Ovarian Volume Related to Age

• Published in: Gynecologic oncology Vol. 77; no. 3; pp. 410 - 412
• Main Authors: Pavlik, E.J., DePriest, P.D., Gallion, H.H., Ueland, F.R., Reedy, M.B., Kryscio, R.J., van Nagell, J.R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.06.2000
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aging - physiology; Anthropometry; Body Height; Body Weight; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Ovary - anatomy & histology; Ovary - diagnostic imaging; Postmenopause; Premenopause; Reference Values; Ultrasonography
• ISSN: 0090-8258; 1095-6859
• DOI: 10.1006/gyno.2000.5783

Objective. The goal of this study was to determine the relationship of ovarian volume to age, height, and weight in women undergoing transvaginal sonography. Methods. Thirteen thousand nine hundred sixty-three women 25–91 years of age undergoing annual transvaginal sonography as part of the University of Kentucky Ovarian Cancer Screening Program were the subjects for this investigation. Each ovary was measured in three dimensions, and ovarian volume was calculated using the prolate ellipsoid formula (L × H × W × 0.523). Mean ovarian volume according to age was calculated for each decade of life. Results. Data were obtained from 58,673 observations of ovarian volume. Mean ovarian volume was 6.6 ± 0.19 cm3 in women less than 30 years of age; 6.1 ± 0.06 cm3 in women 30–39; 4.8 ± 0.03 cm3 in women 40–49; 2.6 ± 0.01 cm3 in women 50–59; 2.1 ± 0.01 cm3 in women 60–69; and 1.8 ± 0.08 cm3 in women ≥70. Mean ovarian volume was 4.9 ± 0.03 cm3 in premenopausal women and 2.2 ± 0.01 cm3 in postmenopausal women (P < 0.001). The use of exogenous estrogens was associated with a significant reduction in ovarian volume in women 40–59 years of age, but not in women ≥ 60. Ovarian volume was unrelated to patient weight but was greater in tall women (>68 in.) than in short women (<58 in.). Conclusion. There is a statistically significant decrease in ovarian volume with each decade of life from age 30 to age 70. Mean ovarian volume in premenopausal women is significantly greater than that in postmenopausal women. The upper limit of normal for ovarian volume is 20 cm3 in premenopausal women and 10 cm3 in postmenopausal women.