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Endometrial Cancer: Early Detection

Learn about expert guidelines for endometrial cancer early detection and who should get screened. Stay up to date by signing up for our community newsletter.

Risk Management & Treatment > Screening and Risk Reduction > By Cancer Type > Endometrial > Endometrial Cancer: Early Detection

Overview Endometrial Cancer: Early Detection Endometrial Cancer: Medications to Reduce Risk Endometrial Cancer: Hysterectomy to Reduce Risk

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Screening for Endometrial Cancer

Endometrial cancer often causes symptoms. For this reason, experts recommend that all women should be aware of the signs and symptoms of endometrial cancer. Currently experts do not recommend screening healthy women at average risk for endometrial cancer. There are expert guidelines that outline options for endometrial cancer screening for high-risk women that are outlined in the sections below.

This section covers the following topics:

Endometrial cancer symptoms	Guidelines for high-risk women
Types of screening	Resources

Note that when we use the terms "female" and "women" we are referring to people assigned female at birth.

What are the signs of endometrial cancer?

All women should be educated on the possible signs of endometrial cancer and report any of the following to their doctor:

unusual vaginal bleeding
pelvic or abdominal pain
bloating
abdominal distension
difficulty eating
increased urinary frequency or urgency
pain during sex

Importantly, these symptoms do not mean you definitely have cancer, other conditions can cause the signs listed above.

Types of endometrial cancer screening

Screening for endometrial cancer in high-risk women may include a combination of the following:

A pelvic exam involves the doctor carefully feeling the pelvic area for any changes that might be cancer.
A transvaginal uses sound waves to look for any thickening of the endometrial wall. This test works best for screening in post-menopausal women.
Endometrial biopsies involve removing a small sample of endometrial tissue under local anesthesia. A pathologist will examine the tissue under a microscope and perform special tests to look for cancer or other abnormalities. Endometrial biopsies are quick outpatient procedures.

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Endometrial cancer screening guidelines

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), is an organization of cancer experts that creates guidelines on cancer care and updates them yearly. NCCN guideline are listed below for people with mutations in the following genes.

Type of Screening	Recommendation	Additional Information
Symptom awareness	Learn to be aware of the symptoms of endometrial cancer and immediately report any symptoms to your doctor. Keep a diary of menstrual cycles in order to detect any changes in bleeding.	Symptoms of endometrial cancer include: unusual vaginal bleeding pelvic or abdominal pain bloating or distended belly difficulty eating increased urination or pressure to urinate
Endometrial biopsy	Discuss with your doctor the benefits, risks and costs of an endometrial biospsy every 1-2 years.	More research is needed to prove that high risk individuals benefit from screening biopsies in the absence of symptoms. Endometrial biopsy is an accurate test for finding cancer.
Transvaginal ultrasound	Discuss the benefits, risks and costs of regular endometrial cancer screening through transvaginal ultrasound.	Endometrial cancer screening does not have proven benefit in high-risk individuals. Despite this, some people prefer to undergo regular screening through transvaginal ultrasound.
Source: NCCN Guidelines: Genetic/Familial High-Risk Assessment: Colorectal, Endometrial, and Gastric; v2. 2025

Recommendations vary by gene. People with a mutation in one of these genes should have a conversation with their healthcare professional about the benefits, limitations and costs of screening and other risk management options.