FREQUENCY OF OVARIAN TUMORS PRESENTING IN REPRODUCTIVE AND POSTMENOPAUSAL AGE GROUPS

Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency and types of ovarian tumors presenting among reproductive-age and postmenopausal women at a tertiary-care hospital. Material and methods: This Cross-sectional analytical study was conducted at the Department of Gynecology, Allied Hospital Faisalabad, from October 2025 to January 2026. A total of 138 women were enrolled through non-probability consecutive sampling, with 69 participants in the reproductive-age group and 69 in the postmenopausal group. Demographic characteristics, clinical features, and risk factors were recorded. All patients underwent ultrasonography followed by histopathological confirmation of ovarian tumors. Tumors were classified as benign, borderline, or malignant. Results: The mean age of participants was 42.8 ± 14.9 years, with reproductive women averaging 29.7 ± 6.1 years and postmenopausal women 55.8 ± 4.7 years. Overall, 82 (59.4%) tumors were benign, 11 (8.0%) borderline, and 45 (32.6%) malignant. Benign tumors were significantly more common in reproductive-age women (63.7%, 44/69), while malignant tumors predominated in postmenopausal women (47.8%, 33/69). Serous cystadenoma (28.9%) and dermoid cysts (20.2%) were the most frequent benign tumors. Serous carcinoma was the most common malignancy (22.4%), occurring predominantly in postmenopausal women. A significant association was found between menopausal status and tumor type (p = 0.004). Conclusion: It is concluded that ovarian tumors exhibit distinct patterns across reproductive and postmenopausal age groups. Benign tumors are more common among reproductive-age women, whereas malignancies predominate in the postmenopausal population.