Ovarian cancer — which includes cancer of the fallopian tubes or the peritoneum (lining of the abdomen) — tends to develop later in life. Nearly half of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer are 63 or older. Less commonly, they may develop ovarian cancer when they are younger. About 4.1 percent of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer are aged 20 to 34, and 6.6 percent are aged 35 to 44. Young women are more likely than their older counterparts to experience symptoms from ovarian cancer, and they are more likely to be diagnosed at an earlier stage, leading to a better outlook. However, ovarian cancer treatments may have lasting impacts.

What Causes Ovarian Cancer in Your 30s?

Ovarian cancer occurs when cells in the ovary, fallopian tube, or peritoneum develop gene changes. These changes make cells grow out of control. Most cases of cancer are caused by acquired gene changes — meaning they appear after birth. However, some cases of ovarian cancer are caused by inherited changes, meaning they are passed down from a parent. Inherited gene changes often cause ovarian cancer to develop earlier in life. If you are in your 30s and have breast or ovarian cancer, you may have an inherited gene change, especially if you have a family history of those conditions.

Inherited gene changes may lead to familial cancer syndromes — conditions that lead to a higher risk of developing cancer. About 1 out of 4 cases of ovarian cancer are caused by familial cancer syndromes. Signs of a familial cancer syndrome include:

• Several people in a family having the same type of cancer
• A person developing multiple different types of cancer
• People within a family tending to develop cancer at an earlier-than-usual age

Some women with ovarian cancer have a familial cancer syndrome called hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) syndrome. Women with HBOC syndrome are more likely to develop both breast and ovarian cancer. HBOC syndrome is caused by inherited changes in the BRCA genes (BRCA1 or BRCA2). Women with changes in BRCA1 have a 40 percent to 60 percent chance of developing ovarian cancer, and those with BRCA2 changes have a 20 percent to 35 percent chance. Recently, additional gene changes have been discovered that can lead to other familial cancer syndromes that also increase risk of ovarian cancer.

Not all women who are diagnosed with ovarian cancer in their 30s have inherited mutations. Other risk factors can also increase your chances of developing the condition, including:

• Being overweight
• Having your first full-term pregnancy at the age of 35 or older
• Never having children

Types of Ovarian Cancer Found in Younger Women

There are three main types of ovarian cancer: epithelial, germ cell, and stromal. Each type tends to be more common within certain age ranges. Epithelial and stromal ovarian cancers most often affect older women, while germ cell ovarian cancer usually occurs in those under 30 — including children.

Among women under 40 years, epithelial cancer is the most common type of ovarian cancer, affecting close to 3 out of 4 women with the condition. A little less than 1 out of 4 women in this age group have germ cell tumors. Stromal cancers represent a very small percentage of tumors in women under 40.

Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer in Younger Women

Younger women are more likely to experience ovarian cancer symptoms than are older women. In particular, women who haven’t yet gone through menopause are more likely to have symptoms compared to those who are postmenopausal. Additionally, the younger a person is, the more severe their symptoms are likely to be.

In one study, researchers looked at ovarian cancer symptoms in women between the ages of 15 and 35. Almost all of the women in the study had ovarian cancer symptoms. Certain symptoms were more common than others:

• Half of the participants had pain in the abdomen or back.
• More than 1 out of 3 had bloating or fullness in the abdomen.
• More than 1 out of 3 had gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, gas, diarrhea, or constipation.
• Participants also experienced infertility, abnormal vaginal bleeding, and urinary symptoms — such as needing to urinate often or a burning feeling when urinating.

Other conditions can also lead to these symptoms. However, when these symptoms are caused by ovarian cancer, they tend to occur more often and be more severe. If you notice abdominal pain, bloating, or other symptoms, talk to your doctor.

Effects of Ovarian Cancer Treatments in Your 30s

Treatments for ovarian cancer depend upon the cancer’s type, stage, and grade. A cancer’s stage describes how much the cancer has spread within the body, and a cancer’s grade describes how fast the cancer cells are growing. Treatment options also vary based on a person’s age, overall health, and personal preferences. Most often, ovarian cancer treatments include surgery and chemotherapy.

Women in their 30s should consider the long-term effects of ovarian cancer treatments. Potential concerns include infertility problems, early menopause, and changes in self-confidence or sexuality.

Infertility

Cancer treatments usually cause infertility (not being able to get pregnant). This is because treatments for ovarian cancer often include surgery that removes a woman’s reproductive organs. Surgery may include a hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) or salpingo-oophorectomy (removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes). A woman needs a uterus and at least one ovary and fallopian tube in order to get pregnant naturally.

Some women with germ cell, stromal, or early-stage epithelial ovarian cancers only have cancer in one ovary. In these cases, doctors may be able to remove only the affected ovary. These individuals may be able to get pregnant in the future. However, if there is cancer in both ovaries, surgeons will remove both organs, leading to infertility. If an ovary can be preserved but the person still requires chemotherapy, the treatment may injure that ovary and destroy all the remaining eggs, causing infertility.

If you have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer in your 30s, talk to your doctor about your fertility. Tell your doctor if you hope to have children in the future. Ask your doctor about how different cancer treatments will affect your fertility and what your chances are of being able to become pregnant. You may have other options for having children, including:

• In vitro fertilization — This process involves combining egg cells and sperm cells in the lab and then transferring them to your uterus. It may be an option if you have not had a hysterectomy.
• Surrogacy — In this process, another woman carries an embryo made from one of your eggs or an egg from a donor.
• Adoption or fostering — You may be able to permanently or temporarily become the guardian or parent of someone who is not your biological child.

Early Menopause

Menopause usually happens when a woman is in their late 40s or early 50s. Usually, menopause develops gradually as a woman’s ovaries stop producing hormones. If both ovaries are removed during surgery or damaged during chemotherapy treatments, however, a person will go into menopause immediately. Menopause can cause:

• Hot flashes (suddenly feeling warm)
• Night sweats
• Sleeping problems
• Mood swings
• Dryness of the vagina, skin, eyes, or mouth

If you go through menopause before you turn 40, it is called premature menopause. Going through menopause early may increase your risk of heart disease or osteoporosis (a disease in which the bones become weak). Talk to your doctor about how you can decrease your risk of long-term health problems.

Changes in Self-Confidence and Sexuality

Undergoing ovarian cancer surgery may leave you with physical changes like scars and hair loss. If the cancer spreads to the intestines, you may need a stoma (an opening in the abdomen where waste passes out of the body). The stoma may be temporary. These changes often make people feel self-conscious. Treatments can also cause mental changes, such as depression or trouble focusing. Those who get ovarian cancer treatments may feel embarrassed or frustrated by all of these changes. Some changes may disappear soon after treatment, while others can last for a long time.

Physical and mental changes can also lead to changes in the way a person approaches sex. Menopause can lower your sex drive or cause vaginal dryness. If you are experiencing intimacy changes, know that you are not alone. Talk to your health care team or ask members for advice at MyOvarianCancerTeam. Taking more time for foreplay, using lubrication, and making healthy lifestyle changes may help you make improvements when it comes to intimacy.

Outlook for Ovarian Cancer in Your 30s

Younger women with ovarian cancer tend to have a better outlook than those who are older. Compared with older adults, women in their 30s are more likely to be diagnosed with early-stage, low-grade tumors. These cancers have not spread as far and grow more slowly. Early detection of ovarian cancer increases a person’s chances of having a good outcome.

Younger women have fewer deaths from ovarian cancer than do older women. About 28.4 percent of ovarian cancer deaths occur among people aged 65 to 74. However, just 0.8 percent of deaths affect people aged 20 to 34, and 2.2 percent of deaths occur in people aged 35 to 44.

Other factors also play a big role in a person’s outlook, including overall health, type of ovarian cancer, and cancer stage.

Talk With Others Who Understand

MyOvarianCancerTeam is the social network for people with ovarian cancer and their loved ones. Members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with ovarian cancer.

Are you living with ovarian cancer in your 30s? Share your experiences in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on MyOvarianCancerTeam.