Ovary : Parts of the body

                                               

Wikipedia : The ovary is an organ found 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 (from Latin ovarium, meaning 'egg, 

nut') found on the left and right sides of the body. The ovaries also secrete hormones that 

play a role in the menustral cycle and fertility. The ovary progresses through many stages 

beginning in the prenatal period through menopause. It is also an endocrine gland 

because of the various hormones that it secretes.

The ovaries are considered the female gonads. Each ovary is whitish in color and 

located alongside the lateral wall of the uterus in a region called the ovarian fossa.

Usually, ovulation occurs in one of the two ovaries releasing an egg each menstrual cycle; 

however, if there was a case where one ovary was absent or dysfunctional then the other 

ovary would continue providing eggs to be released without any changes in cycle length 

or frequency.

                                              Function of the Ovary

At puberty, the ovary begins to secrete increasing levels of hormones. Secondary sex 

characteristics begin to develop in response to the hormones. The ability to produce eggs 

and reproduce develops. The ovary changes structure and function beginning at puberty.

                                                 Hormone secretion

At maturity, ovaries secrete  estrogen, testosterone, inhibin , and  progesterone. In 

women, fifty percent of testosterone is produced by the ovaries and  adrenal glands and 

released directly into the blood stream. Estrogen is responsible for the appearance of  

secondary sex characteristics for females at  puberty and for the maturation and 

maintenance of the reproductive organs in their mature functional state. Progesterone 

prepares the uterus for pregnancy, and the mammary glands for lactation. Progesterone 

functions with estrogen by promoting  menstrual cycle changes in the  endometrium. 

                                                    Ovarian Aging

As women age, they experience a decline in reproductive performance leading to 

menopause. This decline is tied to a decline in the number of ovarian follicles. The 

decline in ovarian reserve appears to occur at a constantly increasing rate with age, and 

leads to nearly complete exhaustion of the reserve by about age 52. As ovarian reserve 

and fertility decline with age, there is also a parallel increase in pregnancy failure .

                                      Cryopreservation

Cryopreservation of ovarian tissue, often called ovarian tissue cryopreservation, is of 

interest to women who want to preserve their reproductive function beyond the natural 

limit, or whose reproductive potential is threatened by cancer therapy. The procedure is 

to take a part of the ovary and carry out slow freezing before storing it in liquid nitrogen 

whilst therapy is undertaken. Tissue can then be thawed and implanted near the 

fallopian, either orthotopic (on the natural location) or heterotopic (on the abdominal 

wall),where it starts to produce new eggs, allowing normal conception to take place.

Ovarian cancer may cause several signs and symptoms. Women are more likely to have symptoms if the disease has spread, but even early-stage ovarian cancer can cause them. The most common symptoms include:

Bloating

Pelvic or Abdominal pain

Trouble eating or feeling full quickly

Urinary symptoms such as urgency 

These symptoms are also commonly caused by benign (non-cancerous) diseases and by cancers of other organs. When they are caused by ovarian cancer, they tend to be persistent and a change from normal − for example, they occur more often or are more severe. These symptoms are more likely to be caused by other conditions, and most of them occur just about as often in women who don’t have ovarian cancer. But if you have these symptoms more than 12 times a month, see your doctor so the problem can be found and treated if necessary.

Others symptoms of ovarian cancer can include fatigue,upset stomach ,back pain, pain during sex, constipation , changes in a women's periods, abdominal swelling with weight loss.

 Endometriosis  is the abnormal growth of menstrual tissue outside of the uterus. This tissue can grow anywhere in the abdomen or pelvis, including on the ovary, and it behaves in the same way as it does during a menstrual cycle.

At the beginning of the cycle, the tissue grows in response to the hormones in the body.

Once menstruation begins, the tissue also starts to peel off and shed, just like the lining of the uterus. This can cause internal bleeding, scar tissue, and severe abdominal or pelvic pain.

                                                 Treatment

Treatment for endometriosis can be either medical or surgical, depending on how severe it is. There is no cure for endometriosis, but women can manage it with pain medications, hormonal medications, and surgery.

                                          Celebrity Padma Lakshmi 

Padma Parvati Lakshmi Vaidynathan (born September 1, 1970),known professionally as Padma Lakshmi  is an American author, actress, model, television host, and executive producer. Her debut cookbook Easy Exotic won her the "Best First Book" award at the 1999 Gourmand World Cookbook Awards. She has been the host of the US cooking competition program Top Chef since season two in 2006 (entering season 16 December 2018) for which she received an Emmy nomination in 2009 for Outstanding Reality Host. Her debut memoir Love, Loss and What We Ate was released on International Women's Day, March 8, 2016.

In the early days of Top Chef, before she had treatment, Lakshmi needed a toolbox of resources to get through the day. “We used to plug in my heating pad under the judges’ table. When I was standing, as the camera would pan away from me, I’d sit down -- I had a little wooden box my assistant would drag on set with me. After the first few seasons, I got a dressing room so I could lie down on a couch,” Lakshmi says. “I don’t know if I could’ve continued to do Top Chef for 12 years if I didn’t get the help I needed.”

Unfortunately, help didn’t come quickly or easily.

Like Padma Lakshmi, roughly 6.5 million women in the U.S. have endometriosis.

                                        Read more about Padma Lakshmi 

                                            Some other facts

Endometriosis is the leading cause of hysterectomies. About 40% of women with infertility have endometriosis. On average, a woman has symptoms for 10 years before getting an accurate diagnosis.

Scientists don’t know what causes endometriosis, but they think it may have something to do with menstrual flow problems, genetics, immune system issues, hormones, or surgery. Endometriosis may be linked to allergies, asthama, chemical sensitivities, autoimmune diseases, chronic fatigue syndrome , fibromyalgia, and certain cancers, like breast cancer and ovarian cancer.

 Years ago I had watched a Marathi movie (regional language) reflecting the clash of medical ethics ( regarding removing of ovaries) and personal egos. Please watch the film at leisure.

Learn more about the Marathi film Aaghaat.

                                      Reader, is my post informative? 

                            I am participating in the A to Z Challenge. 

(Information courtesy Google)

A to Z Challenge - Day 1. Arms : Parts of the body

A to Z Challenge - Day 2. breasts : Parts of the body

A to Z Challenge - Day 3.Chin & Cheeks : Parts of the body

A to Z Challenge - Day 4. Dimples : Parts of the body

A to Z Challenge - Day 5. Eye : Parts of the body.

A to Z Challenge - Day 6. Feet: Parts of the body

A to Z Challenge - Day 7 . Gums/Gingiva

A to Z Challenge - Day 8. Hair : Parts of the body

A to Z Challenge -Day 9. Intestine : Parts of the body
A to Z Challenge - Day 10. Kidneys - Parts of the body
A to Z Challenge - Day 11. Lungs - Parts of the body
A to Z Challenge - Day 12. Mouth - Parts of the body

A to Z Challenge - Day 13. Nails - Parts of the body