The ovaries are two small, oval-shaped organs in the pelvis (the area between the hips in the lower part of the tummy). They’re part of the female reproductive system, which is made up of the ovaries, fallopian tubes, womb (uterus), cervix and vagina.
Each month, in women of childbearing age, one of the ovaries produces an egg. The egg passes down the fallopian tube to the womb. If the egg isn’t fertilized by a sperm, it passes out of the womb. It’s then shed, along with the lining of the womb, as part of the monthly period.
The ovaries also produce the female sex hormones oestrogen and progesterone. As a woman nears the menopause, the ovaries make less of these hormones and periods gradually stop.
There are several organs close to the ovaries. These include:
If ovarian cancer spreads to the lymphatic system, it′s most likely to go to lymph nodes in the pelvis.