It consists of an encapsulated or confined pocket of pus with defined boundaries that forms during an infection of a fallopian tube and ovary.

These abscesses are found most commonly in reproductive age women and typically result from upper genital tract infection.

[1][2] It is an inflammatory mass involving the fallopian tube, ovary and, occasionally, other adjacent pelvic organs.

[3]: 103 Symptoms typically include fever, an elevated white blood cell count, lower abdominal-pelvic pain, and/or vaginal discharge.

Surgical complications can develop and include:[citation needed] The development of TOA is thought to begin with the pathogens spreading from the cervix to the endometrium, through the salpinx, into the peritoneal cavity and forming the tubo-ovarian abscess with (in some cases) pelvic peritonitis.

Its availability, the relative advancement in the training of its use, its low cost, and because it does not expose the woman (or fetus) to ionizing radiation, ultrasonography an ideal imaging procedure for women of reproductive age.

[1][13] If surgery becomes necessary, pre-operative administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics is started and removal of the abscess, the affected ovary and fallopian tube is done.

[14] The epidemiology of TOA is closely related to that of pelvic inflammatory disease which is estimated to one million people yearly.