Ultrasound measurement of the ovarian volume.

The ovaries of 377 women between the age of 40 and 70 years were measured by ultrasound. About one third of the patients were postmenopausal. Mean value, standard deviation and S.E.M. of the ovarian volume were calculated and related to age, parity and menstrual cycle. Ovarian size decreased with age in all women but bore no relation to parity and day of menstrual cycle in the menstruating group of women over 40 years of age. A diagram of the ovarian volume related to age is presented. In postmenopausal women the volume was related to estrogen treatment, age, parity and years since menopause. In the group of women receiving orally administered estrogens for at least a year the p-values for all parameters were greater than 0.005. Furthermore, the ovarian volume of women under hormonal treatment did not decrease with age. On the other hand the most important factor for ovarian size in subjects not receiving estrogen treatment was age (p = 0.0056). The results presented here will serve as a prerequisite for sonar examination of the ovaries in women at high risk for development of ovarian carcinoma.