I can't see it even on ultrasound! Where are my ovaries? What's wrong with intestinal gas?

Ms. Zhou, 50 years old, has been in menopause for two years. One day, she went to the hospital for a routine gynecological examination. After getting the results of the B-ultrasound, she felt terrible. It turned out that the report said: the size of the uterus is about 35*30*28mm, the size of the left ovary is about 10*8*12mm, there is intestinal gas interference, and the right ovary is not seen.

The normal size of the uterus is 60*40*50mm, and the ovary is 30*20*10mm. They will shrink and become smaller after menopause. Therefore, Ms. Zhou's uterus and left ovary are smaller than normal. We can understand this, but how can you just say they are gone?

Thinking about it, I haven't had any surgery, so my ovaries definitely weren't removed. So where did Ms. Zhou's ovaries go?

The answer, of course, is that it is still staying in Ms. Zhou's stomach. As for why it was not seen, it is actually very simple. The most common reason is that it is covered by the intestines.

How B-ultrasound works

To explain this "obscured" problem, we must first understand the working principle of B-ultrasound.

When ultrasound waves are injected into the human body, they pass through different tissues and reflect different echo signals, which are then converted into images. However, ultrasound does not mean that all tissues and organs from the belly to the back can be seen clearly, especially when encountering gas and bones, only a black or white area can be seen.

Ms. Zhou is in this situation. The ovaries of menopausal women shrink and become smaller. Because of the posture, they are blocked by the intestines. The intestines in front are inflated, so you can only see a black area but not the ovaries. The time for B-ultrasound is limited, and who knows when the intestines in the stomach will move to expose the ovaries. It's just like many people want to take a "pregnancy photo" for the baby in their belly, but the baby just doesn't want to show his face.

But new concerns arise: if we can't see the ovaries, how do we know that there is nothing wrong with them?

If the ovaries are sick, they will not become smaller so that we can't find them. They will only grow bigger and fill your stomach with them. So don't worry if you can't see them. If you don't feel uncomfortable, just have regular check-ups.

What causes intestinal gas?

So what causes intestinal gas?

When there is gas in the intestines, our first reaction is that we will definitely feel bloated. In fact, under normal circumstances, there will be gas in our intestines. Of course, it is not really like drinking northwest wind (if you have, just pretend I didn’t say anything).

When we eat, gas is swallowed along with the food. If we drink carbonated drinks, there will be more gas. It may also be due to some of the foods we eat, such as carrots, sweet potatoes, soybeans, etc. You all know this, right?

Another type is intestinal flora imbalance and lactose intolerance. In this case, you will obviously feel stomach discomfort.

So under normal circumstances, there is gas in our intestines. If you don’t feel uncomfortable, you don’t need to worry about it. If you feel bloated and uncomfortable, remember to see a doctor.

Author: Yu Zhen, Wang Ying, Liu Zhou, Zhoupu Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Health and Medical College

About the Author

Liuzhou

Director of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhoupu Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Professor of Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences, and Adjunct Professor of Hainan Medical College.

Engaged in clinical, teaching and scientific research work in obstetrics and gynecology for 28 years. Professional research direction: gynecological tumors, gynecological minimally invasive techniques and conservative surgery for adenomyosis, and rescue of critical obstetric emergencies.

Clinic hours: Monday afternoon, Thursday morning.

About the Author

Wang Ying

Deputy Chief Physician of Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of Zhoupu Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Health Medical College. Has been engaged in obstetrics and gynecology for 20 years and has been working in the front line of obstetrics and gynecology for a long time.

In the past 20 years of work experience, I have systematically and comprehensively mastered the diagnosis and treatment principles and measures of common, frequently occurring and difficult and complicated diseases in obstetrics and gynecology. I have accumulated rich clinical experience and advocated the patient-centered working principle in the diagnosis and treatment process. I have good professional ethics and dedication.

Clinic hours: Saturday morning.

Funded by Shanghai Science and Technology Commission's Science Popularization Project

(Project No.: 20DZ2311100)