If you have a womb, you are at risk of womb cancer. This is relevant to people who were born with a womb and have not had a hysterectomy (surgery to remove the womb).
Womb cancer is the most common gynae cancer, it affects around 9,700 people a year in the UK.
Symptoms
The main symptoms are abnormal bleeding, which includes:
- Bleeding after the menopause
- Bleeding between periods
- Bleeding that is unusually heavy
- Blood-stained discharge – from light to dark brown, pink or red
If you have ovaries, you may still have monthly bleeding with your cycle. If you are taking testosterone, it is likely you may have a change in periods, or they may stop completely. Every person is different, and bodies react differently to hormones. It is important to know what is normal for you, and if anything changes, speak to a doctor.
These symptoms are more likely to be caused by something less serious than cancer, but it is always worth getting them checked, just in case. The earlier cancer is caught, the more treatment options there are available and the best possible chance someone will have of successful treatment, so knowing what to look out for and getting any concerning symptoms checked as soon as possible is really important.
Risk factors
There are several different types of womb cancer, and we don’t often know the cause, but there are some factors we know that can increase risk.
Obesity
Fat cells in the body store oestrogen, even after the menopause, having your ovaries removed, or if you are taking testosterone. Obesity has been linked to womb cancer more than any other cancer, which is likely due to its effect on oestrogen levels. It’s not always possible to prevent womb cancer, but some things are thought to reduce your risk, like maintaining a healthy weight.
Hormones
There is currently not much research out there around the effects of testosterone on gynaecological cancer risk. There are some studies that show, although the evidence isn’t strong, that if you have been taking testosterone and have a womb, you may have an increased risk of womb cancer due to the effect of testosterone on the womb lining (endometrium). The current recommendation is for trans men and non-binary people who have a womb and have been taking testosterone for two or more years to have a pelvic ultrasound every two years. But, the evidence isn’t strong as to whether this is necessary. We would recommend getting any symptoms checked with the doctor.
Family history
A small percentage of womb cancers are linked to a genetic (hereditary) condition called lynch syndrome. If you have womb, bowel and/or ovarian cancer in your family, there is a chance that any cancers may be due to lynch syndrome.
Other risk factors include increasing age, oestrogen only HRT, tamoxifen (used to treat breast cancer), diabetes and polycystic ovaries (PCOS).
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Information updated: November 2024. Next review due: November 2027
More information
If you have any more questions or worries about your gynae health, including womb cancer, you can speak to our Ask Eve nurses for free and confidential information and advice.
