An ovarian cyst is a fluid-filled sac that develops on a woman’s ovary. Women have two ovaries — each about the size and shape of an almond — located on each side of the uterus. Eggs (ova) develop and mature in the ovaries and are released in monthly cycles during your childbearing years.
Most ovarian cysts occur as part of the normal workings of the ovaries. They are very common and do not usually cause any symptoms. These cysts are generally harmless and disappear without treatment in a few months.
Many women have ovarian cysts at some time during their lives.Most ovarian cysts present little or no discomfort and are harmless. The majority of ovarian cysts disappear without treatment within a few months.
However, ovarian cysts — especially those that have ruptured — sometimes produce serious symptoms. The best ways to protect your health are to know the symptoms that may signal a more significant problem and to schedule regular pelvic examinations.
Types of ovarian cyst
The two main types of ovarian are:
1. Functional ovarian cysts – cysts that develop as part of the menstrual cycle and are usually harmless and short-lived; these are the most common type of ovarian cyst
2. Pathological ovarian cysts – cysts that occur due to abnormal cell growth; these are much less common
Causes of ovarian cysts
Ovarian cysts often develop for no apparent reason in women who have monthly periods. They develop as a result of the normal function of your menstrual cycle (known as functional cysts.) The other types of cysts are much less common and are not related to the normal function of your menstrual cycle. Ovarian cyst also affect women who no longer have periods, meaning women in their menopause.
Conditions That Cause Ovarian Cysts
In some cases, ovarian cysts are caused by certain conditions, such as endometriosis.
Endometriosis occurs when pieces of the tissue that line the womb (endometrium) are found outside the womb in the fallopian tubes, ovaries, bladder, bowel, vagina or rectum. Blood-filled cysts can sometimes form in this tissue.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition that causes lots of small, harmless cysts to develop on your ovaries. The cysts are small egg follicles that do not grow to ovulation and are the result of altered hormone.
Other types of cysts not related to the normal function of your menstrual cycle.
1. Dermoid cysts. These cysts may contain tissue, such as hair, skin or teeth, because they form from cells that produce human eggs. They are rarely cancerous.
2. Cystadenomas. These cysts develop from ovarian tissue and may be filled with a watery liquid or a mucous material.
3. Endometriomas. These cysts develop as a result of endometriosis, a condition in which uterine endometrial cells grow outside your uterus. Some of that tissue may attach to your ovary and form a growth.
Dermoid cysts and cystadenomas can become large, causing the ovary to move out of its usual position in the pelvis. This increases the chance of painful twisting of your ovary, called ovarian torsion.
Complications Associated With Ovarian Cyst.
Some women develop less common types of cysts that may not produce symptoms, but that a doctor may find during a pelvic exam. Cystic ovarian masses that develop after menopause may be cancerous (malignant). That's why it's important to have regular pelvic exams.
Infrequent complications associated with ovarian cysts include:
1. Ovarian torsion. Cysts that become large may cause the ovary to move out of its usual position in the pelvis. This increases the chance of painful twisting of your ovary, called ovarian torsion.
2. Rupture. A cyst that ruptures may cause severe pain and lead to internal bleeding.
Do ovarian cysts affect fertility?
Ovarian cysts don't usually prevent you from getting pregnant, although they can sometimes make it harder to conceive.
If you need an operation to remove your cysts, your surgeon will aim to preserve your fertility whenever possible. This may mean removing just the cyst and leaving the ovaries intact, or only removing one ovary.
In some cases, surgery to remove both your ovaries may be necessary, in which case you will no longer produce any eggs. Make sure you talk to your surgeon about the potential effects on your fertility before your operation.
Signs And Symptoms
An ovarian cyst will usually only cause symptoms if it's very large or it splits (ruptures), or it blocks the blood supply to the ovaries. In these cases, you may have:
1. pelvic pain – this can range from a dull, heavy sensation to a sudden, severe and sharp pain
2. pain during sex
3. difficulty emptying your bowels
4. a frequent need to urinate
5. heavy periods, irregular periods or lighter periods than normal
6. bloating and a swollen tummy
7. feeling very full after only eating a little
8. difficulty getting pregnant (although fertility is unaffected in most women with ovarian cysts)
Visit your doctor if you persistently experience any of symptoms listed above.
How To Prevent Ovarian Cyst
Although there's no definite way to prevent the growth of ovarian cysts, regular pelvic examinations are a way to help ensure that changes in your ovaries are diagnosed as early as possible. In addition, be alert to changes in your monthly cycle, including symptoms that may accompany menstruation that aren't typical for you or that persist over more than a few cycles. Talk with your doctor about any changes that concern you.
Treatment For Ovarian Cyst
Treatment depends on your age, the type and size of your cyst, and your symptoms. Your doctor may suggest:
1. Watchful waiting. In many cases you can wait and be re-examined to see if the cyst goes away on its own within a few months. This is typically an option — regardless of your age — if you have no symptoms and an ultrasound shows you have a small, fluid-filled cyst. Your doctor will likely recommend that you get follow-up pelvic ultrasounds at periodic intervals to see if your cyst has changed in size.
2. Birth control pills or Medication. Your doctor may recommend birth control pills or some medications to reduce the chance of new cysts developing in future menstrual cycles.
3. Surgery. Your doctor may suggest removal of a cyst if it is large, doesn't look like a functional cyst, is growing, or persists through two or three menstrual cycles. Cysts that cause pain or other symptoms may be removed.
Some cysts can be removed without removing the ovary in a procedure known as an ovarian cystectomy. In some circumstances, your doctor may suggest removing the affected ovary and leaving the other intact in a procedure known as oophorectomy.
If a cystic mass is cancerous, however, your doctor will likely advise a total hysterectomy plus removing both ovaries and the fallopian tubes, as well as your uterus. Your doctor is also likely to recommend surgery when a cystic mass develops on the ovaries after menopause
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