Ovarian neoplasm is an uncontrolled proliferation of tissues caused by pathological cell division. For preventive purposes, a woman is recommended to visit a gynecologist and undergo an ultrasound examination at least once a year. Tumors can be either benign or caused by oncology. Ovarian neoplasms according to ICD-10, the international classification of diseases, have an individual code C56 or D27, which will be recorded on the patient’s card. The first of them means that it is oncology, and the second - that the tumor is benign. Symptoms of the disease may vary, but a woman should know the main ones.
Malignant neoplasms
Oncology is very dangerous, in a neglected form, it leads to metastasis and death of a woman. Malignant neoplasms of the ovaries at first do not show any symptoms. Some patients only feel a slight malaise or slight weakness, which they usually do not attach any importance to. Over time, the tumor grows, and the woman goes to see a doctor.
Very often, malignant neoplasms of the ovaries are diagnosed only at the stage of decay. In this case, the prognosis of oncologists is unfavorable, since the tumor has already managed to give metastases. Every woman should remember that it is necessary to regularly visit a gynecologist, this will help diagnose the disease in the early stages.
Oncologists distinguish several factors that mainly lead to the appearance of cancerous tumors in the ovaries:
- frequent inflammatory processes of the pelvic organs;
- menopause;
- long-term hormone therapy;
- hereditary predisposition;
- disruptions in the menstrual cycle;
- taking hormonal drugs without consulting a doctor;
- hazardous work;
- smoking and alcohol abuse.
Malignant tumors are more common in women who live in regions with poor ecology. The impetus for cancer can be a constant state of stress and a weakened immunity. If a malignant tumor was detected at stages 1 or 2, then the woman has a great chance of survival, with advanced forms of oncology, the prognosis is poor.
Benign neoplasms
Reproductive organ tumors may not only be cancerous. Benign ovarian neoplasms are the growth of ovarian tissue due to disturbances in cell division. The development of a non-cancerous tumor can be accompanied by pain in the abdomen, menstrual irregularities, infertility and other symptoms. If a benign neoplasm of the ovaries is suspected, the doctor prescribes examinations. Usually this is an ultrasound scan, determination of tumor markers, laparoscopy, MRI and vaginal examination.
Gynecologists identify several factors that can cause the appearance of benign ovarian neoplasms:
- increased estrogen levels in women;
- disruptions in the menstrual cycle;
- early menopause;
- frequent inflammation of the pelvic organs;
- infertility;
- multiple surgical termination of pregnancy;
- uterine fibroids;
- diabetes;
- thyroid disease.
Tumors often occur in patients suffering from human papillomavirus. Also at risk are women who have been diagnosed with type 2 herpes. Patients may complain of pulling pains in the lower abdomen, a feeling of pressure on the bladder or intestines. Women who want to get pregnant may have trouble conceiving. In young girls, when a benign neoplasm of the ovary occurs, premature puberty is observed.
Hormone-forming neoplasms
The main cause of tumors is genetic disorders. A hormone-producing neoplasm on the left ovary (or on the right) can be caused by the following predisposing factors:
- heredity;
- pregnancy complications, such as gestosis;
- chronic liver disease;
- low immunity;
- menstrual cycle lasting less than 24 days;
- inflammatory processes in the pelvis;
- conservative treatment of uterine fibroids;
- early onset of the menstrual cycle.
The occurrence of tumors can be promoted by a woman living in an area contaminated with radiation. A negative factor is the patient's constant state of stress. If a woman suspects a tumor, for example, an inflammatory ovarian neoplasm, then she should consult a gynecologist. The doctor will offer to undergo the following examinations:
- magnetic resonance imaging;
- tumor markers;
- ultrasonography;
- laparoscopy with the condition of taking a biopsy.
Women may experience some symptoms, such as uterine bleeding, breast swelling, or increased libido. In young girls, hormone-producing ovarian neoplasms cause premature puberty. In some cases, the appearance of fluid in the abdomen of a woman, that is, ascites, is possible. Sometimes the ailment causes a reduction in the breast and the appearance of increased hair growth. Some types of hormone-producing neoplasms can degenerate into cancerous tumors.
Metastatic neoplasms
The disease is a consequence of the development of a cancerous tumor in another organ. First, a tumor of the right ovary or left proceeds without pronounced symptoms. Only after a woman begins to feel pressure or pain, as well as an increase in the size of the abdomen. Often metastatic neoplasms are found in both ovaries. With satisfactory health, the patient is shown surgical treatment, as well as chemotherapy and radiation.
The most common ailment is diagnosed in women aged 45 to 60 years. It was previously believed that metastatic neoplasms of the right ovary or left are quite rare. Oncologists are now reporting an increase in the incidence of this disease. Doctors recommend that women pay attention to the following symptoms:
- causeless weight loss;
- irritability;
- weakness;
- loss of appetite;
- fast fatiguability;
- hyperthermia;
- menstrual irregularities;
- pain in the ovary;
- constipation
- urination disorders.
If treatment is not performed and the tumor is left unattended, ascites may begin. If there is a twisting of the neoplasm leg, then the symptoms become more severe: sharp pains, increased heartbeat, vomiting. The tumor grows quickly enough in size, if it bursts, then peritonitis will begin. In the last stages of cancer, the patient develops intestinal obstruction, she is very weak, her weight is rapidly decreasing.
Ovarian cysts
The ailment is most often asymptomatic, but can periodically manifest as abdominal pain. A neoplasm of the right ovary or left occasionally is accompanied by a violation of the menstrual cycle. Sometimes urination problems may occur.
Ovarian cyst - a tumor in the form of a tumor-like cavity on the leg, filled with fluid. Tends to increase in size and is benign in nature. Cysts may twist or burst; if this happens, peritonitis will develop.
Most often, an ovarian neoplasm does not make itself felt, the pathology is asymptomatic, but sometimes a woman pays attention to the following signs:
- Pain in the lower abdomen. They can be caused, for example, by twisting the legs of the cyst or rupture of its shell.
- An increase or change in the proportions of the abdomen. This symptom can be associated both with an increase in the size of the cyst, and with the accumulation of fluid inside the abdominal cavity - ascites.
- Menstrual irregularities. Cysts are able to affect menstruation, they can either completely disappear or become extremely profuse.
- Compression of the internal organs. A cyst can affect the intestines or the bladder. This leads to either constipation or problem urination.
In some cases, women begin to grow body hair according to the male type. The voice can also become coarse and increase in size of the clitoris. Most often, neoplasms of the uterus and ovaries are removed surgically, but conservative treatment is not excluded.
Tumor Symptoms
Diagnosing neoplasms in the ovaries in women, despite all the possibilities of modern medicine, is quite difficult. If the tumor is malignant, then it is especially important to detect it in the early stages, because cancer in advanced form is not always treatable. Women are advised to regularly visit a gynecologist and undergo an ultrasound. At the moment, 83% of oncology is detected at the very last stages, when medicine is already powerless.
If the patient, for example, has a benign neoplasm of the right ovary, then the symptoms can be very mild. Because of this, a woman usually delays on a visit to the doctor, and in the clinic she may not immediately go to the oncologist or gynecologist. Often, a neoplasm is detected generally by accident, for example, during abdominal surgery associated with another disease.
If the woman has oncology or a borderline condition, then the symptoms are most often more vivid. At the first stages, patients usually do not notice anything strange in their condition, since benign neoplasms even at the time of rebirth do not cause problems for their owners. If a woman during this period tries to become pregnant, then, most likely, her attempts will not succeed. In oncology, infertility will be accompanied by pains in the lower abdomen and whitish discharge from the genitals. Failures in the menstrual cycle at this stage, gynecologists register only a few women.
Causes of neoplasm
Ovarian tumors are currently equally often diagnosed in women of childbearing age, and after menopause. Neoplasms can be cancerous and benign. But, despite the variety of possible symptoms, it is necessary to diagnose a tumor in a woman faster, because in the initial stages, treatment will give a positive result faster.
There are a lot of reasons why women develop neoplasms, but gynecologists have identified the main ones:
- hereditary predisposition;
- smoking;
- alcohol addiction;
- early menopause;
- repeated surgical termination of pregnancy;
- operations on the pelvic organs;
- diabetes;
- sexually transmitted infections;
- inflammatory processes in the pelvis.
Tumors on the ovary are still poorly understood by gynecologists, so they can not establish the exact causes of their appearance. At risk are women suffering from primary infertility, lack of menstruation and frequent inflammation of the pelvic organs. Some diseases can lead to the appearance of neoplasms on the ovaries, for example, human papillomavirus, malfunctioning of the thyroid gland or type 2 herpes.
Diagnostics
A gynecologist can detect a neoplasm on the ovary when examining a woman on an armchair. Despite progress in the medical field, vaginal examination has not lost its relevance. With a two-handed gynecological examination, the doctor will be able to determine the consistency of the neoplasm, its size and mobility. But with palpation, it is impossible to detect too small tumors, only those that are larger are palpated. But such a diagnostic method is difficult to perform in patients with advanced adhesions in the pelvis and in obese women.
It is possible to determine a cancer tumor by a gynecologist or benign using a vaginal-rectal examination. If spines are felt from the neoplasm from behind, its arches hang or the mucous membrane grows into the intestines, then this is most likely an oncology.
To confirm the results of a gynecological examination, the doctor prescribes an ultrasound examination to the patient. This method is quite simple and very informative. Using modern devices that create three-dimensional reconstruction, it is possible to accurately visualize the vascular bed of the neoplasm on the ovary. The doctor can assess the ratio of normal and pathological tissues, as well as their depth.
Laparoscopy is also used to diagnose ovarian neoplasms. The accuracy of the method is 96.5%. But this diagnostic method is not indicated for women suffering from cancer of the ovaries. This is due to the fact that when the capsules of some tumors are damaged, the surrounding tissues are seeded. Therefore, if during the operation it was found that the tumor is malignant, then doctors should go to laparotomy.
Treatment
Therapy depends on how the disease is started, and on the type of tumor. Clinical recommendations for benign ovarian neoplasms differ from those received by patients with oncology. Most often, a woman is offered a surgical solution to the problem. With a benign neoplasm, an adnexectomy is performed - removal of the tumor along with the ovary. Usually this is enough for the patient to recover soon.
If it is revealed that the neoplasm is malignant, then the treatment will be different. At the same time, the uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes are removed. After this, a woman is prescribed chemotherapy - treatment with drugs that will destroy the tumor cells. In some cases, radiation treatment will also be recommended, it consists in a negative effect on the neoplasm with the help of radiation. In the event that the tumor is susceptible to hormones, the doctor will select the right drug.
Treatment of malignant neoplasms has side effects:
- significant deterioration in well-being;
- hair loss
- nausea, vomiting.
Sometimes, due to the effect of radiation, the patient has new tumors. But without treatment, a woman with cancer will soon die. Therefore, you need to use this chance, which will help restore health.
Folk remedies
Oncology is a very serious ailment, therefore, independent selection of therapy is unacceptable. Traditional medicine offers a variety of recipes aimed at combating ovarian neoplasms. But you can use these funds only after consulting with an oncologist or gynecologist. And even more so, one cannot replace traditional medicine with chemotherapy or surgical intervention. After consulting a doctor with these funds, it will be possible to supplement the traditional treatment.
Aloe is good for ovarian neoplasms, including malignant ones. The plant enhances immunity and improves the well-being of patients who have undergone chemotherapy. Herbalists confirm that aloe is effective in the treatment of oncology. To prepare the drug, take the thickest and juiciest leaves, they are washed, dried and stored in the refrigerator for 12 days. After that, aloe is minced in a meat grinder. Then 1 liter of ground leaves with a liquid is mixed with 1 liter of honey and 1 bottle of grape wine. The drug is infused for 10 days, and then they drink 1 tablespoon 3 times a day for 3 months.
Herbalists respond positively to beet juice in the treatment of various malignant neoplasms, including ovarian tumors in women. Its use begins with 1-2 tablespoons per day. This amount is gradually adjusted to 2 glasses per day. Herbalists recommend consuming fresh beet juice after it has been left in the refrigerator for several hours. This is necessary so that all the poisonous compounds that could be present in it disappeared from the drug.
Gynecologist's recommendations
Tumors often occur in people who have a hereditary predisposition. But this is not a sentence, it is just necessary to exclude some provoking factors from life, and the risk of developing oncology will significantly decrease.
Gynecologists recommend that women give up bad habits, such as smoking and drinking alcohol. It is advisable to start playing sports, for example, walking or swimming. Unhealthy foods should be excluded from food: instant foods, greasy, fried.
The health of a woman will be favorably affected by the use of modern hormonal contraceptives. They not only protect against unwanted pregnancy, but also reduce the likelihood of tumors in the ovaries. A woman should refrain from abortion. At least 2 times a year you need to visit a gynecologist and undergo an ultrasound examination.
It is advisable for a woman to donate blood for hormones from time to time in order to detect any violations on time. And if you still find the ailment, then the patient must follow all clinical recommendations for ovarian neoplasms.