What causes ovarian torsion?

What causes ovarian torsion?

Ovarian torsion occurs most frequently in women during their reproductive years, but it does sometimes happen in prepubescent girls. Having a cyst on your ovary is the biggest risk factor for ovarian torsion, because a cyst can make the ovary unbalanced and cause it to twist on itself.

What happens if your ovary twists?

Ovarian torsion is a condition that occurs when an ovary twists around the ligaments that hold it in place. This twisting can cut off blood flow to the ovary and fallopian tube. Ovarian torsion can cause severe pain and other symptoms because the ovary is not receiving enough blood.

Can an ovarian torsion correct itself?

Sometimes ovarian torsion resolves itself on its own, as it did with Philipps. This is called intermittent torsion, meaning that the torsed ovary twists back into place and then ceases twisting. However, experts say you shouldn’t wait to see if the ovary will twist back on its own.

What happens if ovarian torsion is not treated?

Ovarian torsion is a gynecological emergency that occurs when there is twisting or torsion of the ovary around its ligamentous supports. If left untreated, it results in loss of blood supply to the ovary and the fallopian tube with resultant infarction and loss of function.

What happens if ovarian torsion is left untreated?

Where do you feel ovarian torsion pain?

When an ovary twists, women have sudden, severe pain in the pelvic area. The pain is sometimes accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Before the sudden pain, women may have intermittent, crampy pain for days or occasionally even for weeks. This pain may occur because the ovary repeatedly twists, then untwists.

Is ovarian torsion pain constant?

Ovarian torsion usually presents with sudden onset of severe, unilateral lower abdominal pain, associated with nausea and vomiting; however, in a small percentage of cases, the clinical course is prolonged, as the torsion can be intermittent.

Is ovarian torsion likely to reoccur?

Torsions often occur on one side and only once; however, recurrence in the same ovary or both ovaries is possible.

What are the signs and symptoms of ovarian torsion?

an adnexal or pelvic mass

  • nausea
  • severe pelvic pain
  • vomiting
  • fever
  • abnormal bleeding
  • What are common causes of ovarian torsion?

    Hormonal problems. These include taking the fertility drug clomiphene (Clomid),which is used to cause you to ovulate.

  • Pregnancy. Sometimes,the cyst that forms when you ovulate stays on your ovary throughout your pregnancy.
  • Endometriosis.
  • A severe pelvic infection.
  • A previous ovarian cyst.
  • How to diagnose ovarian torsion?

    the ovary should be tender to transducer pressure

  • absence of ovarian Doppler flow is highly specific for torsion,but normal Doppler flow does not completely rule out torsion
  • an ovarian mass causing the torsion must always be sought
  • What are the treatments for ovarian torsion?

    Treatment options for ovarian torsion. Ovarian torsion is usually treated with laparoscopic surgery. During this minimally invasive procedure, a small incision is made at the abdomen. A laparoscope (an instrument with a small lighted camera at the end) is inserted.