Uterine Cancer

Get the Facts About Gynecologic Cancer

www.cdc.gov/cancer/knowledge 1-800-CDC-INFO

There are five main types of cancer that affect a woman’s reproductive 

organs: cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal, and vulvar. As a group, they 

are referred to as gynecologic (GY-neh-kuh-LAH-jik) cancer. (A sixth 

type of gynecologic cancer is the very rare fallopian tube cancer.) 

This fact sheet about uterine cancer is part of the Centers for Disease 

Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Inside Knowledge: Get the Facts 

About Gynecologic Cancer campaign. The campaign helps women 

get the facts about gynecologic cancer, providing important “inside 

knowledge” about their bodies and health.

What is uterine cancer?

Cancer is a disease in which cells 

in the body grow out of control. 

Cancer is always named for the part 

of the body where it starts, even if it 

spreads to other body parts later. 

When cancer starts in the uterus, 

it is called uterine cancer. The 

uterus is the pear-shaped organ in 

a woman’s pelvis (the area below 

your stomach and in between your 

hip bones). The uterus, also called 

the womb, is where the baby grows 

when a woman is pregnant.

Vagina

Fallopian Tubes

Ovaries

Uterus

Cervix

Vulva

The most common type of uterine 

cancer is also called endometrial 

cancer because it forms in the lining of 

your uterus, called the endometrium. 

When uterine cancer is found early, 

treatment is most effective. 

What are the signs and 

symptoms of uterine cancer?

Signs and symptoms of uterine 

cancer include:

• Vaginal discharge that is not 

normal for you.

• Abnormal vaginal bleeding. The 

bleeding may be abnormal because 

of how heavy it is or when it 

happens, such as bleeding after 

you have gone through menopause; 

bleeding between periods; or any 

other bleeding that is longer or 

heavier than normal for you.

• Pain or pressure in your pelvis.

Pay attention to your body, and know 

what is normal for you. If you have 

vaginal bleeding that is not normal for 

you, see a doctor right away. If you 

have any of the other signs and they last 

for two weeks or longer, see a doctor. 

These symptoms may be caused by 

something other than cancer, but the 

only way to know is to see your doctor.

Who gets uterine cancer?

All women are at risk for uterine 

cancer, and the risk increases with 

age. Most uterine cancers are 

found in women who are going 

through, or who have gone through 

menopause—the time of life when 

your menstrual periods stop. 

Each year, approximately 35,000 

women in the United States get 

uterine cancer. It is the fourth 

most common cancer in women 

in the United States and it is 

the most commonly diagnosed 

gynecologic cancer. 

Inside Knowledge is an initiative that 

supports the Gynecologic Cancer 

Education and Awareness Act of 2005, or 

Johanna’s Law, which was unanimously 

passed by the U.S. House and Senate in 

December of 2006, and signed into law 

in January 2007. 
What raises a woman’s chance 

of getting uterine cancer?

There is no way to know for sure 

if you will get uterine cancer. 

Some women get it without 

being at high risk. However, the 

following factors may increase a 

woman’s risk for uterine cancer:

• Being older than 50.

• Being obese (having a high 

amount of extra body fat).

• Taking estrogen by itself 

for hormone replacement 

during menopause (without 

also taking the other female 

hormone, progesterone). 

• Having had trouble getting 

pregnant, or fewer than 

five periods in a year at any 

time in your life before starting 

menopause.

• Taking Tamoxifen, a drug 

used to treat certain types 

of breast cancer.

• Having people in your family 

with a history of uterine, colon, 

or ovarian cancer.

If one or more of these things is 

true for you, it does not mean you 

will get uterine cancer. But you 

should speak with your doctor 

to see if he or she recommends 

more frequent exams. 

How can I prevent 

uterine cancer?

There is no known way to 

prevent uterine cancer. But 

these things have been shown

to lower the chance of getting 

uterine cancer:

• Using birth control pills. 

• Maintaining a healthy weight 

and being physically active.

• Taking progesterone (the 

other female hormone) if 

you are taking estrogen to 

replace hormones during 

menopause. 

Are there tests that 

can find uterine 

cancer early?

The Pap test does not screen 

for uterine cancer. The only 

cancer the Pap test screens 

for is cervical cancer. 

Routine testing for uterine 

cancer is not recommended 

for women who have no 

symptoms. This is why you 

need to know the signs of 

uterine cancer and see your 

doctor if you have any of them. 

If you think you may be at high risk 

for uterine cancer, talk with your 

doctor about whether there are 

tests you should have and how 

often you should be checked. 

If you have symptoms or are 

at high risk for uterine cancer, 

your doctor may perform 

an endometrial biopsy or 

transvaginal ultrasound. Your 

doctor may be able to do these 

tests in his or her office, or may 

refer you to another doctor. 

What should I do if my 

doctor says I have 

uterine cancer?

If your doctor says that you have 

uterine cancer, ask to be referred to 

a gynecologic oncologist—a doctor 

who has been trained to treat cancers 

like this. This doctor will work with 

you to create a treatment plan.

Where can I find more 

information about 

uterine and other 

gynecologic cancers? 

Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention: 1-800-CDC-INFO or 

www.cdc.gov/cancer

National Cancer Institute: 

1-800-4-CANCER or www.cancer.gov

CDC Publication #99-9125, Revised May 2010

Get the Facts About Gynecologic Cancer