Very often, having received the results of an ultrasound examination of the pelvic organs, women are wondering how much their genital organs correspond to the norms. About what the normal size of healthy ovaries should be, this article will be discussed.
Ovaries are female genital glands in which ovules are formed and mature. The ovaries are located on both sides of the uterus and are usually easily detected by ultrasound, and when they are difficult to detect, the anus is the oriental vein. Healthy ovaries are well mobile and have a flattened shape. In a woman of reproductive age, most of the cycle is left and right ovaries of different sizes, which indicates their normal functioning. The size of the ovaries depends on the woman's age, the number of pregnancies and births, the menstrual cycle phase, the prevention through oral contraceptives, and can fluctuate significantly. In order to detect pathological changes in the size of the ovaries, their ultrasound examination should be carried out from the fifth to seventh days of the menstrual cycle. The decisive role in determining pathology is played by measuring not so much the linear dimensions as the volume.
The size of the ovaries is normal in the range:
- volume - 4-10 cm3;
- thickness - 16-22 mm;
- length - 20-37 mm;
- width - 18-30 mm.
The internal anatomy of the ovaries is examined taking into account the phase of the menstrual cycle. Ovaries consist of a white shell, under which there are the outer (cortical) and inner (cerebral) layers. In the outer layer, women of reproductive age have follicles of varying degrees of maturity - primary immature (primordial) and mature prevulatory.
- In the early follicular phase (5-7 days) on ultrasound, a white capsule and 5-10 follicles 2-6 mm in size are located on the periphery of the ovary.
- In the middle follicular phase (8-10 days) the dominant (12-15 mm) follicle is already clearly defined, which continues its development further. The remaining follicles stop their development, reaching 8-10 mm.
- During the late follicular phase (11-14 days), the dominant follicle reaches 20 mm, increasing by 2-3 mm per day. The rapid onset of ovulation indicates the achievement of a follicle size of at least 18 mm and a change in its external and internal contour.
- The early luteal phase (15-18 days) is characterized by the formation of a yellow body (15-20 mm) at the place of ovulation.
- In the middle luteal phase (19-23 days), the yellow body increases its size to 25-27 mm, after which the cycle passes into the late luteal phase (24-27 days). The yellow body fades, diminishing in size to 10-15 mm.
- During menstruation, the yellow body disappears completely.
- In the case of pregnancy, the yellow body continues to function actively for a period of 10-12 weeks, producing progesterone and preventing the release of new eggs.
The size of the ovaries during pregnancy increases due to more active blood flow, while the ovaries change their position,
When a woman enters the postmenopausal period, the size of the ovaries is significantly reduced, with both ovaries being compared. In this period, the normal size of the ovaries is:
- volume - 1,5-4 cm3;
- thickness - 9-12 mm;
- length - 20-25 mm;
- width - 12-15 mm.
The presence of pathology is indicated by a difference in the volumes of the ovaries by more than 1.5 cm3 or by an increase in one of them by more than 2 times. During the first five years of menopause, it is possible to detect single follicles, which is not a deviation from the norm.