{"id":10203,"date":"2019-09-05T15:24:37","date_gmt":"2019-09-05T15:24:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=10203"},"modified":"2021-06-28T14:11:41","modified_gmt":"2021-06-28T14:11:41","slug":"14-common-causes-of-ovarian-torsion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/14-common-causes-of-ovarian-torsion\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Common Causes of Ovarian Torsion"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Ovarian torsion is a condition where the ovary wraps around the ligament that holds it in place. It may wrap around one time or numerous times, and it may cause severe pain or just minor discomfort.  It may twist partially around the ligament or all the way. If there is a complete torsion, the blood flow to the ovary may be blocked off. If this is not corrected immediately, it can cause the tissue to die and cause severe complications. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In some cases, ovarian torsion may correct itself before any problems occur. Most women will need to undergo surgery to have the problem correct. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are several things that can cause ovarian torsion, and determining the cause can help you prevent future problems. Many of the causes require specific treatments and can cause other problems too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are the eight most common causes of ovarian torsion. If you think you may be at risk, talk to your doctor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The polycystic ovarian syndrome<\/a> is a condition that affects thousands of women and can cause a variety of symptoms. It can make cause weight gain and fertility issues. It can also cause cramping, bloating, irritability, and abdominal pain. In some instances, it can cause ovarian torsion. If the cysts grow on or around the ligaments or ovaries, it can cause them to twist around the ligaments. The condition can also cause hormonal changes that can cause the torsion as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since so many women with this condition experience discomfort and pain in their reproductive organs, it can be hard for them to tell if the pain caused by ovarian torsion is something new and any reason to seek medical attention. It is typically found during a regular exam or ultrasound. This can sometimes be too late, and doctors may not be able to correct the problem in time to save the ovary.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Long Ovarian Ligaments<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Some women have longer ovarian ligament than others. The ligaments can also be more fibrous and change with menstruation <\/a>and menopause. Hormonal changes can cause the ligaments to stretch out and even be too loose. This makes it easier for the ovary to become twisted around the ligament. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While this can happen to women of any age, it is more common in women who are experiencing menopause. During this time, the ligaments may be relaxed and may allow the ovaries to move around more than normal. This gives them a chance to wrap around the ligament. This can feel like a sharp pain in the abdomen, and it may go away or become worse with movement or changing sitting positions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most women are quick to seek medical attention because the pain is so severe. Doctors may perform surgery to untwist the ovary and relieve the pain unless they feel it will fix itself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Tubal Ligation<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Women who have had a tubal ligation or had their tubes tied, often experience ovarian torsion<\/a>. It may occur a short time after surgery or even several years later. It can be hard to diagnose, and although some women do experience severe pain with this condition, many women only feel slight discomfort. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doctors may perform a laparoscopy to look at the ovaries and determine if the cause is the ovarian torsion or another issue. If they find torsion is the problem, they may go ahead and correct the issue while they are already in the body.  In most cases, an ovarian torsion caused by tubal ligation is only partial, and the problem may correct itself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many women have a partial ovarian torsion and don\u2019t even realize it. While it\u2019s rare for a partial torsion to cause blood loss and tissue damage, if left untreated, the condition may worsen and lead to more serious complications.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Pregnancy<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When women become pregnant, their risk of ovarian torsion is increased. Women usually develop something called a corpus luteum cyst in the first trimester of pregnancy. This can lead to ovarian torsion in the early months of pregnancy<\/a>. By the second trimester, the cyst is gone, and the risk of developing this condition during pregnancy is reduced. The torsion happens when the high levels of hormones in the first trimester cause the ligaments to relax and leave room for the ovary to move around and wrap around them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once the hormone levels drop down in the later trimesters, the ligaments become tight again, and the ovaries are less likely to move around. If doctors notice ovarian torsion in the first trimester, they will usually just keep an eye on it and wait for it to fix itself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most would prefer not to do surgery due to the risk to the developing baby. If the problem has not corrected itself by the time the baby is born, surgery may be needed to correct it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Hormone Treatments<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Many women undergo hormone treatments for various reasons. Most will do these treatments during menopause to help reduce their symptoms and make the change easier. Hormone treatments restore hormone levels, but in some cases, they can be too strong. During menopause<\/a>, hormone levels can go up and down. So if a woman is taking a hormone and her natural hormones go up, the excess amount can cause some issues in the reproductive organ. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of these issues is causing the ligaments that hold the ovaries in place to become weak or relaxed. When this happens, the ovaries can wrap around the ligaments more easily. Hormone treatments can sometimes cause cysts to grow on the ovaries or the ligaments, which can also make ovarian torsion more likely. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Surgery can be used to treat the problem if it does not correct itself. Sometimes the hormone changes can correct the problem on their own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Ovarian Cysts<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When the ovaries are asymmetrical or not stable, they are more likely to wrap around the ligaments. In most cases, just one ovary will become twisted, but it is not impossible for it to happen to both at the same time or in separate instances. When cysts grow on the ovaries, it can cause them to become unstable or even weigh them down and pull them away from the ligaments <\/a>that hold them in place. The side that is heavier is more likely to loop over the ligament and cause pain. The tighter the twists, the more painful the condition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cysts can develop for many reasons, and most of them are benign. When doctors perform surgery to repair the ovarian torsion, they may also choose to remove the cysts if possible. This can help prevent future torsion and also relieve pain, bloating, and discomfort. Some women may need to have their cysts removed regularly to prevent further complications. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Infertility Treatments<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Women who are trying to get pregnant and undergoing fertility treatments are likely to experience ovarian torsion. The fertility treatments use hormones to improve a woman\u2019s chances of getting pregnant. These same hormone treatments can cause changes in the ovaries and ligaments and make torsion possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doctors will need to correct the issue if the woman hopes to get pregnant. Failing to treat it in time could cause the blood flow<\/a> to the ovary to be cut off and damage the tissue and eggs inside. This could lead to more fertility problems that can\u2019t be reversed. Although surgery is risky when a woman is trying to get pregnant, it is necessary. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ovarian torsion could cause problems in the early trimester if the woman were to get pregnant without correcting the issue. Less-invasive surgeries such as a laparoscopy are often used to treat the condition without causing any risks or interfering with the fertility treatments or any pregnancies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Endometriosis<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Endometriosis <\/a>is a condition that causes uterine tissue to grow outside the uterus, It can affect various parts of the body, and it can grow on other organs. If the endometriosis grows on the ovaries or the ligaments that connect to them, it can cause them to become heavy and weighed down on one side. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This will pull the ovary over the ligament and cause torsion. The worse the endometriosis becomes, the worse the torsion becomes. It can be painful and cause menstruation problems if left untreated. Many women do not know they have endometriosis until they go to the doctor for pain related to their ovarian torsion. Doctors may perform surgery to repair the torsion and also remove the endometriosis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Birth control and other medications can help reduce endometriosis symptoms and reduce the risk of ovarian torsion related to it. If the endometriosis returns, there is a chance the ovaria torsion may happen again too.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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