Ovarian diseases refer to diseases or disorders of the

ovary The ovary is an organ in the female reproductive system that produces an ovum. When released, this travels down the fallopian tube into the uterus, where it may become fertilized by a sperm. There is an ovary () found on each side of the body. ...

. These can be classified as endocrine disorders or as a disorders of the

reproductive system The reproductive system of an organism, also known as the genital system, is the biological system made up of all the anatomical organs involved in sexual reproduction. Many non-living substances such as fluids, hormones, and pheromones are ...

. If the egg fails to release from the follicle in the

ovarian cyst An ovarian cyst is a fluid-filled sac within the ovary. Often they cause no symptoms. Occasionally they may produce bloating, lower abdominal pain, or lower back pain. The majority of cysts are harmless. If the cyst either breaks open or causes ...

may form. Small

s are common in healthy women. Some women have more follicles than usual (

polycystic ovary syndrome Polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, is the most common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age. The syndrome is named after the characteristic cysts which may form on the ovaries, though it is important to note that this is a sign and no ...

), which inhibits the follicles to grow normally and this will cause cycle irregularities. Various types of ovarian diseases exist. Some of the ovarian diseases or disorders include:

endometriosis Endometriosis is a disease of the female reproductive system in which cells similar to those in the endometrium, the layer of tissue that normally covers the inside of the uterus, grow outside the uterus. Most often this is on the ovaries, fa ...

s, ovarian epithelial cancer, ovarian germ cell tumors, ovarian low malignant potential tumors, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Endometriosis

Endometriosis Endometriosis is a disease of the female reproductive system in which cells similar to those in the endometrium, the layer of tissue that normally covers the inside of the uterus, grow outside the uterus. Most often this is on the ovaries, fa ...

is a condition in which tissues lining the uterus (endometrial stroma and gland) grows abnormally beyond the uterus that may become quite painful. In simpler terms, it means that the tissue lining the uterus develops in different parts outside of it. It can be either at ovary, fallopian tubes, or peritoneal spaces. There is no single cause of endometriosis. Symptoms: Menstrual cramps, heavy menstrual bleeding, bowel or urinary problems, nausea, vomiting, blood with stools, painful intercourse, fatigues, spotting or bleeding between periods. Treatment: # Surgery at extreme situations # Hormonal treatments using birth controls. # Healthier lifestyle.

Ovarian cysts

It is common for many women to develop a cyst in their lifetime. At times, these can go unnoticed without pain or visible symptoms. A cyst may develop in either of the ovaries that are responsible for producing hormones and carrying eggs in the bodies of women. Ovarian cysts can be of various types like

dermoid cyst A dermoid cyst is a teratoma of a cystic nature that contains an array of developmentally mature, solid tissues. It frequently consists of skin, hair follicles, and sweat glands, while other commonly found components include clumps of long hair ...

s, endometrioma cysts and the functional cyst being the most common on

Symptoms: # Abdominal bloating or swelling. # Painful bowel movement. # Pelvic pain before or after the

menstrual cycle The menstrual cycle is a series of natural changes in hormone production and the structures of the uterus and ovaries of the female reproductive system that make pregnancy possible. The ovarian cycle controls the production and release of eggs ...

. # Painful intercourse. # Pain in the lower back or thighs. # Breast tenderness. # Nausea and vomiting. # Fever. # Rapid breathing. # Faintness or dizziness. # Sharp pelvic pain. Treatment: # Taking of

oral contraceptives Oral contraceptives, abbreviated OCPs, also known as birth control pills, are medications taken by mouth for the purpose of birth control. Female Two types of female oral contraceptive pill, taken once per day, are widely available: * The combi ...

or birth control pills as prescribed by the doctor. #

Laparoscopy Laparoscopy () is an operation performed in the abdomen or pelvis using small incisions (usually 0.5–1.5 cm) with the aid of a camera. The laparoscope aids diagnosis or therapeutic interventions with a few small cuts in the abdomen.Medlin ...

: Surgery to remove the cyst. #

Hysterectomy Hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the uterus. It may also involve removal of the cervix, ovaries ( oophorectomy), Fallopian tubes ( salpingectomy), and other surrounding structures. Usually performed by a gynecologist, a hysterectomy may b ...

in case the cyst is cancerous.

Ovarian epithelial cancer

It is one of the common ovarian cancers that affect women worldwide. It develops outside the ovaries and ultimately spreads outside and can affect other organs. Causes: It may happen if there is a family medical history of

breast cancer Breast cancer is cancer that develops from breast tissue. Signs of breast cancer may include a lump in the breast, a change in breast shape, dimpling of the skin, milk rejection, fluid coming from the nipple, a newly inverted nipple, or ...

colon cancer Colorectal cancer (CRC), also known as bowel cancer, colon cancer, or rectal cancer, is the development of cancer from the colon or rectum (parts of the large intestine). Signs and symptoms may include blood in the stool, a change in bowe ...

rectal cancer Colorectal cancer (CRC), also known as bowel cancer, colon cancer, or rectal cancer, is the development of cancer from the colon or rectum (parts of the large intestine). Signs and symptoms may include blood in the stool, a change in bowel ...

uterine cancer Uterine cancer, also known as womb cancer, includes two types of cancer that develop from the tissues of the uterus. Endometrial cancer forms from the lining of the uterus, and uterine sarcoma forms from the muscles or support tissue of the ut ...

, or Lynch syndrome. If someone is under

Estrogen Replacement Therapy Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), also known as menopausal hormone therapy or postmenopausal hormone therapy, is a form of hormone therapy used to treat symptoms associated with female menopause. These symptoms can include hot flashes, vaginal ...

for a long time. Smoking habits may also lead to the same

Treatment: # Surgery to remove the uterus. #

Chemotherapy Chemotherapy (often abbreviated to chemo and sometimes CTX or CTx) is a type of cancer treatment that uses one or more anti-cancer drugs (chemotherapeutic agents or alkylating agents) as part of a standardized chemotherapy regimen. Chemother ...

Ovarian germ cell tumors

Ovarian germ cell tumors are common among teenagers and young women. It is a growth in the ovaries

Causes: Though the exact causes are not known, it may happen owing to certain birth defects affecting the genitals, nervous system or the urinary tract. There may be genetic conditions affecting the sex chromosomes that result in these kind of tumors as well. Symptoms # Belly swelling. # Pain or pressure in the belly. # Swollen abdomen. # Vaginal bleeding after

menopause Menopause, also known as the climacteric, is the time in women's lives when menstrual periods stop permanently, and they are no longer able to bear children. Menopause usually occurs between the age of 47 and 54. Medical professionals often d ...

. Treatment: # Surgery to remove the tumor, or the

Fallopian tube The fallopian tubes, also known as uterine tubes, oviducts or salpinges (singular salpinx), are paired tubes in the human female that stretch from the uterus to the ovaries. The fallopian tubes are part of the female reproductive system. In o ...

s or one or more ovaries. # Hysterectomy. # Chemotherapy in case the tumor is cancerous. #

Radiation therapy Radiation therapy or radiotherapy, often abbreviated RT, RTx, or XRT, is a therapy using ionizing radiation, generally provided as part of cancer treatment to control or kill malignant cells and normally delivered by a linear accelerator. Rad ...

to prevent the cancerous cells from developing.

Ovarian low malignant potential tumors

The tumor forms in the ovaries and gradually spreads to the outside of ovary. This mostly affects younger women and also hinders the reproductive system. Causes: Causes are debatable and these may occur to both pregnant women and women who do not opt for pregnancy Symptoms: # Abdominal pain or swelling. # Bowel problems or constipation. Treatment: Depending on the size of the tumor, choice of pregnancy, the spreading of the tumor, age and choices, removing the affected ovary is the most common treatment. In rare situations, the tumor is taken out of the ovary. Also, hysterectomy can be an option.

Polycystic ovary syndrome

This is a hormonal imbalance, where

androgen An androgen (from Greek ''andr-'', the stem of the word meaning "man") is any natural or synthetic steroid hormone that regulates the development and maintenance of male characteristics in vertebrates by binding to androgen receptors. This in ...

s (also called male hormones) are elevated. The increased level of androgens may result in irregular menstrual cycle and diabetes and heart problem in the long run. It also affects the body in various ways like problem getting pregnant, sleep apnea, depression and anxiety, can enhance the risk of endometrial cancer. Symptoms: # Irregular periods. # Heavy bleeding during periods. # Excess hair growth on face and other parts of the body like chest, back, belly. # Acne. # Weight gain. # Darkening of skin. # Headaches. Treatment: # Oral contraceptives to promote regular periods # Healthier lifestyle. Other conditions include: *

Ovarian cancer Ovarian cancer is a cancerous tumor of an ovary. It may originate from the ovary itself or more commonly from communicating nearby structures such as fallopian tubes or the inner lining of the abdomen. The ovary is made up of three different ...

Luteoma A luteoma is a tumor that occurs in the ovaries during pregnancy. It is associated with an increase of sex hormones, primarily progesterone and testosterone. The size of the tumor can range from 1 to 25 cm in diameter, but is usually 6 to 10 ...

Hypogonadism Hypogonadism means diminished functional activity of the gonads—the testes or the ovaries—that may result in diminished production of sex hormones. Low androgen (e.g., testosterone) levels are referred to as hypoandrogenism and low estroge ...

* Hyperthecosis

References

External links

{{Diseases of the pelvis and genitals Noninflammatory disorders of female genital tract