Every year, about 50,000 women are diagnosed with uterine or endometrial cancer. It is more prevalent among women after menopause and occurs at the ages between 50 and 60 and more so among women who are obese. The most common symptoms are a pain in the abdomen and the pelvic area, heavy or abnormal vaginal bleeding and pain during intercourse.

Causes
No specific causes have yet been isolated for uterine cancer, but a careful analysis of patients have helped doctors identify risk factors for women. It should also be noted that women who have one or more of the risk factors identified can live a healthy life without cancer.

• Hormones
  The balance of estrogen and progesterone is affected during and after menopause and the changes in these hormone levels increase the risk of endometrial cancer as the ovaries stop producing these hormones.
• Estrogen therapy
  Many women undergo hormone therapy during menopause to reduce symptoms of hot flashes and to prevent osteoporosis. Sometimes women take estrogen hormones without progesterone. This puts them at risk. Both have to taken together not only to improve menopausal symptoms but also to reduce the risk of uterine cancer.
• Long years of menstruation
  Women who had their menarche – their first period – very early and their menopause in their middle or later 50s are at risk.
• Pregnancy
  Women who have never conceived or unable to conceive are at high risk as pregnancy produces more progesterone and keeps them safe from uterine cancer.
• Medication
  A medicine that is used to treat breast cancer, namely, Tamoxifen can cause the lining in the uterus to grow leading to uterine cancer. Women who have been treated for breast cancer with Tamoxifen should undergo periodic screening to prevent being affected by uterine cancer. Though the percentage of people affected by Tamoxifen is very small, it is advised to be cautious.
• Obesity
  Women who are obese and who have a high BMI, normally have high estrogen levels, increasing the risk for uterine cancer.
• Diabetes and heredity
  Women with diabetes and those with blood relatives who have had uterine cancer are at high risk.
• Previous history of cancer
  Women who have had a previous history of breast or ovarian cancer are at risk for being affected by uterine cancer too. Radiation therapy also increases the risk.
• Tumor in the ovaries
  A particular type of ovarian tumor called the granulosa cell tumor produces estrogen and increases its levels leading to uterine cancer.
• Polycystic ovarian syndrome
  In this condition, women have higher male hormones and estrogen compared to progesterone. The higher levels of estrogen directly put women at a higher risk.
• Diet
  Women who consume a fatty diet over long periods of time are at a risk too

Women who have been using birth control pills are at low risk even after 10 years after stopping the usage of such pills. Similarly, women who use birth control devices particularly intrauterine device are also at considerably lower risk. Women who lead a healthy lifestyle that is a combination of a low-fat diet combined with a brisk physical activity for at least 30 minutes a day are at much lower risk.