• Healthy State
  • Careers
  • Education
  • Research
  • Giving
Ochsner Health Ochsner Health
  • About
  • Find A Doctor (current)
  • Find A Location
  • Specialties & Treatments
MyOchsner Logo
Login | Signup
Submit Search magnifying glass icon
Close Search X icon
  •   Home
  • In To Your Health...
  • Food & Fitness
  • Conditions & Treatment
  • Health Trends
  • Prevention & Wellness
  • Women's Health
  • Men's Health
  • Mental Health
  • Parenting
  • I need to...
  • Find A Doctor
  • Find A Location
  • Find A Specialty
  • Schedule An Appointment
  • Pay A Bill
  • Explore
  • About Ochsner
  • Careers
  • Patients & Visitors
  • "To Your Health" Blog
  • Health Resources
  • Medical Professionals
  • Education
  • Philanthropy
  • Community Outreach
  • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
  • Research
  • Ochsner Health Network
  • Schedule an Appointment
  • Call: 1-866-624-7637
  • Online: Login to MyOchsner
  • Personalize your content
  • patient Edit Persona Persona Chooser
To Your Health

View Newsletter Editions
  • Food & Fitness
  • Conditions & Treatment
  • Health Trends
  • Prevention & Wellness
  • Women's Health
  • Men's Health
  • Mental Health
  • Parenting
Getty Images 964894662

Ovarian Cancer Screenings: Myths vs. Facts

Jun 1, 2016 |
By Julie Price, MD
Share Facebook Logo Twitter Logo Pinterest Logo Email Logo

Cancer screenings are used to find cancer at an early stage so that it is easier to treat. Because ovarian cancer is typically caught in an advanced stage, and often goes undetected because the symptoms resemble common conditions, there are many myths surrounding routine screening tests.

The biggest myth surrounding ovarian cancer is that there is a routine screening available - currently there is NO standard or routine screening test for ovarian cancer. While screening is currently being studied, more sensitive and specific screening is needed to aid in ovarian cancer detection. So far, routine screening has not been shown to decrease the death rate for ovarian cancer compared with routine care, so it is not currently recommended.

While there is currently no standard screening available for ovarian cancer, tests that can help detect it include a pelvic exam, transvaginal ultrasound, and serum tumor markers. Tumor markers are substances that are created in the body by cancer, or in response to the presence of cancer. While possible markers for ovarian cancer have been identified, there is no one test available that is sensitive or specific enough.

Learn more about cancer screenings at Ochnser.

While the U.S. Prevention Services Task Force currently maintains that there is no recommended screening for ovarian cancer, some groups including the American Cancer Society advocate for possible screenings for women with a family history. The American College of Obstetricians Gynecologist recommends evaluation only in the case of signs/symptoms being present.

In general, ovarian cancer screening is not recommended for a general population without increased risk or symptoms. Symptoms associated with ovarian cancer are common and often are due to other causes, and a family history of breast, ovarian, uterine, or colon cancer is important to know in order to assess your risk.

Tags
cancer
screenings
ovarian

You may also be interested in:

Thinkstockphotos Sb10061547Bn 001 (1)
Prevention & Wellness
August 5, 2022

Ovarian Cancer: Risks and Symptoms

Ovarian cancer is best treated when discovered at the earliest possible stage. Here are the common symptoms and risks associated with this deadly cancer.
By Julie Price, MD
Woman getting cancer screening
Prevention & Wellness
August 5, 2022

Screen Out Cancer

New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows a drop in cancer death rates during the 20-year period from 1999 to 2018. Each year, the death rate continued to decrease, resulting in a 26% drop overall.
By Ryan Griffin, MD
Mother and baby
Prevention & Wellness
August 9, 2022

Can Breastfeeding Prevent Breast Cancer?

Breastfeeding lowers the rate of postpartum depression, helps to achieve faster weight loss and may even lower your risk for developing breast cancer.

email envelop icon Comments about the blog? Send us an email!

Ochsner Health

Schedule An Appointment: 1-866-624-7637

Follow us: Facebook Follow Ochsner Health on TikTok Twitter Follow Ochsner Health on Twitter LinkedIn Visit Ochsner Health's LinkedIn page Instagram Follow Ochsner Health on Instagram YouTube Subscribe to Ochsner Health on YouTube Pinterest Follow Ochsner Health on Pinterest TikTok Follow Ochsner Health on TikTok

Healthy living tips newsletters, delivered to your inbox.

Sign Up

Patients & Visitors

  • Billing & Financial Services
  • Insurance Information
  • International Patients
  • Request Medical Records
  • Share Your Story
  • Read Patient Stories

Medical Professionals

  • Transfer a Patient
  • Refer a Patient

Health Resources

  • To Your Health Blog
  • Golden Opportunity
  • Healthy State
  • Ochsner Magazine

Job Seekers

  • Career Paths
  • Benefits
  • Open Positions

Employees

  • Webmail
  • OHSLink
  • Workday

Employers

  • Corporate Wellness
  • Medicare Advantage Plans

Community Outreach

  • Classes & Events
  • Programs
  • Community Health Needs Assessment
  • Dr. John Ochsner Discovery Health Sciences Academy

Education

  • Graduate Medical Education
  • Clinical Medical Education
  • Continuing Medical Education
  • Medical Library
  • Publishing Services
  • Medical Illustrations

Research

  • Clinical Trials
  • Applied Health Services Research
  • Clinical Research & Trials
  • Nursing Research
  • Translational Research

Giving

  • Donate
  • Volunteer

About Ochsner

  • Mission & Vision
  • History
  • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
  • Annual Report
  • Outcomes & Honors
  • News & Media
  • Alumni
  • Ochsner Health Network
  • Contact Us

Shop

  • O Bar
  • Optical Shop
  • Ochsner Fitness Center
  • Brent House Hotel

© Ochsner Health  | Notice of Privacy Practices | Terms of Use | Vendor Information

Ochsner accepts all major insurances.

Ochsner is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, founded on providing the best patient care, research, and education.

We are one of the country’s largest non-university based academic medical centers.

Ochsner is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

Community Needs Health Assessment

EpicMobile Tablet | EpicMobile Phone

newsletter icon

Subscribe to Our Newsletters

newsletter icon

Select the newsletters you'd like to receive.

Please select at least one category to continue.

Curious about our newsletters?

View details for each edition
newsletter icon

Let us know where to send your newsletters.

To Your Health- Food and Fitness:
To Your Health- General:
To Your Health- Men’s Health:
To Your Health- Parenting:
To Your Health- Women’s Health:
To Your Health-Mental Health Monthly":
To Your Health- Skin Deep:

Source:
Source Description:
Marketing Goal:
newsletter icon

You're all set!

We’ll send newsletters full of healthy living tips right to your inbox.

Ochsner Health System
magnifying glass icon
ESC to Close

Begin Typing to Search

Select the drop-down to filter Search by Blog Articles or Sitewide