Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and Menopause

During Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and Menopause it can be important to note “Most cases of ovarian cancer happen in those who have already gone through the menopause (when you stop having periods)”.

Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month 2024

What is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month in March 2024 in the United Kingdom (UK)?

In Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month: What Is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month? the (UK) Target Ovarian Cancer explain:

“Every March is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. It’s our chance to put ovarian cancer in the spotlight.

In the UK, over 7,000 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer every year. Two thirds of women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer too late when the cancer is harder to treat. And every day, 11 women die.”

Age

Is there an association between the risk of developing ovarian cancer and getting older?

In Ovarian Cancer Risk: Age the Target Ovarian Cancer note:

“As with most cancers the risk of developing ovarian cancer increases as you get older. Those over the age of 50 have a higher risk. Most cases of ovarian cancer happen in those who have already gone through the menopause (when you stop having periods). More than 50 in 100 cases of ovarian cancer are in those over 65 years.

Although it’s not common, if you’re younger and haven’t been through the menopause you can get ovarian cancer. Over 1,000 women under the age of 50 develop ovarian cancer every year. That’s why it’s important that everyone is aware of the symptoms of ovarian cancer. This is especially important if you have a family history of ovarian or breast cancer”.

In Ovarian Cancer: About Ovarian Cancer – Key Statistics for Ovarian Cancer according to the (United States) American Cancer Society:

“This cancer mainly develops in older women. About half of the women who are diagnosed with ovarian cancer are 63 years or older. It is more common in White women than Black women”.

Pap Test

Does the Pap test check for ovarian cancer?

No. In Ovarian Cancer Testing & Detection the World Cancer Coalition note:

“Currently, there is no routine, simple screening test to accurately detect ovarian cancer. Contrary to popular belief, cervical screening (i.e.: Pap smear) will not detect ovarian cancer. While cervical screening is effective in early detection of cervical cancer, it is not a test for ovarian cancer”.

Symptoms

What are the symptoms of ovarian cancer?

In Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer: What Are the Symptoms? the [United Kingdom] Target Ovarian Cancer elaborate on:

Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and Menopause

  • “Persistent bloating (not bloating that comes and goes)
  • Feeling full quickly and/or loss of appetite
  • Pelvic or abdominal pain (that’s from your tummy to the top of your thighs)
  • Urinary symptoms (needing to wee more urgently or more often than usual)”.

Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and Menopause

 

Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and Menopause

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Symptoms

Occasionally what can be other symptoms of ovarian cancer?

In Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer: What Are the Symptoms? Target Ovarian Cancer also explain:

“Occasionally there can be other symptoms:

  • Changes in bowel habit (e.g. diarrhoea or constipation)
  • Extreme fatigue (feeling very tired)
  • Unplanned weight loss
  • Any unusual bleeding from the vagina before or after the menopause should always be investigated by a GP”.

In Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer: What Are the Symptoms? Target Ovarian Cancer note:

“Symptoms will be:

  • New – they’re not normal for you
  • Frequent – they usually happen more than 12 times a month
  • Persistent – they don’t go away”.

Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and MenopauseHealth Care Provider

What if I think I am experiencing symptoms of ovarian cancer?

In Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer: Worried About Your Symptom? Target Ovarian Cancer elaborate on:

“If you regularly experience any one or more of these symptoms, which aren’t normal for you, it’s important that you contact your GP. It’s unlikely that your symptoms are caused by a serious problem but it’s important to get checked out, even if they’re mild. Your GP should order a CA125 blood test. They may also order ultrasound scans of your ovaries and tummy.

If two or more of your close relatives have had cancer you should tell your GP as ovarian cancer can run in families”.

Who is a GP?

DotS and DotC (Depending on the Country) a GP may be a qualified and registered general practitioner, a medical practitioner, a medical doctor or a doctor.

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics related to Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and Menopause?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Ovarian Cancer Symptom Diary Links

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Ovarian Cancer Symptom Diary

Links

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Links

This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month 2024

  1. A To Z of Ovarian Cancer
  2. About Ovarian Cancer
  3. CA125 Blood Test
  4. Foundation for Women’s Cancer [United States]
  5. Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
  6. Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
    Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and Menopause
  7. Ovarian Cancer/Primary Peritoneal
  8. Ovarian, Fallopian Tube, and Primary Peritoneal Cancer–Patient Version
  9. Symptom Diary [+ Video: Recognise the Signs and Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer]
  10. Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer
  11. Tips for Tracking Your Bleeding
    Tips for Tracking Your Bleeding
  12. Top Tips for Speaking To Your GP
  13. Understanding Ovarian Cancer
  14. Video Series-2023: Changes In Sexual Health After Cancer
  15. Video Series-2023: Premature and Early Menopause
  16. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: How Do I Deal With the Menopause After A Diagnosis of Gynaecological Cancer
  17. What Is Ovarian Cancer?
  18. What Is Ovarian Cancer? [Video]
  19. Worldovariancancercoalition.org [World Ovarian Cancer Coalition]
  20. You and Ovarian Cancer: An Animated Patient’s Guide To Ovarian Cancer

Last Updated: 01 March 2024 – Last Revised: 25 February 2024
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Uterine Cancer Awareness Is Now!

Uterine Cancer Awareness Is Now! No matter what age we are, it is important to get any bleeding or periods pattern changes, checked. Read more

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Menopause and Vaginal Dryness

Menopause vaginal dryness can result in painful sex, itching and burning and other symptoms we may not necessarily associate with menopause, including urinary symptoms.

Vaginal Dryness

What is the association between vaginal dryness and menopause?

In Vaginal Dryness After Menopause: How To Treat It? published 07 December 2022, the author explains:


Menopause and Vaginal Dryness

“Vaginal dryness is a hallmark sign of the genitourinary syndrome of menopause, also known as atrophic vaginitis or vaginal atrophy. With this condition, vaginal tissues become thinner and more easily irritated — resulting from the natural decline in your body’s estrogen levels during menopause”.

In Looking After Yourself: Sex and Relationships – What Can Affect Your Sex Life? Dry Vagina and Pain During Sex the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health explain:

“The loss of oestrogen at menopause causes changes in the tissues of your vagina and vulva. This means your vagina becomes drier and less elastic, which can lead to vaginal irritation, vaginal atrophy and pain during sex”.

Common or Not

How common is vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA)?

On page one in Could Altering Vaginal Microbiome Treat Vaginal Dryness and Painful Sex During Menopause? published 25 January 2023, according to the NAMS:

“It is estimated that VVA occurs in approximately 50% of menopausal women”.

Vaginal Dryness Treatment Options

What are some vaginal dryness treatment options?

In Vaginal Dryness: Treatment Options, published December 2022, the North American Menopause Society elaborate on:

  • “Nonhormone Remedies
    • Vaginal Lubricants…
    • Vaginal Moisturizers…
    • Regular Sexual Stimulation…
    • Expanding Your Views of Sexual Pleasure…
    • Vaginal Dilators…
    • Pelvic Floor Exercises…
  • Vaginal Hormone Therapy…
    • Low-dose local estrogen…
    • FDA-approved low-dose vaginal estrogen products…
    • Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA; Prasterone)
    • Low-dose vaginal estrogen or DHEA and a history breast or uterine cancer…
  • Systemic Estrogen Therapy
  • Other Therapies…
    • Ospemifene
    • Vaginal Laser Therapy…”.

Vaginal Oestrogen

How effective is vaginal oestrogen?

In the Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause, first published online 10 June 2022, one of the recommendations is:

  • “Low-dose and ultra-low dose vaginal oestrogen preparations can be taken by perimenopausal and menopausal women experiencing genitourinary symptoms and continued for as long as required. All vaginal oestrogen preparations have been shown to be effective in this context and there is no requirement to combine vaginal oestrogens with systemic progestogen treatment for endometrial protection, as low-dose and ultra-low dose vaginal oestrogen preparations do not result in significant systemic absorption or endometrial hyperplasia”.

Health Care Provider

What if I think I have vaginal dryness?

On page three in Vaginal Dryness: What To Do Next the (British) Women’s Health Concern explain:

“Recognising that vaginal dryness is normal and common is the first step to helping yourself. The next is to talk to your doctor, who can recommend a treatment to suit you”.

On page two in Vaginal Dryness: Treatment Options the NAMS note:

“Notes: Vaginal and vulvar symptoms not related to menopause include yeast infections, allergic reactions, and certain skin conditions, so consult your healthcare professional if symptoms do not improve with treatment”.

Health Topics A-Z

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In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

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Links

This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.

New or Updated

  1. Could Altering Vaginal Microbiome Treat Vaginal Dryness and Painful Sex During Menopause?
  2. Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause and the False Promise of Vaginal Laser Therapy
  3. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Vaginal Oestrogen
  4. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Vaginal Oestrogen: About Vaginal Oestrogen
  5. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Vaginal Oestrogen: Common Questions About Vaginal Oestrogen
  6. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Vaginal Oestrogen: Side Effects of Vaginal Estrogen
  7. Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause
  8. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Sexual Wellbeing and Intimacy During and After Menopause [+ Video: Menopause Is the End of Your Sex Life]
  9. Let’s Talk About Perimenopause
  10. Looking After Yourself: Sex and Relationships
  11. Lubricant Alternatives: What To Use and What To Avoid
  12. Managing Your Symptoms: Managing Bladder, Vaginal and Vulval Problems
  13. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
  14. Menopause Patient Information: 2. Talking To Your GP About Menopause
  15. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Common Conditions Associated With Menopause and Midlife
  16. Menopause Ruining Your Sex Life?
  17. Menopause Treatments: What Works, What Doesn’t – Treatments for Vaginal Dryness
  18. Navigating Menopause Together: How Partners Can Help
  19. Navigating Menopause: Expert Insights and Solutions | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 245
  20. Sexual Problems and Menopause
  21. Testosterone Therapy In Women: Does It Boost Sex Drive?
  22. The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause
  23. Vaginal Atrophy
  24. Vaginal Atrophy
  25. Vaginal Dryness
  26. Vaginal Dryness
  27. Vaginal Dryness
  28. Vaginal Dryness After Menopause: How To Treat It?
  29. Vaginal Dryness Alternative Treatments
  30. Vaginal Oestrogen Is A Treatment on the Rise, But Is It Safe?
  31. Vaginal and Vulval Pain: Know the Different Causes and When To Seek Help
  32. Video Series-2023: Changes In Sexual Health After Cancer
  33. Video Series-2023: NAMS 2023 Nonhormone Therapies Position Statement for Bothersome Menopause Symptoms
  34. Video Series-2023: Premature and Early Menopause
  35. Video Series-2024: Preparing for Your Menopause Health Care Visit

Last Updated: 15 February 2024 – Last Revised: 14 February 2024
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World Cancer Day 2024 and Menopause

World Cancer Day 2024 on 4 February can remind us to check we are up to date with our screening for breast cancer, cervical cancer, colorectal or bowel cancer and skin cancer.

World Cancer Day 2024

What is World Cancer Day 2024?

In World Cancer Day Theme: A Leading International Awareness Day the Union for International Cancer Control explain:

“World Cancer Day held every 4 February is the global uniting initiative led by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC). By raising worldwide awareness, improving education and catalysing personal, collective and government action, we are all working together to reimagine a world where millions of preventable cancer deaths are saved and access to life-saving cancer treatment and care is equitable for all – no matter who you are or where you live”.
World Cancer Day 2024 and Menopause

Menopause

Is there an association between menopause and the risk of cancer?

In Menopause FAQs: Your Health After Menopause – Q. Is there any relationship between menopause and cancer? the North American Menopause Society note:

“A. No, menopause itself doesn’t increase the risk of cancer. Cancers are more common as people age, however. Most cancers occur in people age 55 and older”.

Breast Cancer

When does breast cancer mainly occur in women?

In Breast Cancer: About Breast Cancer – Key Statistics for Breast Cancer: How Common Is Breast Cancer? last revised 17 January 2024, the American Cancer Society [ACS] elaborate on:

“Breast cancer mainly occurs in middle-aged and older women. The median age at the time of breast cancer diagnosis is 62. This means half of the women who developed breast cancer are 62 years of age or younger when they are diagnosed. A very small number of women diagnosed with breast cancer are younger than 45”.
World Cancer Day 2024 and Menopause

Cervical Cancer

When is cervical cancer most frequently diagnosed in women?

In Cervical Cancer: About Cervical Cancer – Key Statistics for Cervical Cancer: How Common Is Cervical Cancer? last revised 17 January 2024, the ACS elaborate on:

“Cervical cancer is most frequently diagnosed in women between the ages of 35 and 44, with the average age being 50. It rarely develops in women younger than 20.

Many older women don’t realize that they are still at risk of developing cervical cancer as they age. More than 20% of cervical cancers are found in women over 65. However, these cancers rarely occur in women who have been getting regular tests to screen for cervical cancer before they were 65”.

Colorectal Cancer

How common is colorectal or bowel cancer?

In Colorectal Cancer: About Colorectal Cancer – Key Statistics for Colorectal Cancer: How Common Is Colorectal Cancer? last revised 17 January 2024, the ACS elaborate on:

“The rate of people being diagnosed with colon or rectal cancer each year has dropped overall since the mid-1980s, mainly because more people are getting screened and changing their lifestyle-related risk factors. From 2011 to 2019, incidence rates dropped by about 1% each year. But this downward trend is mostly in older adults. In people younger than 55, rates have been increasing by 1% to 2% a year since the mid-1990s”.

Prevention

What do the UICC explain about prevention?

In What Is Cancer? the UICC note:

  • “…More than 40% of cancer-related death could be preventable as they are linked to modifiable risk factors such as smoking, alcohol use, poor diet and physical inactivity
  • Almost at least one third of all deaths related to cancer could be prevented through routine screening, and early detection and treatment”…

Health Topics A-Z

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In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

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Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.

  1. Askearlymenopause.org [Ask EM] [+ Video: What Is Early Menopause?]
  2. Cancer Prevention Recommendations
  3. Foundationforwomenscancer.org [Foundation for Women’s Cancer, United States]
  4. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Early and Premature Menopause [+ Video: Menopause Only Happens In Your 50s]
  5. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
  6. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Symptom Tracker
  7. Menopause Mindfulness: Understanding the Many Paths To Menopause
  8. Nonhormone Treatments for Hot Flashes and Night Sweats
  9. Science In 5: Episode #111 – Sun and Skin Cancer
  10. Tips To Help Manage Menopause Symptoms
  11. Understanding Cancer
  12. Union for International Cancer Control
  13. Video Series-2023: Changes In Sexual Health After Cancer
  14. Video Series-2023: NAMS 2023 Nonhormone Therapies Position Statement for Bothersome Menopause Symptoms
  15. Video Series-2023: Premature and Early Menopause
  16. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: How Do I Deal With the Menopause After A Diagnosis of Gynaecological Cancer
  17. What Causes Menopause?
  18. What Is Cancer?
  19. World Cancer Day 2024 – Campaign Video
  20. World Cancer Day 4 February

Last Updated: 04 February 2024 – Last Revised: 04 February 2024
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