The term, ovarian cancer, is used to refer to a malignancy of the outer lining or epithelium of the ovary. The most common subtype is called papillary serous carcinoma because of the frond-like appearance microscopically. The second most common subtype is endometrioid. Mucinous and clear cell carcinoma are less common subtypes and tend to have a poorer prognosis.

I was enjoying a casual dinner the other night, when all of a sudden my heart started racing. I broke out in a cold sweat and I was shaking, dizzy and short of breath. It was really scary - I thought I was having a heart attack! See similar questions...

A cyst is a fluid filled cavity. Cysts can often be found in the ovaries. Ovarian cysts are usually diagnosed by pelvic exam or ultrasound. If the cyst is entirely filled with fluid it is called a "simple cyst." Ovarian follicles as they undergo maturation may appear on an ultrasound as simple cysts or occasionally as complex cysts. These cysts usually resolve within one to two months. Simple cysts are almost always benign. See similar questions...

A functional ovarian cyst is a round, thin-walled, clear fluid-filled sac that develops in the ovary as part of normal egg development. When it is on the ovary's surface, a functional ovarian cyst looks something like a skin blister. A normal ovarian cyst can grow as large as 1.5 in. (3.8 cm) as it prepares to release an egg into the abdomen (ovulation). When an ovarian cyst does not release its egg, it continues to grow, becoming larger than normal (functional ovarian cyst). See similar questions...

The causes of ovarian cancer remain poorly understood. One hypothesis is that an increased number of ovulations increase the risk of ovarian cancer. A second theory is that high chronic levels of pituitary hormones that stimulate the ovary (pituitary gonadotropins) can somehow lead to cancer. See similar questions...

The other complications result from an enlarged ovary. It may twist upon itself and result in torsion, or it may bleed or rupture, requiring operation. Sometimes a functional cyst persists after the cycle is over. See similar questions...

This is a condition in which many follicles are produced and cause accumulation of fluid in the abdomen and sometimes in the chest. The abdominal fluid causes bloating. The fluid in the chest causes breathlessness. This condition is usually temporary. However women with poly cystic ovaries have an increased sensitivity to FSH and are more susceptible to severe hyperstimulation. See similar questions...

Ovarian cancer is cancer in the ovaries, the female reproductive organs located in the pelvis. The ovaries make female hormones and store eggs that, if fertilized by sperm, can develop into a baby. Women have two ovaries, one on each side of the uterus. Tumors found in the ovaries may be noncancerous tissue growths (cysts) or cancerous growths that may spread to other parts of the body. See similar questions...

There is no reliable study to support the claim that infertility treatment causes ovarian cancer. One highly publicized study suggested a link between ovarian cancer in women who had received ovulation induction drugs. These women were also infertile and infertile women are at greater risk for ovarian cancer whether or not they receive ovulation induction drugs. It was not possible to determine if the increased risk was due to the women's infertility or drug treatment. See similar questions...

A functional ovarian cyst is caused by one or more slight changes in the way the ovary produces or releases an egg. If you are postmenopausal, you are not ovulating and rarely develop a functional ovarian cyst. But in the five years after menopause, some women still have functional ovarian cysts occasionally. It is also possible to have one that you developed when you were still ovulating. See similar questions...

Most commonly, ovarian cancer spreads through direct contact with other tissues in the pelvis or by spreading through the fluid in the abdominal cavity. Also, it can invade lymph channels to spread through lymph nodes. Travel through the blood vessels is much less common but does occur and can manifest itself as liver metastases or malignant cells in a pleural effusion which is fluid around the lungs. See similar questions...

Stage refers to the extent of the cancer at the time of diagnosis. Different stages have different prognoses. Stage I refers to cancer limited to the ovaries but also includes the presence of cancer cells in fluid in the abdominal cavity. Stage II indicates cancer that has spread to other areas of the pelvis. Stage III refers to cancer that has spread to lymph nodes or to surface tissues in the upper abdomen. See similar questions...

Most commonly, surgery is the first step in treatment. When ovarian cancer is suspected because of the presence of an ovarian mass, tests including a CA-125 blood test and a CT scan or MRI of the abdomen and pelvis are done. Most cases of ovarian cancer require removal of both ovaries, both fallopian tubes, the uterus, and the omentum (a fatty apron overlying the intestines), with additional biopsies of various abdominal lining surfaces including the diaphragm and biopsies of lymph nodes. See similar questions...

Understandably, there is a lot of concern among patients and physicians alike as they try to determine the mystery surrounding an irritable bowel syndrome ovarian cyst link. It is already a known fact that women are three times more likely to be effected by irritable bowel syndrome than men, but... find articles | submit articles | link to us | site map | terms of use | privacy policy | contact us | advertising | partner with us See similar questions...

Yes. One of the causes of PCOS is excess levels of insulin. The Insulite System will reduce your body's exposure to insulin and this can reduce the recurrence of cysts on your ovaries. Also, the Nutritional and Exercise Guidelines show you ways to change your lifestyle so that you permanently change your body's response to insulin. This will help you reverse PCOS. See similar questions...

First, it is not a very common cancer. With 27,000 new cases in the United States yearly, one would have to screen 2,500 women to find one case. Only 50% of early-stage ovarian cancers will have an elevated CA-125. Also, many non-cancer conditions can cause an elevated CA-125 (false positive). This group may then undergo multiple other tests, including exploratory surgery which can have serious risks and side effects. A second issue is that of frequency of screening. See similar questions...

In order to maximize the patient's chances for successful fertilization, a patient undergoing IVF usually take hormones in the form of injections to increase the number of eggs produced in a given month and this is known as ovarian stimulation. Monitoring is performed to continuously follow a woman's ovarian response, allowing the physician to adjust and time medication dosage appropriately. See similar questions...

Premature Ovarian Failure (POF) is a loss of ovarian function in women under 40. Periods stop, estrogen is low and the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) level is elevated. Generally, it is said that the diagnosis requires at least 4 months without a period and two FSH tests, taken at least one month apart that are greater than 40 (some doctors will use 30) mIU/ML Yes, it certainly is one of those loaded terms especially if we use the word failure to mean complete stopping of ovarian function. See similar questions...

Yes. A recent study following over 44,000 postmenopausal women during a 20-year span concluded that estrogen use increases the risk of ovarian cancer. In this study, women who used estrogen alone for 10-19 years were twice as likely to develop ovarian cancer than women who did not use postmenopausal hormones. For women who used estrogen for 20 or more years, the risk of ovarian cancer increased to three times that of women who did not use postmenopausal hormones. See similar questions...