Ovarian Cysts

Ovarian cysts are a very common condition that is harmless in most of the cases, and they rarely can turn into a more serious issue.

Ovarian cysts

An ovarian cyst is a fluid-filled sac that appears in an ovary or on its surface, and it has several types:

Functional cysts, which are the most common type, and they occur as a result of ovulation. They have two types as well, which are follicular cysts and corpus luteum cysts.

Other cysts: dermoid cysts, which form from the reproductive cells and contain tissue similar to the hair, skin, or teeth; endometriomas, which are cysts filled with menstrual blood; cystadenomas, which develop from cells on the surface of an ovary, and they are filled with watery or mucus material; and cancerous ovarian cysts.

Causes and risk factors of ovarian cysts

Ovarian cysts are a usual result of the menstrual cycle. The risk of having them increases due to the following factors:

Hormonal problems.

Endometriosis.

Pregnancy.

Pelvic inflammatory disease or severe pelvic infections.

Symptoms of ovarian cysts

Ovarian cysts don’t cause symptoms in most of the cases because they are usually small. The large ovarian cysts can cause:

Pelvic pain, which may come and go.

A mild back pain.

Feeling of fullness or bloating in the abdomen.

Pain during intercourse.

Irregular periods.

They cause sharp pain or pain during certain parts of the menstrual cycle.

In rare cases, ovarian torsion can occur, and it causes sudden and severe pelvic pain in addition to nausea and vomiting. In some cases, a cyst may burst and cause severe pain and bleeding inside the pelvis, and the risk of that increases the larger the cyst.

Diagnosis of ovarian cysts

Pelvic exam.

Ultrasonography.

Laparoscopy.

Treatment of ovarian cysts

Treating ovarian cysts depends on the case:

If the ovarian cysts are small and don’t cause severe symptoms, they are only monitored until they wear off on their own.

If the ovarian cysts are large and cause severe symptoms, they can be managed with medications and surgery to remove them when needed.