Though the ovary is often reduced to its role in reproduction, research shows it plays a surprisingly central role in a woman’s health throughout her body and lifetime. It is becoming more important as women live longer − it ages more than twice as fast as other organs, and its decline doesn’t just impact fertility. Ovarian aging has widespread effects on women’s health, increasing the risk of age-related diseases and other conditions.
Here's a closer look at why the ovary affects health, how you can stay healthier longer, and ways researchers are trying to better understand this often-overlooked but crucial organ.
Living longer, but not necessarily better
Women live longer than men on average, but they end up spending more time living with diseases or disabilities. Research shows that health outcomes are closely tied with menopause and declining ovarian function. Before reaching menopause, women are less likely than men of the same age to develop cardiovascular disease, but once they reach 55, their risk becomes greater than men’s.
