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Ovarian torsion

Torsio ovarii · Torze vaječníku

female only

What it is

The ovary twists on its ligaments and cuts off its own blood supply — a surgical emergency, usually around an enlarged ovary or a cyst.

Symptoms & signs

  • Sudden severe one-sided pelvic pain
  • nausea and vomiting
  • pain that comes in waves
  • fever later on
  • tender mass

🚩 Get help if…

  • call 112 / 911 now Sudden severe pain low on one side of the belly
  • call 112 / 911 now One-sided pelvic pain with vomiting
  • call 112 / 911 now Pelvic pain that comes and goes with a known ovarian cyst

Where it strikes

Medical treatment

  • Urgent ultrasound with Doppler
  • laparoscopy to untwist the ovary — even a dark ovary usually recovers
  • removal of a cyst or tumour
  • fixing the ovary (oophoropexy) after a repeat torsion

Natural & lifestyle

  • Know the warning signs with a large cyst or during IVF stimulation

Emerging & experimental

  • MRI for unclear cases in pregnancy
  • biomarkers of ovarian ischaemia

Alternative, off-label & anecdotal

Approaches used outside the guidelines, with what their supporters report and what testing has found so far.

  • Heat and painkillers at home — a dangerous delay; the ovary can die within hours anecdotal / traditional
  • Abdominal massage or 'untwisting' positions — anecdotal; they cannot untwist an ovary and they delay surgery anecdotal / traditional

ICD codes