can be caused by many other conditions.
As such, the independent doctors at HSMC recommend keeping a symptoms tracker or diary, which means noting and recording changes you may notice over time. Simple notes in your phone help, or using an app like:
- Flo for period changes, pain, and hormonal symptom tracking
- Clue for detailed cycle and pelvic symptom tracking.
Factors That Can Increase Risk
There is no single cause of ovarian cancer, but research has identified several factors that can increase risk.
Family history of ovarian or breast cancer:
Having a close relative with ovarian or breast cancer can increase risk, particularly if multiple family members are affected or diagnoses occurred at a younger age.
Genetic changes such as BRCA mutations:
Some women carry inherited gene changes, including BRCA1 or BRCA2. These don’t cause symptoms on their own, and many people don’t know they carry them unless genetic testing is done.
Increasing age:
Risk rises with age, especially after menopause, which is why screenings and assessments remain important even when periods stop.
Please get in touch with us for information around exactly which assessments might suit you.
Never having been pregnant:
Pregnancy reduces the number of times the ovaries release an egg over a lifetime, which may partly explain why women who have never been pregnant have a slightly higher risk.
Hormonal factors:
Long-term exposure to certain hormones, including some hormone therapies, may influence risk and should be discussed individually with a GP.
Smoking:
Smoking has been linked to higher risk for some types of ovarian cancer and can also worsen overall treatment outcomes.
Ways to Help Lower Risk
Ovarian cancer can’t always be prevented, but there are practical steps that may lower risk or support earlier detection:
Oral contraceptive use:
Using the pill for several years has been linked with a lower risk of ovarian cancer, with protective effects that can last for decades after stopping.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding:
Both reduce the number of ovulation cycles over a lifetime, which may help lower risk.
Genetic counselling:
For women with strong family histories, genetic counselling can clarify inherited risk and guide personalised screening or prevention strategies.
Symptom tracking:
Keeping a simple record of bloating, pain, appetite changes, or fatigue makes it easier to notice patterns and clearly explain concerns during an appointment.
Take a look at the smartphone apps we mentioned above.
Regular GP check-ins:
Not because something is wrong, but because consistent care allows subtle changes to be picked up earlier.
These steps give women more control over their health decisions.
Supporting The Women in Your Life
Support can come in many forms. Partners, friends, and family can make a meaningful difference by:
- Taking concerns seriously when symptoms are mentioned, even if they seem vague or easy to dismiss, or have happened before
- Helping create space for appointments, whether that’s childcare cover, time off work, or simply moral support
- Encouraging notes or symptom tracking, which can help women feel more confident speaking up during medical visits
- Sharing trusted information, such as resources from Ovarian Cancer Australia, to replace guesswork with reliable guidance
Ensuring women in our lives feel believed and backed is a big gift you can give, plus they’re more likely to act early rather than wait and worry.
How High Street Medical Clinic Can Help
Women’s health care at High Street Medical Clinic is built around listening, and continuity.
Our independent doctors focus on understanding what’s normal for you, so changes are easier to spot.
Female doctors are available too.
Appointments can include:
- Detailed symptom discussions
- Risk reviews
- Referrals for imaging or genetic services where appropriate, and
- Follow-up plans
Care is practical and professional, not rushed checklists.
You can explore our Women’s Health service, or find more about ovarian cancer diagnosis and treatment here.
We Really Believe Knowledge Is Power
Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month is a reminder that informed conversations, learning more, noticing changes, and feeling supported all play a role.
If you’d like to talk through symptoms, personal risk, or prevention strategies, the doctors at High Street Medical Clinic in Prahran, Melbourne are here to help.
