Symptoms of womb cancer

Womb cancer is sometimes called endometrial cancer. The endometrium is the lining of the womb. Endometrial cancer is the most common type of womb cancer.

The most common symptom of womb cancer is abnormal bleeding from the vagina. This is especially in women who have stopped having periods (post menopausal women). 

Symptoms of womb cancer can include:

  • bleeding after the menopause
  • bleeding that is unusually heavy or persistent between periods
  • an abnormal vaginal discharge that might be pink

Heavy bleeding is a common symptom of many other conditions, such as:

  • endometriosis
  • fibroids
  • thickening of the womb lining (endometrial hyperplasia)
  • growths (polyps) in the womb lining
  • bleeding with no obvious underlying cause, also called dysfunctional uterine bleeding

Less common symptoms

Less common symptoms of womb cancer include blood in the urine (haematuria) with either a:

  • low red blood cell level (anaemia)
  • high platelet count (thrombocytosis)
  • high blood sugar level

Other symptoms

Other symptoms of womb cancer may include:

  • tummy (abdominal) pain

  • a swollen tummy

  • bloating

  • a change in bowel or bladder habits

  • a new cough

If you have any of these symptoms, you must get them checked by your GP. But remember, they can all be caused by other conditions. Most people with these symptoms don’t have womb cancer.

  • Suspected cancer: recognition and referral
    National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE), June 2015

  • Scottish referral guidelines for suspected cancer

    NHS Scotland, May 2023

  • British Gynaecological Cancer Society (BGCS) uterine cancer guidelines: recommendations for practice
    J Morrison and others
    European Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, March 2022. Volume 270, Pages 50 to 89

  • Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology (12th edition)

    VT DeVita, TS Lawrence, SA Rosenberg

    Wolters Kluwer, 2023

  • Endometrial carcinoma: Clinical features, diagnosis, prognosis, and screening

    L Chen and others

    UpToDate website

    Accessed February 2024

Last reviewed: 
09 Feb 2024
Next review due: 
09 Feb 2027

Related links