The normal size of the ovaries in women before and after childbirth

The birth of a new life is a special event for every woman. As soon as fertilization takes place, and a fetal egg is introduced into the body , all organs and systems begin a global restructuring. Sexual organs are the most exposed to changes, since in them throughout the entire period of pregnancy the baby will grow and develop. The structures that are involved directly in the process of preserving the child are the ovaries. They affect the state of women in the first place. During pregnancy, the normal size of the ovaries, their hormonal activity, and the ability to produce female sex cells change.

Functions of the ovaries in the body of a woman

Ovaries perform the most important function - they produce eggs. Every month the body of a woman undergoes a series of cyclical changes, through which fertilization becomes possible monthly.

Functions of the ovaries:

1. Egg production. This process occurs in the middle of each menstrual cycle. The output of the female cell ready for fertilization is normal on day 14 from its onset. At this time, the normal size of the ovaries in women is slightly altered. Fertilization of the released egg is possible only during ovulation, therefore special methods of counting are developed.
2. Hormonal function. During the cycle, the main female hormones - estrogens and progesterone - are produced. In the first half, the production of estrogens necessary for the maturation of eggs, in the second - progesterone, which contributes to the preservation of pregnancy during fertilization.

Structure and normal size of the uterus and ovaries before delivery

Uterus and ovaries are located within the small pelvis. In addition to these organs, there are the rectum, the bladder, the fallopian tubes, as well as the upper part of the vagina. The uterus occupies the middle position between the bowel and the bladder, normally its dimensions are: length - 8 cm, width - 4 cm, weight - 50-70 cm. Ovaries are located on the sides of the uterus body, behind the uterine tubes. When palpation of appendages, they are felt in the projection of the right and left iliac regions. Normally, they are not palpable (except for ladies of asthenic physique). The normal size of the ovaries of the nulliparous woman: length - 4.5 cm, width - 2.5 cm, thickness - 2 cm.

Changes in the uterus and ovaries during pregnancy

During the period of gestation, the female genitalia undergo the greatest changes. Uterus during the period of pregnancy increases to 36-40 cm in length and becomes 20 times larger by weight (about 1 kg). Her muscle fibers stretch, and she reaches the peak of her "capabilities."

The normal size of the ovaries during pregnancy exceeds their initial size by a few millimeters, since during this period the inflow of blood to the pelvic organs is increased, due to which their insignificant hyperplasia occurs. The function of producing estrogens, as well as oocytes, is absent at this moment, and progesterone, the main hormone of childbearing in the female body, comes first .

Postpartum period and changes associated with it

The postpartum period is 42 days, that is 6 weeks. It is believed that during this time the body of a woman must recover from pregnancy and childbirth and come to its original state. After the birth of a new life, all organs and systems are restored, the woman in labor again acquires a slender silhouette and lightness. There is a restoration of the cardiovascular system (the placental circulation that connects the mother and the child disappears), the frequency of breathing decreases, normal urination is restored. Muscles of the anterior abdominal wall and pelvic floor gradually, within 6-8 weeks, acquire the former tone.

Normal size of the ovaries and uterus after delivery

The largest changes occur in the uterus, as during pregnancy it reached a very large size. In the first week after birth, its size is reduced by 2 times, then it is reduced by a quarter and by the end of 6 weeks it becomes the same size. In the postpartum period, provided that the woman does not breast-feed the baby, the ovaries return to their former functions and sizes in a few weeks, that is, they start producing estrogens and prepare the body for new fertilization. If the mother feeds the baby with breast milk, then the "stop" of the hormonal function lasts a few more months.

Ultrasound of pelvic organs is normal

Ultrasound examination of women before birth is one of the main methods of diagnosing gynecological pathologies, such as inflammatory processes, hyperplastic proliferation of tissues (polyps, cysts), as well as oncology of genital organs. In addition, the echo-picture of the uterus and ovaries allows you to judge the phase of the menstrual cycle under normal conditions (if the woman is healthy), which helps determine the appropriate time for pregnancy planning.

On ultrasound of the pelvic organs in women determine their size, the number of follicles, the structure, thickness and density of the object under examination . The normal size of the ovaries by ultrasound: length - 30 mm, width - 25 mm, thickness - 15 mm. There are small variations in these values, which depend on the stage of the cycle and the age group of the patient. The maximum size of the ovaries is in the middle of the menstrual cycle, that is, the days immediately before ovulation, as at this time the main follicle reached its maximum height and is ready for release. The normal size of the ovaries in women during the menopause is somewhat less than in the reproductive age, because its functions are terminated, and the maturation of the eggs does not occur.

Ultrasound of genitals during pregnancy

The onset of pregnancy changes not only the functional activity of the ovaries, but also their echo-picture. At the first visit to the women's consultation about the birth of a new life, every gynecologist advises a woman to undergo ultrasound examination of the pelvic organs. Ultrasound in early pregnancy is transvaginal. This study allows you to estimate the duration, localization (in normal pregnancy is the uterus, that is, the fetal egg is attached to the body of the uterus), the number of fruits, as well as the presence or absence of possible complications.

The normal size of a woman's ovaries "in position" is increased by several millimeters. In addition, there are changes in the follicular apparatus of reproductive organs (no growth of one follicle is observed, they are all in the same "inactive" state). The wall of the ovary is somewhat thickened due to abundant blood supply. Uterus undergoes significant changes, which depend on the period of pregnancy. With each week, it increases and stretches the muscle fibers, the maximum size it reaches before giving birth.

Ovary ultrasound in the puerperium

After 6-8 weeks after delivery, ultrasound shows normal ovarian size as they were before birth. Immediately after the birth of a baby, their size remains somewhat larger, they begin to recover by the end of 3 weeks. If a woman is breastfeeding, then phase changes in the size of the ovaries at this time are not observed. At the beginning of the ovulatory cycle, the size of the ovaries begins to increase insignificantly due to the growth of the follicle.