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Ovarian Cancer Prevention and Screening
There is no standard or routine screening test for ovarian cancer
Screening for ovarian cancer is under study; tests that may detect ovarian cancer are being studied:
Pelvic Exam
A pelvic exam is an exam of the vagina, cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and rectum. A health care professional feels the size, shape, and position of the uterus and ovaries.
Transvaginal ultrasound (TVU)
Transvaginal ultrasound (TVU) is a procedure used to examine the vagina, uterus, fallopian tubes, and bladder. An ultrasound transducer (probe) is inserted into the vagina and used to bounce high-energy sound waves (ultrasound) off internal tissues or organs and make echoes. The echoes form a picture of body tissues called a sonogram.
It can help find a mass (tumor) in the ovary, but it can't actually tell if a mass is cancer or benign.
CA-125
A CA 125 assay is a test that measures the level of CA 125 in the blood. CA 125 is a substance released by cells into the bloodstream. An increased CA-125 level is sometimes a sign of certain types of cancer, including ovarian cancer, or other conditions.