Silly Question: Where are my ovaries these days?

[ZoraP]

My kids were looking at an anatomy book this evening and it occurred to me to wonder where the ovaries and Fallopian tubes go when the uterus expands during pregnancy. The anatomy book didn't bother to show us (although I know where my intestines and stomach are and why I can't eat full meals these days!) and I'm having trouble Googling the answer, too.

Anyone out there happen to know? Do they stay down low in the pelvis or do they rise with the fundus?

[Contrariety]

:

I totally wonder about this all the time!! Do they stay low? I kind of think so because I have an ovarian cyst that occasionally twinges from time to time and I swear it hasn't gone anywhere!

[SunShineSally]

Originally Posted by Contrariety

:

I totally wonder about this all the time!! Do they stay low? I kind of think so because I have an ovarian cyst that occasionally twinges from time to time and I swear it hasn't gone anywhere!

me to I have wondered and I also have a cyst that is still painful once in a while and it is in the exact same spot as before!

[lovepiggie]

I really hope someone is able to answer this question... I was staring at the chart in my doctor's office trying to figure it out myself.

... I should have just asked my doctor.

Oh well! I wait with anticipation...

[victoriaaustin]

I think they stay low. I don't know why I think this, though, and I am not a medical professional. I hope someone can illuminate us.

[First-Time-Mommy]

I have been looking for the past 15 minutes and I can't find info nor a diagram of it anywhere either. You'd imagine they would move/change location during pregnancy since they are attached to the uterus by the fallopian tube's. >no help sorry<

[Mom2M]

Well, I finally found something! It looks like they shift downward... http://www.biomedexperts.com/Abstrac...ring_pregnancy

Both ovaries were less visible with advancing gestational age. The right ovary showed a significant change in position during pregnancy, from about 1 cm (at 15-24 weeks) to 2.5 cm (at 30-41 weeks) cranial to the iliac spine. The left ovary was found 1 cm above the iliac spine throughout pregnancy

Anyway they're much harder to see with u/s as the pregnancy progresses.

Deb

[texaspeach]

the fallopian tube is connected to the uterus, but not connected to the ovary (when you ovulate, the egg pops out of the ovary and has to be caught by the fimbrea of the fallopian tube to get into the uterus). The ovary stays where it was.

[ZoraP]

Thanks, everyone! Isn't it funny that ovaries are suddenly dropped from all the diagrams once you're pregnant? I was really surprised at how hard it was to find that information -- usually I'm a Google Queen.

So I guess my Fallopian tubes are somewhere up by my diaphragm but my ovaries are still down there in my pelvis. Guess they'll all be glad to be reunited once this is over.

[Peace+Hope]

hahaha, never even thought of this. cool!

i hope my ovaries aren't lonely

[moonglowmama]

wow! it's amazing that everything lines back up well enough to get another egg into the fallopian tube after having babies.

[kcparker]

Here's another image. You can see the fallopian tube (with the three little fingers) curled around an oval, and even though it's not labeled, I think that's the ovary.

[Masel]

That's so funny. I used to think about my ovaries all the time when I was trying to concieve. Once I got pregnant they dropped off my radar completely. Poor little ovaries!

[aramat]

Originally Posted by kcparker

Here's another image. You can see the fallopian tube (with the three little fingers) curled around an oval, and even though it's not labeled, I think that's the ovary.

WOW! My poor round ligaments!!

[Mrs.Floyd]

Originally Posted by kcparker

Here's another image. You can see the fallopian tube (with the three little fingers) curled around an oval, and even though it's not labeled, I think that's the ovary.

So does that mean I can blame the Uterosacral ligament for my back labor? LOL

[kcparker]

Originally Posted by Mrs.Floyd

So does that mean I can blame the Uterosacral ligament for my back labor? LOL

No, that honor would more likely go to a posterior baby.

It's so amazing how the uterus in that picture is like a huge hot-air balloon, looking like it would float away if not for the moorings of those slender little ligaments. Not how it feels at all, right?

[SunShineSally]

Originally Posted by aramat

WOW! My poor round ligaments!!

That is what I thought they look like they are barely holding on!

[Quinalla]

Wow, thanks for the very interesting anatomy picture. I too am always wondering exactly where things are going to get out of the way of my expanding uterus Some things I can tell, but yeah I had no clue on the ovaries.

[Contrariety]

That picture makes me hurt to look at! Ooouuuuch! I so feel every bit how that picture looks!