title: Ovarian maldescent.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe and assess the incidence and impact of ovarian maldescent in infertile women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational clinical study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Referral infertility practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women undergoing operative intervention as part of infertility evaluation or treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Anatomic observation at laparoscopy or laparotomy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Failure of the gonad to descend into the true pelvis occurred in 5 of 2,025 operative observations of patients evaluated and treated for infertility. Inappropriate descent of the ovary is associated with a short infundibulopelvic ligament and attachment of the superior pole of the ovary above the pelvic brim adjacent to the fimbriated end of an elongated, ipsilateral fallopian tube. It may be bilateral or unilateral and sometimes is associated with Mullerian duct abnormalities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The incidence of ovarian maldescent is low, its relationship to infertility is unclear, and it does not necessarily preclude conception when other infertility factors are recognized and treated. Its rarity and altered anatomy has the potential for therapeutic misadventure at laparoscopy, laparotomy, and IVF oocyte retrieval.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, USA.
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Verkauf
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bernhisel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D007813:Laparotomy; D010053:Ovary / Q000002:abnormalities*