Can Ovarian Cancer Make You Need to Urinate Frequently?

Hello, friend.

As a two-time survivor of a rare form of ovarian cancer, I’m aware that catching it early is extremely important. Unfortunately the symptoms of ovarian cancer can be hard to spot, or can seem like they are caused by something else. One of these is the need to urinate frequently or urgently.

How Does Ovarian Cancer Relate to Urinary Frequency or Urgency?

You may be wondering, "What is the connection between ovarian cancer and urinary frequency or urgency?" I get it. That isn’t obvious. That’s why we’re going to take the time to explore this together. First let’s define urinary frequency and urgency.

• Have you noticed an increased need to urinate, even when your fluid intake hasn't significantly changed?

  (Translation: Do you have to pee more often but you haven’t been drinking more?)

• Do you experience a sense of urgency, feeling the need to rush to the bathroom more frequently than before?

  (Translation: Do you suddenly realize you have to pee REALLY BADLY and have to run to the bathroom?)

• Have you observed changes in your urinary patterns, such as needing to wake up at night to urinate?

  (Translation: Is anything different about how often or when you have to pee? Like getting up to pee in the night when you used to be able to sleep right through?)

These symptoms can be indicative of urinary frequency or urgency, which may occur in the presence of ovarian cancer. If you are experiencing these issues persistently and they are unrelated to other causes, it's essential to discuss them with your healthcare professional for further evaluation.

One key thing to pay attention to in that statement is “unrelated to other causes” because there can be a lot of causes of urinary frequency or urgency, particularly for women. I know, I hear you, ladies. You’re like, “I’m a woman, I have to pee all the time as it is… like when I have my period, or a yeast infection, or a UTI, or a baby sitting on my bladder, or because babies used to sit on my bladder or…” Yeaaaaaaahhhh… there can be a lot of reasons for us to have this symptom. Which is why we sometimes MISS ovarian cancer.

That’s why if you experience increased urinary frequency or urgency that:

Is persistent (doesn’t go away)

And/or is progressive (gets worse)

That you are certain is not due to another cause…

Get it checked out by your OB/GYN in addition to any other doctor you may see to determine the cause. In fact, even if you think you know the cause, it can be a good idea to get a change like this checked out by an OB/GYN. What does it hurt? If they rule out a gynecologic cause, that’s a good thing.

What Causes Urinary Frequency or Urgency in Ovarian Cancer?

At this point you may be wondering, why on EARTH ovarian cancer could affect how often or how badly you need to pee.

Let's explore possible factors:

Tumor Pressure: As ovarian tumors grow, they can exert pressure on the bladder, leading to an increased urge to urinate or a feeling of urgency.

So that’s simple, right? In an area with lots of organs packed close together, a growing tumor takes up space and can SQUISH your bladder, making you feel like you have to pee more often or more urgently.

Pelvic Floor Dysfunction: Ovarian cancer can affect the pelvic floor muscles and nerves, leading to changes in bladder control and urinary patterns.

Sigh. The pelvic floor. How women learn to be annoyed with this particular area of our bodies. It turns out that the pelvic floor, which helps control peeing (as we all know because if it gets weakened by things like childbirth, it can lead to greater difficulty holding in pee), can be affected by an ovarian cancer tumor, which can press on or even invade these muscles and nerves.

Inflammation: Inflammatory processes associated with ovarian cancer can impact the urinary system, resulting in urinary frequency or urgency.

Ovarian cancer can lead to fluid buildup in the abdomen or pelvic known as ascites (uh-sy-tees). It can also cause generalized inflammation/swelling. Either of these can cause pressure on the bladder that affects your feeling of needing to go.

By recognizing these potential causes, you can work closely with your healthcare team to develop strategies for symptom management.

Pre-Diagnosis - Go Get Checked Out by Your OB/GYN

If you haven’t been diagnosed and are experiencing this symptom, you need to go to your OB/GYN and tell him/her what you’re experiencing and your concerns so they know this specifically and are looking for the possibility of ovarian cancer. As mentioned above, this symptom can be caused by MANY MANY things that are not cancer, so if you’re suddenly peeing more, you don’t need to panic. But you do need to rule it out.

Ovarian cancer is often called the “silent killer” because it’s so hard to recognize the symptoms are related to a cancer that it’s often caught quite late. When caught earlier, patients have a much better chance of winning the battle. That’s why taking seemingly unrelated symptoms seriously and seeing the OB/GYN and making sure he/she KNOWS you’re having this symptom and concerned about possible cancer it’s important.

Post - Diagnosis - How Can You Manage Urinary Frequency or Urgency?

One of the unfortunate potential outcomes of ovarian cancer treatment can also be urinary frequency or urgency because treatment can sometimes cause damage to areas like the pelvic floor. If you are experiencing urinary frequency or urgency related to ovarian cancer treatment, there are strategies you can employ to help manage this symptom. Consider the following:

Talk to Your Healthcare Team: Discuss your symptoms openly with your healthcare provider, as they can offer guidance and tailor a management plan specific to your needs.

Bladder Training: Practice techniques to gradually increase the time between bathroom trips, helping to retrain your bladder and reduce the frequency and urgency of urination.

Pelvic Floor Exercises: Engage in pelvic floor exercises, such as Kegels, to strengthen the muscles supporting bladder control and improve urinary symptoms.

Fluid Management: Monitor your fluid intake, making adjustments to avoid excessive consumption of fluids close to bedtime to minimize nighttime bathroom visits.

One side effect of the size of the Boomer generation is that lots more dollars are being devoted to geriatric care as they age. This means that other causes of urinary frequency and urgency in woman that are related to aging are being researched and addressed with new solutions. All that basically means that you may have a lot more options for helping to manage and reduce urinary frequency and urgency than women did in the past. Be sure to ask your healthcare providers for all options from medications to medical devices to exercises to absorbent underwear.

Conclusion

Ovarian cancer doesn’t have to sneak up on you. If you experience any symptom in your abdomen or pelvic area—like an increase in urinary frequency and urgency—make an appointment with an OB/GYN to get checked out.

This blog post aims to provide information and support, but it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you have concerns or questions, consult with a qualified healthcare provider.

References:

American Cancer Society. (2021). Ovarian Cancer Early Detection. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.org/cancer/ovarian-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/detection.html

Mayo Clinic. (2022). Ovarian Cancer. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ovarian-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20375941