Ovarian Disorders

The ovaries are a pair of female reproductive glands that make eggs and female hormones. There is one on each side of the uterus, the organ where a fetus grows during pregnancy, and each is about the size and shape of an almond.

The ovaries play a part in menstruation, pregnancy and menopause. They:

• make and store eggs, which are released at ovulation, when an egg leaves the ovary and travels into the fallopian tube; if a sperm fertilizes the egg, pregnancy can result;
• make the female hormones estrogen and progesterone;
• stop making those hormones and releasing eggs at menopause.

Some medical problems affect the ovaries. They can cause a range of symptoms, and some need prompt treatment.

Types of ovarian disorders

• Ovarian cancer: a cancerous tumor in the tissues of an ovary.
• Ovarian cysts: fluid-filled sacs in or on an ovary.
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): a set of symptoms related to a hormone imbalance.
• Primary ovarian insufficiency: when the ovaries stop working before age 40.
• Ovarian torsion: twisting of the ovary.
• Endometriosis: tissue like the lining of the uterus grows elsewhere in the body, and may affect the ovaries, fallopian tubes and tissue lining the pelvis.
• Pelvic inflammatory disease: infection and inflammation of the uterus, ovaries and other reproductive organs.
• Ovarian tumors.

Causes differ from one condition to another, and sometimes they are unknown.

Symptoms

Symptoms depend on the problem. Some disorders, such as ovarian cysts, may cause few or no symptoms; others cause more severe ones. They can include:

• pelvic pain, often during a period;
• nausea or diarrhea;
• vaginal bleeding between periods, or periods that are very heavy or longer than usual;
• vaginal discharge;
• painful menstrual cramps.

Diagnosis and treatment

To find out whether there is a problem with the ovaries, a health care provider will ask about your symptoms and medical history and your family's health history, do a physical exam including a pelvic exam, and may order imaging or blood tests.

Treatment depends on the disorder, the symptoms, overall health and plans for pregnancy. It may include medicines such as pain relievers or hormonal birth control, lifestyle changes to ease symptoms, or sometimes surgery. Ovarian cancer may need surgery, chemotherapy or other targeted therapy.

Sources

• MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, "Ovarian Disorders." https://medlineplus.gov/ovariandisorders.html