The study, published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology this week, found tumour DNA in cells left on tampons used by women who had been diagnosed with the cancer.

In 60 per cent of women who still had their fallopian tubes intact, tumour cells were detected.

The study had a small sample size of 33 women, and only five with advanced ovarian cancer still had their fallopian tubes intact.

The presence of fallopian tubes is crucial, as these connect the ovaries with other parts of the female reproductive system, allowing the cancer cells in the ovary to travel.

The researchers, who included Charles Landen and Britt Erickson from the University of Alabama, deemed the detection rate too low for the test to be used to screen women in the general population.

But the report said this approach "may hold promise for early detection of this deadly disease".

In 2011, 903 women died from ovarian cancer, according to figures from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. This year more than 1400 Australian women are expected to be diagnosed with the disease.

The risk of developing this type of cancer increases with age, and the average age of diagnosis in Australia is 64.4.

Ovarian Cancer Australia chief executive Alison Amos said the disease was currently difficult to diagnose.

"The most common symptoms are abdominal pain or bloating, feeling full and needing to urinate urgently," she said. "But these are symptoms of a whole range of conditions.

"Most women are diagnosed at an advanced stage and the outcomes for those women are very poor."

In the study, women undergoing surgery for a pelvic mass inserted a tampon before the surgery. Cells were then isolated on the tampon and DNA was extracted from the cells on the tampon and the tumour.

In patients with advanced serous ovarian cancer, TP53 mutations, indicative of the cancer, were present on both sets of DNA.

Dr Landon told LiveScience the next step would be to repeat the experiment with a larger group of women.

"What we need to do is pick up early-stage or even precancerous lesions, before it becomes malignant," he said.

Ms Amos said the research was the first of its kind.

"It's novel in its approach and promising in terms of them being able to extract DNA and find it in a number of cases," she said. "It's still very early, but it's interesting and could hold some promise."

Currently, ovarian cancer is diagnosed in a two-step process involving a blood test and transvaginal ultrasound.

In November, Ovarian Cancer Australia will launch a national action plan designed to improve research into the disease.

"Women deserve a co-ordinated, collective approach to tackling the disease and that's what we intend to deliver," Ms Amos said.