The ovaries are an important part of the female reproductive system and play a special role in reproduction and maintaining female characteristics. The ovaries go through puberty (13-18 years old) and menopause (45-55 years old) in a woman's life. Puberty is a period of ovarian development and peak function, while menopause is a period of ovarian degeneration and declining function. During these two periods, the ovaries are highly susceptible to various factors in the body, leading to ovarian tumors. Especially during puberty, cell proliferation is rapid and more prone to stimulation and tumor formation, making it a critical time for young women. Ovarian tumors in young women have the following characteristics, and understanding these can be beneficial in early detection and diagnosis.
1. Ovarian tumors in young women during puberty are mostly benign, but the proportion of malignant tumors is also higher compared to other age groups. Therefore, vigilance should be increased, especially when solid, hard, and rapidly growing masses are detected.
2. Ovarian tumors in young women during puberty are easier to detect. This is because young girls have a slender figure, narrow waist, and small abdominal cavity, making it easier for ovarian tumors to compress abdominal organs. For example, like in the case of Xiaoyan, bladder compression can cause frequent urination. Therefore, parents should regularly pay attention to their daughter's waist circumference and abdomen, and seek medical examination if any abnormalities are found.
3. When young girls have ovarian tumors, some may also experience symptoms such as uterine bleeding and irregular menstruation. Therefore, if these common symptoms persist without improvement, a medical examination should be sought promptly.
4. Some ovarian tumors have hormone-secreting functions. Therefore, when young girls experience early development or accelerated sexual maturity (such as premature breast development, early menstruation, premature formation of mature female physique, etc.), they should be taken to the hospital quickly to determine if they have ovarian tumors. This type of tumor tends to be malignant and cannot be delayed. These hormone-secreting tumors include ovarian granulosa cell tumors, ovarian teratoma trophoblastic tumors, ovarian embryonal carcinoma, etc.
5. In addition, ovarian tumors in general young girls have long stalks, and sudden torsion can occur due to activities such as exercise, jumping, and rotation, causing severe abdominal pain. Therefore, if a young girl suddenly experiences severe abdominal pain, this possibility should be considered and she should be urgently taken to the hospital for treatment.
When young girls have abdominal masses or encounter the above situations, they should not hesitate to see a gynecologist due to embarrassment. Specialized doctors can easily diagnose these conditions through a thorough medical history inquiry, detailed physical examination, B-mode ultrasound, hormone testing, etc. If it is a benign ovarian tumor, surgical removal is very effective. If it is malignant, early surgical removal is even more important, along with radiation therapy or chemotherapy, in order to achieve a cure.
