Gynecologic oncology is a specialized medical field focused on the diagnosis and treatment of cancers affecting the female reproductive system, including ovarian, uterine, cervical, vaginal, and vulvar cancers. In the U.S., over 80,000 women are diagnosed annually with these cancers, which comprise 10-15% of all women's cancers and can affect fertility in younger patients. Evidence indicates that receiving treatment at specialized centers significantly prolongs patient survival, particularly for ovarian cancer, with a common approach being combination therapy involving surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy.

While symptoms vary, common signs include abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge and pelvic pain; for instance, vulvar cancer may present as persistent itching or a visible mass. Key risk factors include obesity, strongly linked to endometrial and some ovarian cancers, and genetic mutations like BRCA1 and BRCA2, which significantly increase ovarian cancer risk. Furthermore, Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is a primary cause of cervical, vaginal, and vulvar cancers, and smoking also doubles the risk for cervical and vulvar cancers by damaging DNA and impairing the immune system.