Referral to a specialist for symptoms of ovarian cancer

Seeing your GP

It can be hard for GPs to decide who may have cancer and who might have a more minor condition. For some symptoms, your doctor may ask you to wait to see if the symptoms get better or respond to treatment, such as antibiotics. 

Your GP might arrange for you to have some tests first. This will help them decide if you need to see a specialist. You will see a specialist or have tests as soon as possible. Ask your GP when this is likely to be.

UK referral guidelines

There are guidelines for GPs to help them decide who needs a referral. These vary between the different UK nations. Your GP will use these guidelines as well as their own experience and judgement.

In England and Wales

Your GP should arrange for you to see a specialist if you have one or more of the following:

• you have a lump in your tummy (abdomen) or pelvis, that is not fibroids

• you have a build up of fluid (ascites) in your abdomen

• your ultrasound scan shows a lump or abnormal area that could be ovarian cancer

Your GP should arrange some tests if you have certain symptoms and especially if you are age 50 year or older. You should have a CA125 blood test if you have any of the following symptoms that don’t go away or happen more than 12 times per month:

• swelling or bloating of your tummy

• loss of appetite and, or feeling full quickly

• pain in your tummy (abdomen) or lower part of your abdomen (pelvis)

• needing to pee more often than usual (frequency) or more suddenly than usual (urgency)

Women aged 50 or over who have had symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in the last 12 months should have a CA125 blood test. This is because IBS rarely develops for the first time in women over 50 years. IBS can cause a broad range of symptoms. The most common are diarrhoea, constipation, or changing from one to the other. Also bloating and swelling of the tummy.

Your GP might also offer you tests if you have:

• lost weight that is unexplained

• tiredness that is unexplained

• changes in bowel habit (for example constipation or diarrhoea)

Your GP should arrange an ultrasound of your abdomen or pelvis if your CA125 level is raised. 

Your GP will not refer you to a specialist if they don't think that you have ovarian cancer. But they will ask you to go back to them again if your symptoms continue or happen more often.

In Scotland

You should have an urgent referral to a specialist if you have one or more of the following:

• a build up of fluid (ascites) in your abdomen

• an ultrasound scan that shows a lump in your tummy (abdomen) or lower part of your abdomen (pelvis) that could be ovarian cancer

• a higher than normal CA125 blood test result 

Your GP should arrange some tests if you have certain symptoms and especially if you are aged 50 or older. You should have an examination of your tummy, a CA125 blood test and a pelvic ultrasound scan if you have had any of the following symptoms most days over the last 4 weeks:

• swelling or bloating of your tummy

• loss of appetite 

• feeling full quickly or difficulty eating

• pain in your tummy (abdomen) or lower part of your abdomen (pelvis)

• needing to pee more often than usual or more suddenly than usual

• a change in how often you poo

You should also have these tests if you are aged 50 or older and you have had new symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in the last 12 months.

In Northern Ireland

In Northern Ireland the guidance groups together the symptoms of:

• cervical cancer

• ovarian cancer

• vaginal cancer

• vulval cancer 

• womb cancer

You should have an urgent referral to see a specialist if:

• your doctor thinks you may have cervical cancer following an examination, even if your previous cervical screening test was normal

• you have vaginal bleeding after your menopause and you are not taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

• you have been taking HRT and have vaginal bleeding, and the bleeding continues and cannot be explained when you have stopped your HRT for 6 weeks

• you have vaginal bleeding after your menopause and are taking a medicine called tamoxifen

• you have an unexplained lump on your vulva

• you have sores (ulcers) and bleeding from your vulva

Your doctor might refer you to see a specialist urgently if you have bleeding between your periods and a physical examination is normal.

You should have a CA125 blood test if your GP has examined you and wants to test for ovarian cancer.

You should have an urgent referral for an ultrasound scan if you have:

• an unexplained lump in your tummy (abdomen) or the lower part of your tummy (pelvis)

• a raised CA125 level on a blood test

You should have an urgent referral to see a specialist if your ultrasound is abnormal.

Other symptoms

Your GP will consider any other symptoms you have, so do mention these. They might also take into account whether you have any risk factors that affect your chances of developing ovarian cancer.

Read about the risks and causes of ovarian cancer

If you're still worried

Sometimes you might feel that your GP is not concerned enough about your symptoms. If you think they should be more concerned, print this page and the symptoms page. Ask your GP to explain why they don’t think you need a referral.

Contact your GP again if your symptoms don't get better or you notice any new or unusual symptoms.

What should you do if you don’t get an appointment?

If your GP has referred you to a specialist, ask them when you should get your appointment. Contact them again if you don’t get one. Or some hospitals have a referral service you could try contacting if you know which hospital you are going to. Explain that you are waiting for an urgent suspected cancer referral.

Go to more information about an urgent referral, what to expect and questions to ask

Waiting times

Your hospital is working towards waiting time targets. For example, a target to find out whether you have cancer or not. And there are targets to start treatment if you are diagnosed with cancer. These are slightly different depending on where you live in the UK.

Find out about cancer waiting times