You are here: / / / Ovawatch® For Patients

OvaWatch®

Finding out you have a pelvic mass can be intimidating and stressful. Whether you have an unknown mass or are already scheduled for surgery, our tests can help you and your doctor decide on a treatment plan that is best for you.

Get the Facts on Pelvic Masses

What is a Pelvic or Adnexal Mass?

A pelvic mass or adnexal mass is a growth that develops around the uterus, ovaries, or fallopian tubes. These masses are relatively common, and most are non-cancerous (benign).1 However, it’s essential to evaluate adnexal masses carefully to determine if they need further treatment or monitoring.

Adnexal masses can occur for various reasons, including ovarian cysts, fibroid tumors, or, in some cases, ovarian cancer. While many masses are harmless, some may require medical intervention, such as surgery or close monitoring.

How Common Are Adnexal Masses?

Adnexal masses are relatively common, occurring in approximately 1 out of 5 women.9, 12 The good news is that most pelvic masses are benign and don’t need surgery. Instead, doctors often recommend a “watchful waiting” approach, which means keeping an eye on the mass with regular check-ups and tests. Knowing how common these masses are can help you feel more at ease about your situation.

If I have an Adnexal Mass Does This Mean I Have Ovarian Cancer?

Finding a pelvic mass doesn’t mean you have ovarian cancer. In fact, most pelvic masses are non-cancerous. OvaWatch & Ova1 are products that can help assess the risk of ovarian cancer for women with adnexal masses. By giving you a personalized risk score, our tests can help your healthcare provider decide the best next steps for your care, ensuring you get the right treatment and peace of mind.

Why not have surgery as soon as possible?

The removal of the adnexal mass may also involve the removal of one or both ovaries in a surgical procedure called “oophorectomy.” There are a variety of reasons besides ovarian cancer risk to proceed to surgery, but it is important to know that removal of the ovaries is a big decision at any age. The removal of the ovaries prior to menopause raises other considerations.6

In those circumstances, removal of both ovaries will likely result in the onset of surgical menopause. It is important to plan for possible changes to your body after surgery.

What Are My Risk Assessment Options?

If an adnexal mass is detected, your healthcare provider may recommend one of the following products from Aspira Women’s Health to help guide your personalized treatment plan. Our OvaSuiteSM portfolio includes:

What to Expect

What should I expect when my healthcare provider orders an OvaSuite test?

If you have an adnexal mass, the first step is OvaWatch or Ova1Plus. Ask your doctor today about our simple, non-invasive blood tests that can assess your ovarian cancer risk.

PRECAUTION:
OVAWATCH IS INTENDED FOR USE AS A NON-INVASIVE TEST TO ASSESS THE RISK OF OVARIAN CANCER FOR WOMEN WITH ADNEXAL MASSES, EVALUATED BY INITIAL CLINICAL ASSESSMENT (ICA) AS INDETERMINATE OR BENIGN. IN CONJUNCTION WITH IMAGING (ULTRASOUND AND/OR CT) AND CLINICAL ASSESSMENT, THIS TEST WILL SUPPORT PHYSICIANS IN MAKING INFORMED CLINICAL DECISIONS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF WOMEN WITH ADNEXAL MASSES. THE TEST IS NOT INTENDED AS A SCREENING TEST OR A STAND-ALONE DIAGNOSTIC ASSAY.

OVA1 AND OVERA SHOULD NOT BE USED WITHOUT AN INDEPENDENT CLINICAL AND IMAGING EVALUATION AND IS NOT INTENDED TO BE A SCREENING TEST OR TO DETERMINE WHETHER A PATIENT SHOULD PROCEED TO SURGERY. INCORRECT USE CARRIES THE RISK OF UNNECESSARY TESTING, SURGERY, AND/OR DELAYED DIAGNOSIS.

References:

  1. Reilly, G., Bullock, R. G., Greenwood, J., Ure, D. R., Stewart, E., Davidoff, P., … & Northrop, L. E. (2022). Analytical validation of a deep neural network algorithm for the detection of ovarian cancer. JCO Clinical Cancer Informatics, 6, e2100192.
  2. Bristow, R. E., Smith, A., Zhang, Z., Chan, D. W., Crutcher, G., Fung, E. T., & Munroe, D. G. (2013). Ovarian malignancy risk stratification of the adnexal mass using a multivariate index assay. Gynecologic oncology, 128(2), 252-259.
  3. Choudhury, M. Roy, Pappas, T. C., Twiggs, L. B., Caoili, E., Fritsche, H., & Phan, R. T. (2024). Ovarian Cancer surgical consideration is markedly improved by the neural network powered-MIA3G multivariate index assay. Frontiers in Medicine, 11, 1374836.
  4. Dunton, C. J., Hutchcraft, M. L., Bullock, R. G., Northrop, L. E., & Ueland, F. R. (2021). Salvaging detection of early-stage ovarian malignancies when CA125 is not informative. Diagnostics, 11(8), 1440.
  5. ACOG Practice Bulletin Number 174, November 2016
  6. SGO Position Statement Issued 2011, Updated 2013
  7. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ Committee on Practice Bulletins—Gynecology. Practice Bulletin No. 174: Evaluation and Management of Adnexal Masses. Obstet Gynecol. 2016 Nov;128(5):e210-e226. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000001768. PMID: 27776072.
  8. Castillo G, Alcázar JL, Jurado M. Natural history of sonographically detected simple unilocular adnexal cysts in asymptomatic postmenopausal women. Gynecol Oncol 2004; 92:965.
  9. Pavlik EJ, Ueland FR, Miller RW, et al. Frequency and disposition of ovarian abnormalities followed with serial transvaginal ultrasonography. Obstet Gynecol 2013; 122:210.
  10. Ueland, F. R., & Fredericks, N. I. (2018). Ovarian masses: Surgery or surveillance. OBG Manag, 30(6), 17-26.
  11. Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.). Adnexal mass (tumor): Symptoms, causes & treatment. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22015-adnexal-mass-tumors
  12. Eskander, R., Berman, M., & Keder, L. (2016). Evaluation and management of adnexal masses. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 128(5), e210-e226.
  13. Alcázar, J. L., Pascual, M. A., Graupera, B., Aubá, M., Errasti, T., Olartecoechea, B., … & Guerriero, S. (2016). External validation of IOTA simple descriptors and simple rules for classifying adnexal masses. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology, 48(3), 397-402.
  14. Kingsberg, S. A., Larkin, L. C., & Liu, J. H. (2020). Clinical effects of early or surgical menopause. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 135(4), 853-868.