The term "endometrial cancer" refers to cancer of the uterus. It develops in the uterine lining (the endometrium). Uterine sarcoma is a rarer type of cancer that starts in the uterus' muscle or other tissues. 

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), around 63,230 new instances of uterine cancer will be detected in 2018, with approximately 11,350 women dying from the disease. Uterine cancer is the fourth most frequent cancer in women in the United States, but if found early enough, it can typically be treated with surgery.

Below are 7 signs that you may be at risk for endometrial cancer.

1. You experience constant pelvic pain and bloating 
Endometrial cancer symptoms may also be experienced by premenopausal women. If you experience pelvic pain, bloating or feeling fuller than usual; changes in bowel or bladder habits; stomach pain it might indicate endometrial cancer. It's usually better to be safe than sorry, so report any strange symptoms to your doctor, especially if they continue for more than two weeks.

2. You have postmenopausal bleeding 
Endometrial cancer symptoms exist, but many women overlook them. Any postmenopausal bleeding should be investigated. There are a variety of noncancerous causes, but excluding endometrial cancer should be the first step. 

In younger women, heavy or irregular bleeding is also worth considering. Talk to your doctor if your bleeding pattern changes, or if the amount or length of time you bleed changes. Endometrial biopsy is a straightforward procedure that can rule out cancer and give you peace of mind.

3. You’re overweight or obese 
Postmenopausal women are more likely to get endometrial cancer. The typical age of diagnosis is 60, but younger women are being diagnosed with endometrial cancer at an alarming rate. The obesity pandemic is most likely to blame. The female sex hormone estrogen is produced by fat cells, and this additional estrogen can build up in the body, increasing the risk of endometrial cancer.

"Women with endometrial cancer are considerably more likely to die from heart disease than cancer (if found early) since the extra fat that underlies endometrial cancer also causes heart disease," says the study.

4. You have a family history of uterine or colon cancer 
Lynch syndrome is a hereditary disorder that raises your chances of developing colon, endometrial, and other cancers. Talk to your doctor about Lynch syndrome genetic testing if you have a family history of uterine or colon cancer, especially among younger family members. If you have Lynch syndrome, aggressive cancer screening and/or risk-reduction surgery may help you beat these cancers.

5. You’re on hormone replacement therapy 
In women who still have a uterus, taking estrogen alone (without progesterone) to relieve some of the symptoms of menopause can increase the risk of endometrial cancer. This is why these women's regimens include a progestin. 

Endometrial cancer rates climbed considerably from 2002 to 2009, according to research published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, following a sharp decline in the use of such combination hormone replacement treatment (HRT) as a result of findings from the Women's Health Initiative.

The HRT component of this large-scale study was halted early after researchers discovered a link between estrogen and progesterone use and breast cancer (as well as heart disease, stroke, and blood clots).

6. You have diabetes 
According to the American Cancer Society, endometrial cancer is four times more likely in women who have diabetes. This rise is most likely due to higher-than-normal insulin levels, which can encourage cancer cells to thrive. 

Getting your diabetes under control can help reduce your risk of uterine cancer. Maintaining a healthy weight and exercising regularly can help minimize the chance of endometrial cancer and can also help with diabetes.

7. You have fertility problems 
Endometrial cancer is known to be linked to an increase in estrogen levels in the body, and it appears that infertility, but not its treatments, may also increase this risk. We believe that this elevated risk is due to lifetime estrogen exposure and the lack of estrogen break during pregnancy. To put it another way, the more menstrual cycles you have, the more likely you are to get this cancer. Birth control pills reduce your chance of endometrial cancer for the same reasons.