The ovary is a female reproductive organ located in the pelvis. Its function is to produce female hormones and to store eggs that, if fertilized by sperm, can develop into a baby.
Women have two ovaries, one on each side of the uterus.
Significance of ovarian cancer In the United States, more women die of ovarian cancer each year than of cervical and endometrial cancers combined. Survival rates have not greatly improved, and screening has not been proven to decrease the death rate. Ovarian cancer prevention Ovarian cancer can sometimes be associated with known risk factors for the disease. Many risk factors are modifiable though not all can be avoided. The risk of developing ovarian cancer increases as a woman gets older.