Organ: Ovaries

Ovaries: Female internal ova-producing reproductive organs
Introduction: The ovaries produce the eggs in the female reproductive system. Eggs grow, develop, and mature in the ovaries and then are released during ovulation, part of the monthly menstrual cycle that occurs during the childbearing years.¹

The ovaries are a pair of organs in the female reproductive system. They are located in the pelvis, one on each side of the uterus (the hollow, pear-shaped organ where a baby grows). Each ovary is about the size and shape of an almond. The ovaries have two functions: they produce eggs and female hormones (chemicals that control the way certain cells or organs function).

Every month, during the menstrual cycle, an egg is released from one ovary in a process called ovulation. The egg travels from the ovary through the fallopian tube to the uterus.

The ovaries are also the main source of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone. These hormones influence the development of a woman's breasts, body shape, and body hair. They also regulate the menstrual cycle and pregnancy.²

Condition count: 16 ; see list below.
Organ types: Sexual organs (138), Female sex organs (97), Endocrine system (90), Hormonal system (90)
Produces: ova, estrogen, progesterone
Number: 2 ovaries
Related organs: fallopian tubes (7), uterus (32), cervix (5), vagina (44)
Main condition: Ovary disorders
Organs: all organs

Diseases list: The following list of medical conditions have 'Ovaries' or similar listed as an affected body part in our database: