Ovarian Cyst: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment!

Various  O cysts are  fluid-filled sacs that develop in the ovaries, the female reproductive organs that produce eggs. Women can develop functional ovarian cysts as a normal part of their menstrual cycle, as the ovaries prepare eggs to be released into the fallopian tubes. Although most of these cysts are completely benign, some cysts can be malignant, meaning they can become a health hazard.

Causes of Ovarian Cyst: Each month, during the menstrual cycle, a follicle grows (in which the egg is developing) in the ovary . Most months, an egg is released from the follicle, which is called ovulation. If the follicle fails to break down and release an egg, the fluid remains in the follicle and forms a cyst , which is called a follicular cyst .

Another type of cyst , called a corpus luteum cyst , occurs after an egg has been released from a follicle. This type of cyst often contains a small amount of blood. Ovarian cysts are most common in the years of childbearing age from puberty to menopause. The condition is less common after menopause.

Taking fertility drugs can cause a condition in which multiple large cysts on the ovaries form, which is called ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Generally, the cysts disappear after a woman’s period or after a pregnancy. Functional ovarian cysts are ovarian tumors or cysts due to hormone-related conditions such as polycystic ovary.

Ovarian Cyst Symptoms:  Most cysts are functional and small and do not produce symptoms. Some cysts can cause a dull or sharp pain in the abdomen during certain activities, such as urinating, defecating, or having sex. Cysts that bleed or rupture (burst) can cause serious problems that require immediate treatment.

An ovarian cyst is more likely to cause pain if:

• become big
• bleeds
• if it breaks
• Interferes with the blood supply to the ovary
• He beats during intercourse
• It is twisted or causes the fallopian tubes to twist

Symptoms of Ovarian Cyst  can include:

• distention or swelling
• Pain during defecation
• pelvic pain right after the start or end of your period
• Pain with intercourse or pelvic pain during movement
• constant pelvic pain and deafness
• sudden severe pelvic pain, often accompanied by nausea and vomiting, which can be a sign of twisting of the ovary or twisting in your bloodstream or rupture of a cyst with internal bleeding
• Changes in menstrual periods are infrequent with follicular cysts and are more common with corpus luteum cysts. He may have spotting or bleeding with some cysts. Exams and Tests:  Your doctor may discover a cyst during a pelvic exam or when you have an ultrasound for another reason. Ultrasound can be done to diagnose a cyst. Your provider may need to re-examine it in six to eight weeks to see if it’s gone.

Other imaging tests that may be done when needed include:

• CT
• Doppler flow studies
• MRI

You can do the following blood tests:

• CA125 test to look for possible cancer if you have reached menopause or are past or have an abnormal ultrasound
• Hormone levels (such as LH, FSH, estradiol, and testosterone)
• Pregnancy test (serum HCG)

Ovarian Cyst Treatment:  Functional ovarian cysts usually do not require treatment. They usually disappear after 8 to 12 weeks spontaneously. If you have frequent cysts, your doctor may prescribe birth control pills (oral contraceptives). These medications can reduce the risk of new ovarian cysts . These pills do not reduce the size of existing cysts.

You may need surgery to remove the cyst or the ovary in order to check for ovarian cancer. Surgery will likely be required to:

• Ovarian cysts with complexes that won’t go away
• Cysts that are causing symptoms that don’t go away
• Simple ovarian cysts that are larger than 10 centimeters
• Women who are close to menopause or who are post-menopausal

Types of surgery for ovarian cysts include:

• exploratory laparotomy
• Pelvic laparoscopy to remove the cyst or ovary
• You may need other treatments if you have polycystic ovary syndrome or other conditions that can cause cysts. Women who are still having menstrual periods are more likely to go away. A complex cyst in a postmenopausal woman has a higher risk of cancer . Cancer is very unlikely if a simple cyst .

Complications:  Complications have to do with the condition that is causing cysts and can occur with cysts that:

• To bleed.
• Show signs of changes that may be cancerous.
• Torsion present, depending on the size of the cyst. Larger cysts carry a higher risk

Consult your Doctor if: 

• You have symptoms of an ovarian cyst,
• You have severe pain,
• You have bleeding that is not normal for you,

Call your doctor if the following symptoms have been present on most days for at least 2 weeks:

• Fill up quickly when eating,
• lose appetite,
• Effortless weight loss

Prevention:  If you are not trying to conceive and you develop functional cysts, they can often be prevented by taking hormonal medications (such as birth control pills). These drugs that prevent the growth of follicles.