Ovarian Cysts
What is an Ovarian Cyst
Cysts are solid or liquid-filled sacs or pockets (cyst) within or on the surface of an ovary
Cysts can be benign (non-cancerous) or cancerous.
Depending on presentation, age of the women, time of her menstrual cycle, a cyst could be nothing but a space filled with fluid that develop in the ovaries.
Cysts sometimes are formed when the follicle that contains an egg fails to break and release the egg out of the ovary, resulting in accumulation of fluid and sometimes blood in the follicle.
Types of Ovarian Cysts
Types of ovarian cysts include
- dermoid cysts,
- cystadenoma,
- endometrioma (ovarian cyst due to endometriosis),
- corpus luteal cyst,
- simple (functional) cyst.
Causes Of Ovarian Cysts
Some of the risk factors for cyst formation include
- heredity,
- early menstruation,
- irregular menstrual cycles,
- excessive upper body fat distribution, and
- hormonal imbalance.
Symptoms Of Ovarian Cysts
Ovarian Cysts usually do not cause any symptoms, but you must visit Dr Gailani if you observe:
- swelling or bloating of the abdomen,
- experience pain during bowel movements,
- pelvic pain,
- severe pain leading to nausea and vomiting, and
- pain in the pelvic region before or after the menstrual period begins.
Some women will feel an abdominal mass.
Treatments For Of Ovarian Cysts
Some cysts will disappear by themselves and some cysts that are large will require treatment.
Treatment options include non-surgical and surgical treatment. The non-surgical treatment includes:
- Birth control pills help to decrease formation of new cysts and prevent the formation of eggs that will become cysts.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen help to relieve pain.
Surgery will be recommended to remove the cyst or ovary for cysts that are 5 to 10 cm in diameter causing pain and discomfort, or if they are highly suspicious to be malignant.
Laparoscopy surgery (keyhole surgery) to remove the cysts is usually performed. Only very rarely is a laparotomy (open abdominal cut) necessary.
