In 90% of cases, womb cancer causes abnormal bleeding from the vagina.
Bleeding may start as light bleeding accompanied by a watery discharge, which may get heavier over time. Most women diagnosed with womb cancer have been through the menopause, so any vaginal bleeding will be unusual.
In women who haven’t been through the menopause, unusual vaginal bleeding may consist of:
- periods that are heavier than usual
- vaginal bleeding in between normal periods
Less common symptoms include pain in the lower abdomen (tummy) and pain during sex.
If womb cancer reaches a more advanced stage, it may cause additional symptoms. These include:
- pain in the back, legs or pelvis
- loss of appetite
- tiredness
- nausea
When to seek medical advice
If you have post-menopausal vaginal bleeding, or notice a change in the normal pattern of your period, visit your GP.
Only one in 10 cases of unusual vaginal bleeding after the menopause are caused by womb cancer, so it’s unlikely your symptoms will be caused by this condition.
However, if you have unusual vaginal bleeding, it is important to get the cause of your symptoms investigated because it may be the result of a number of other potentially serious health conditions, such as polyps or fibroids (non-cancerous growths that can develop inside the uterus). Also, other types of gynaecological cancer can cause unusual vaginal bleeding, particularly cervical cancer.
Want to know more?
- Eve Appeal: what women need to know about womb cancer (PDF, 2.6MB)
- Macmillan: symptoms of womb cancer
- Cancer Research UK: womb cancer symptoms
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