Stories about breast cancer are frequently shared in the news, on social media, and from friends and healthcare providers. But we generally don't hear as much about gynecologic cancers.

Gynecologic cancer is any cancer that starts in a woman's reproductive organs, including the uterus, ovaries, cervix, vagina and vulva. There are about one-third as many cases of gynecologic cancers compared to breast cancer, and gynecologic cancers tend to be more life-limiting.

An estimated 108,280 women had new cases of gynecologic cancers in the U.S. in 2024 and 31,980 women died from one of the diseases. In comparison, 2024 saw 310,720 new cases of breast cancer and 42,250 associated deaths.

One reason for the higher death rate in gynecologic cancers is that they're often found at a later stage, when there are fewer treatment options. So it's important to recognize potential symptoms.

"Except for cervical cancer, which we can identify with the Pap smear, we really don't have very good screening tests for these cancers," says Dr. Aparna Kamat, a gynecologic oncologist at Houston Methodist. "Because treatment is most effective when cancer is found at an early stage, it's important to recognize potential symptoms and to seek care if you experience them."

5 types of gynecologic cancers

There are five main types of gynecologic cancer: cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal and vulvar.

Cervical cancer begins in the cervix, which is the small canal that connects the uterus to the vagina. It usually develops slowly over time.

Ovarian cancer begins in the ovaries, small glands that sit on each side of the uterus and produce eggs and hormones. Ovarian cancer is the second most common gynecologic cancer in the U.S. but causes more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system.

Uterine cancer begins in the uterus, the pear-shaped organ in which a fetus develops and grows. The uterus is also sometimes called the womb. There are two main types of uterine cancer:

• Endometrial cancer starts in the endometrium, which is the lining of the uterus. It is the most common type of cancer of the female reproductive organs.
• Uterine sarcoma starts in the muscle and supporting tissues of the uterus.

Vaginal cancer begins in the vagina, the canal that goes from the uterus to the outside of the body. Vaginal cancer is very rare, diagnosed in only about 1,200 women each year in the U.S.

Vulvar cancer begins in the vulva, the outer part of a woman's genital organs between her legs. It is also rare, only diagnosed in only about 6,100 women each year in the U.S.

Symptoms of gynecologic cancers

One reason that so many gynecologic cancers are diagnosed at late stages is that early symptoms are vague and can be misattributed to other things.

"Most women with ovarian cancer are not diagnosed until the cancer is metastatic," says Dr. Kamat. "If you look at 100 women who come to see us, 60% to 65% of them will have stage three disease at the time of diagnosis. The symptoms are nonspecific. However, there is an acronym for symptoms of ovarian cancer that women should know: BEACH."

BEACH stands for:

• Bloating
• Early satiety, or feeling full after eating only small meals
• Abdominal distension, or abdominal pain
• Change in bowel or bladder habits
• Heightened fatigue, or feeling far more tired than would be expected

If you have any of these symptoms for two weeks or more, talk with your doctor. While symptoms can vary depending on the location of the cancer, abnormal vaginal bleeding and discharge can occur with any gynecologic cancer and should be evaluated by your doctor. The most common symptom of endometrial cancer is postmenopausal bleeding and should be a red flag to see your doctor. Vulvar cancer can cause itching along with a lump or sore. The skin on the vulva also may appear to be a different color than the surrounding skin. Pelvic pain also may occur with some of these cancers and should not be ignored. (Related: 7 Signs You Should See a Gynecologist)

The only gynecologic cancer that currently has a routine screening test is cervical cancer — the Pap smear and human papillomavirus (HPV) testing. This makes it even more important for women to have regular gynecologic exams, be able to recognize potential symptoms and to alert their healthcare provider if they experience them.

Risk factors for gynecologic cancers

Any woman can get a gynecologic cancer. However, there are a few factors that can increase your risk:

• Age – The older you get, the more likely you are to develop gynecologic cancer. For example, women are usually 69 years old when they are diagnosed with vaginal cancer.
• Genetics – A woman whose mother, sister or daughter had a gynecologic cancer might decide to undergo genetic testing for mutations in genes such as BRCA1 and BRCA2, which can increase the risk of certain cancers, including ovarian cancer. Talk to your doctor if such genetic testing might be right for you based on your family history. (Related: What to Do if an Inherited Disease Runs in Your Family)
• HPV – HPV is common, infecting an estimated 42 million Americans. HPV is estimated to cause 90% of cervical cancer and 70% of vaginal and vulvar cancers.
• Obesity – Obesity is associated with an increased risk of endometrial, ovarian, cervical and vulvar cancers. It's not entirely understood why, but it could have to do with obesity leading to increased estrogen levels and chronic inflammation, both of which create an environment that promotes cancer.
• Menstruation history – Women who have infrequent periods, started their period before age 12 or were still having a period after age 50 may be at increased risk of gynecologic cancers.

(Related: Breast & Ovarian Cancer: Is There a Connection?)

Prevention and screening of gynecologic cancers

You may not be able to prevent ever getting a gynecologic cancer, but there are things you can do to reduce your risk — and detect the disease early, when it is best treated.

"One of the biggest things we recommend for reducing the incidence of these cancers, as well as detecting them, is to get a good family history," says Dr. Kamat. "Once we identify women at high risk, we can screen them more often and talk about options to prevent development of the disease, such as risk-reducing surgery, which removes organs at high-risk of developing cancer. In addition, having awareness of symptoms of endometrial cancer and other cancers can help women seek help at an early stage." (Related: How to Lower Endometrial Cancer Risk)

If you believe you are at increased risk for gynecologic cancer because of a family history, talk with your doctor about what you can do to lower your risk or if there are any tests that you should have.

Getting an HPV vaccine — or making sure your daughter gets it — is the best way to prevent cervical, vaginal and vulvar cancer. The HPV vaccine is available for people ages 9 to 45. Because the HPV vaccine is most effective when given before someone is exposed to the virus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends people get it between 11 and 12 years of age.

Because obesity is associated with an increased risk of some gynecologic cancers, it's important to manage your weight through a healthy diet and physical activity.

When it comes to screening for gynecologic cancers, only cervical cancer has a routine screening test to find cancer early. It's recommended that women start getting a Pap test at age 21. How often you get one after that will be determined by several factors, so talk to your doctor.

An HPV test can look for HPV infection, which is known to cause several gynecologic cancers. This test can't diagnose cancer, but it can indicate an increased risk. It's recommended for women 30 or older. (Related: Will HPV Go Away & 5 Other Questions You May Have, Answered)

The absence of good screening tests for most gynecologic cancers makes regular check-ups with your healthcare provider even more important. They will perform a physical exam of the reproductive organs — including the vagina, cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries — to check for abnormalities or signs of illness. These exams should be done yearly beginning at age 21.

Treatment options for gynecologic cancers

Treatment for gynecologic cancer depends on many things, including whether the cancer has spread, a patient's overall health and whether they desire to preserve fertility. Every patient with gynecologic cancer will have a unique treatment plan tailored to their specific health and life situation.

Surgery often is part of the treatment plan for people with gynecologic cancer. A hysterectomy, or removal of the uterus, is common among patients with cervical, uterine and ovarian cancers. Chemotherapy or radiation also may be used to ensure that all of the cancer was removed and to prevent it from spreading.

If you have advanced cancer that has spread, neoadjuvant chemotherapy may be recommended. This involves getting chemotherapy to shrink the tumor before getting surgery.

If you want to preserve their fertility, there may be options for that depending on the type of cancer and how far it has spread.

"If the cancer is caught early, we may be able to treat a woman without a hysterectomy. This is called a fertility-sparing treatment," says Dr. Kamat. "This could involve endocrine treatments with oral progestins, removing only one ovary and fallopian tube, or freezing healthy eggs before removing the ovaries."

Because advanced-stage cancer has a high risk of coming back, it may be recommended that you have maintenance therapy after your initial treatment to help prevent its return. This can involve drugs, vaccines or antibodies that kill cancer cells.

Gynecologic cancers are treatable, but the earlier they are caught, the better the chance of successful treatment. You can give yourself the best chance of prevention and early detection by having routine pelvic exams and Pap tests, being alert to signs or symptoms of gynecologic cancer and alerting your healthcare provider to any concerns or changes.