Abstract: To investigate the effect of homemade Megestrol (Megestrol Acetate- Schering Capsule) in patients with advanced or recurrent ovarian carcinoma. Methods: Sixty- four cases with advanced or recurrent ovarian carcinoma were randomly divided into two groups, i.e. 30 cases in the treatment group receiving conventional chemotherapy and megestrol acetate and 34 cases in the control group treated with chemotherapy alone. The quality of life (QOL) and toxicity were evaluated by the clinical benefit response and WHO criteria respectively. Results: In the treatment group, improvement of appetite was shown in 22 cases (73.3%), body weight gain in 18 (58.9%), and Karnofsky' scale (KPS scale) enhancement in 16 (53.3%). The results in treatment group were superior compared to the controls(P<0.05). Conclusions: Megestrol has a beneficial effect on improvement of the quality of life of the patients with advanced or recurrent ovarian carcinoma, while its toxic side effects were not obvious.