Ova1Plus®
A pelvic mass is a relatively common health issue. To better plan for surgery and because a small subset of these masses could be cancerous, your healthcare provider may prescribe imaging and/or blood tests such as Ova1Plus® to assess your risk of ovarian cancer.
What is a pelvic mass?
A pelvic mass is a mass of the ovary, fallopian tube, or surrounding tissues1.
How common are adnexal masses?
Adnexal masses are relatively common. Up to 1 in 5 women will develop an adnexal mass in their lifetime2,3. Despite being so common, most of these adnexal masses are benign (non-cancerous)4.
What is Ova1Plus® and when is it used?
Ova1Plus is a combination of two FDA-cleared blood tests used to assess the risk of ovarian cancer when surgery is planned for a pelvic mass.
A score is calculated based on the results of various biomarkers along with your menopausal status. When combined with information from your history, physical exam, risk factors and imaging, it can alert your healthcare provider if you have an increased risk for ovarian cancer.
What if my risk is elevated?
An elevated score is not a diagnosis of cancer; it indicates increased risk. The only way to determine for certain if a growth is cancer is to remove a piece of it and examine it in the laboratory.
In the event that your risk of ovarian cancer is elevated, your healthcare provider may refer you to a gynecologic oncologist for your surgery. Following surgery, your tissue will be sent to a laboratory where it will be examined by a pathologist, a healthcare provider who specializes in diagnosing and classifying diseases.
To learn more, visit these helpful resources or speak with your healthcare provider to find out if Ova1Plus is the right test for you.
The Society of Gynecologic Oncology
Ova1Plus® is an offering of Aspira Women’s Health.
Sources:
1. 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.
2. Pavlik EJ, Ueland FR, Miller RW, et al. Frequency and disposition of ovarian abnormalities followed with serial transvaginal ultrasonography. Obstet Gynecol 2013; 122:210.
3. Castillo G, Alcázar JL, Jurado M. Natural history of sonographically detected simple unilocular adnexal cysts in asymptomatic postmenopausal women. Gynecol Oncol 2004; 92:965.
4. Ueland, F. R., & Fredericks, N. I. (2018). Ovarian masses: Surgery or surveillance. OBG Manag, 30(6), 17-26.