• Ovarian cancer is the seventh most common cancer and the fifth leading cause of cancer death among people with ovaries in the United States.

• Testosterone may increase the risk of ovarian cancer in transmen. Excess testosterone can be converted into estrogen, which may contribute to an elevated risk for ovarian cancer.

• Ovarian cancer is sometimes called the “silent killer” because there are usually no clear symptoms until it has spread.

• The pap test does not check for ovarian cancer.

• Survival rate is 93 percent if the cancer is diagnosed at an early stage before it has spread. Only 19 percent of ovarian cancer cases are diagnosed at this local stage.

Ovarian cancer can be difficult to diagnose because symptoms are sometimes subtle and easily confused with those of other conditions. Early-stage ovarian cancer often does produce symptoms, which include:

• Swelling or pain in the abdomen.
• Loss of appetite and feeling full even after a light meal.
• The need to urinate frequently.
• Nausea and a bloated feeling.
• Persistent constipation or diarrhea

Pay attention to your body, and know what is normal for you.

• If you notice any changes in your body that are not normal for you and could be a sign of ovarian cancer, talk to your doctor about them and ask about possible causes, such as ovarian cancer.
• Ask your doctor if you should have a test, such as a rectovaginal pelvic exam, a transvaginal ultrasound, or a CA-125 blood test if—
• • You have any unexplained signs or symptoms of ovarian cancer. These tests sometimes help find or rule out ovarian cancer.
  • You have had breast, uterine, or colorectal cancer; or if a close relative has had ovarian cancer.

Work with a knowledgeable doctor who can monitor your hormone levels.  By adjusting your T dosage based on your current hormone levels, a doctor can prevent an excess of testosterone and estrogen -- thus reducing your risk of ovarian cancer. 

Know if you may be at a higher risk; and if so, what action to take. Factors that increase risk include: increasing age; personal or family history of ovarian, breast or colon cancer; and never having been pregnant or born a child. Yet, all people with ovaries are at risk. Ninety percent of people diagnosed with ovarian cancer do not have a family history that might put them at a higher risk for ovarian cancer.

The documentary movie, Southern Comfort (1998), follows female-to-male transexual, Robert Eads, through the later part of his life as he eventually succumbs to ovarian cancer.  The film won the Sundance Grand Jury Prize for documentaries in 2001.