For a premenopausal patient, what is the upper limit of normal ovarian volume?

• A. <22cc
• B. <8cc
• C. <30cc
• D. <12cc

Answer: (A)

In premenopausal patients, ovarian size varies with normal menstrual cycling, but imaging uses an upper limit to distinguish normal from enlarged ovaries. Ovarian volume is measured on ultrasound and reported in cubic centimeters (mL); for women of reproductive age, the commonly used upper limit of normal is about 20–22 mL per ovary. Values within this range are considered normal variability, while volumes notably smaller are more typical after menopause, and volumes significantly larger than this threshold may raise concern for functional cysts, polycystic ovarian changes, or neoplasms depending on the overall appearance.

Among the options, the threshold around 22 mL best fits the standard upper limit for a premenopausal ovary. The smaller values correspond more to atrophic or underdeveloped ovaries, and 30 mL would exceed the typical upper limit and could suggest pathology in many contexts.