What´s The Real Cause Of Ovarian Growth?

The female reproductive system contains two ovaries. The ovaries nourish the eggs as they mature and are ready for fertilization. An egg will come to maturity approximately every 28 days. When the ovum has matured, the ovary releases it in a process called ovulation. After ovulation the ovum moves into the fallopian tube adjacent to the ovary.

The ovaries are a pair of organs in the female reproductive system located on the lateral walls of the female pelvic cavity. Martini, Nath & Bartholomew,(2014)

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is a hormonal disorder which effects around five million women of reproductive age in the United States (activebeat.co). The ovaries and adrenal glands excrete abnormally high levels of male hormones which prevents the regular release of an egg, causing many fluid filled sacs, or cysts, to form on the ovaries. Several types of cysts can be found on the ovaries of someone diagnosed with PCOS, the most common being those developed during the menstrual cycle, functional cysts. Follicular cysts are a subcategory of functional cysts formed by the overgrown follicle resulting from an unreleased egg. When a follicle ruptures following the release of an egg, the follicle may reseal and cause fluid buildup, resulting in a corpus luteum cyst; these cysts may enlarge considerably, causing pain, bleeding, or twisting of the ovary (PCOS Awareness Association). Some cysts resolve themselves in one to three months while others grow to be painfully large and require surgery to remove.

The condition Polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS) is the most common of endocrine disruptions within women of reproductive ages. The disorder does affect as much as 10% of women within this reproductive lifecycle. The clinical and biochemical features of the condition are diverse and are as follows: fertility disruption, overweight/obesity, irregularities in menstruation (frequent, absent, sporadic) insulin resistance/type 2 diabetes, and increased risk of cardiovascular disease (Jeanes &Hart &Smith & Barr, 2009). The exact aetiology of Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is unknown but does involve both environmental influencers and genetic factors. In summery Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine condition associated with metabolic dysfunction, infertility, and hyperandrogenism. Treatment for PCOS includes diet and lifestyle changes in order to promote a healthy body mass index (BMI) and further reduce hyperinsulinaemia (a symptom of the condition). Medications such as metformin/Glucophage might be utilized for management of the presenting symptoms. PCOS symptoms at present-day can only be managed and no cure for Polycystic ovary syndrome available. (Jeanes &Hart &Smith & Barr, 2009).

Ovarian cancer is a lethal gynecological malignancy; although median age of diagnosis is 56 and older (post-menopausal) it can affect women of any child-birthing age. It is the 5th most common cancer diagnosed in the UK with 7,284 new cases in 2013 (Ovarian Cancer Statistics, 2013) Although the incidence is less than that of breast cancer, there is a greater number of deaths (4,271 deaths) associated with it. Almost three-quarters of the ovarian cancer are diagnosed at late stages after tumors have metastasized within the peritoneal cavity.

The ovary is a critical organ of the female reproductive and endocrine system. When preforming in an optimal manner, the ovary functions as a gonad, by producing mature gametes and by synthesizing and excreting hormones within a set point. It is essential for sexual maturation and reproduction. When it deviates away from this normal physiology, many serious heath problems can emerge. A principal example of ovarian abnormal physiology is polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Polycystic ovarian syndrome is one of the most prominent endocrinopathies in the world, affecting anywhere between 5-10% of the female population (Dunaif, 1995). Although this disease affects so many women, not much is known about the exact origin of it and all of the shortcomings

Cancer is an illness in which irregular cells in the body grow uncontrollably. Ovarian cancer originates in the ovaries. Ovaries are generative glands that are in women and are found in pairs. The ovaries create eggs for reproduction. The eggs travel through fallopian tubes into the uterus, where the zygote gets placed and grows

Endometriosis is a common condition1 recognised by the growth of endometrial tissue outside of the uterus. This tissue is then found in a variety of sites such as the ovaries, the outside surface of the uterus, the cervix, the abdominal wall, the sigmoid colon and the urinary bladder.2 It is unknown what exactly causes endometriosis but it is thought to occur when some cells from the endometrium (the lining of the uterus) travel outside the uterus via the uterine tubes during a period3. Even outside the womb, these cells, will still respond to the presence of hormonal oestrogen each month and with each menstrual cycle the cells will multiply, swell and break down in similar fashion to the endometrial cells inside the uterus.2 As the cells are in the pelvic cavity rather than the uterus, they cannot escape during the period and instead form patches of tissue called

The BRCA genes are tumor suppressor genes that inhibit tumor growth when functioning normally. When they mutate, they lose their tumor suppressor ability. This results in an increase for women to develop ovarian cancer. Risk factors a 1st degree family member, women who have never been pregnant, increasing age, high fat diet, increased number of ovulatory cycles, and infertility drugs. 90% of ovarian cancer are epithelial carcinomas that arise from malignant transformation of the surface epithelial cells. Germ cell tumors account for

Ovarian cancer is a malignant form of cancer that develops from the ovary and it is unlikely to be discovered by most patients during its early stages because its symptoms are very delicate. The fact that prognosis is sometimes difficult to perform makes it impossible for some individuals to be able to effectively fight the tumor. Many women are unable to understand that changes occurring in their bodies are actually a result of ovarian cancer. Hundreds of thousands of women worldwide are diagnosed with ovarian cancer every year and it is thus essential for society to have a complex understanding of the disease, its symptoms, and methods of coping with it.

Most people wonder, What is ovulation? Well, ovulation is when a mature egg is released from the ovary, push down the fallopian tube, and is available to be fertilized. Every month an egg from one of your ovaries will mature. As the egg reaches maturity, the egg is released by the ovary where it penetrate the fallopian tube to make its way towards waiting sperm and the uterus. The lining of a women uterus has thickened itself to prepare for the fertilized egg. If there is no conception, the uterine lining, as well as blood, will begin to shed. When shedding of an unfertilized egg and uterine wall its the time of menstruation. Only one egg is released each time of ovulation. An egg lives 12-24 hours, after withdrawing the ovary. During ovulation some women may

A hormone produced by the pancreas to control the sugar in the blood called insulin.

Both animal and clinical studies have demonstrated that obesity leads to ovarian dysfunction through oxidative and ER stress and inflammation (26,65,66,74-78). Obesity leads to excess lipids, glucose, insulin, and leptin in variety of ovarian cells including: granulosa cells, cumulus cells, oocytes, and early embryos (ref more;(65,79,80)). Because leptin contributes to follicular growth, steroidogenesis, oocyte maturation and embryo development, hyperleptinemia seen in obese women may disrupt these processes (30,58,70,75,78,81-96). Similarly, insulin resistance and or hyperinsulinemia, have been shown to alter ovarian morphology, ovarian insulin signaling, ovulation and maturation of oocytes (23,30,36,39,40,71,73,74,97-107). Obesity leads to elevated levels of circulating lipids as well as lipid accumulation in the ovary which are associated with decreased granulosa cell numbers, increased apoptosis, greater lipid accumulation in cumulus cells, decreased oocyte nuclear maturation, and changes in substrate metabolism and proliferation in embryos (18,36,55,63,65,67,75,79,90,92,108-112). Greater oxidative stress and chronic low grade inflammation, as seen in obese animals and humans, have also been shown to alter oocyte maturation and fertilization, embryo development and pregnancy success (19,26,65,66,68,69,74,77,78,104,105,109,110,113-120). Lastly, obesity leads to a variety of oocyte mitochondrial defects, including

Although normal and pathological ovarian functions are still elusive, as well are normal and premature ovarian aging, we acknowledge that a huge amount of information accumulated in the last decades. The evidence that the ovary ages following highly precise patterns (when compared to aging of other body organs and tissues) and that individual variability profoundly impacts folliculogenesis and onset of menopause (Te Velde and Pearson, 2002), have represented for longtime a nearly insurmountable endeavour when attempting to plan proper management strategies in individuals willing for children.

As previously stated the process through which follicles enlarge and release a mature egg into the fallopian tube is most commonly known as ovulation. The ovulation cycle is divided into two parts with the follicular phase being the beginning part in which the egg matures. The ovulatory phase then begins during the middle of a female’s menstrual cycle in which cervical fluids increase and become more fertile. An increase in the LH hormone levels affect the ovarian follicle causing a hole, or “stigma” to appear on the surface of the follicle. At this point in the course of ovulation, the egg is pushed down the fallopian tube into the uterus where it will wait 12-24 hours to be fertilized by a sperm cell before it disintegrates.