When Should You Worry About Ovarian Cysts?

Ovarian cysts are the most common female reproductive medical condition that usually gets cured on their own. They do not cause any harm, and there is very little or no pain. But if they stay, become twisted or burst, then they result in a serious condition, and you should get proper treatment for them.

Ovarian cysts are like fluid-filled sacs. Though there are many types of ovarian cysts, follicular cysts and corpus luteal cysts are dominant among them. When the egg does not get ruptured and continues to grow, it turns into a follicular cyst. If the ovarian follicles rupture naturally, but it produces progesterone and accumulates fluid or blood inside the ovary, the cyst thus formed is known as corpus luteal cyst.

There are a few other ovarian cysts, such as the following:

●       Dermoid cyst or Teratoma originates from reproductive cells responsible for making eggs in the ovary. Such cysts are mostly non-cancerous. It may consist of tissue, such as skin or teeth or hair.

●       Cystadenoma develops from the cells on the surface of an ovary. Cystadenoma is filled with a watery or mucous material. They can grow into very large cysts.

●       Endometrioma creates cells similar to the ones inside the uterus. Such cells start growing outside the uterus as some of them get implanted into the ovarian tissue. There can be an accumulation of blood periodically inside the cyst that may cause severe inflammation and severe pain during menstruation. The quality of eggs suffers, and the chances of getting pregnant even by IVF treatments become less.

Symptoms of Ovarian Cyst

Ovarian cysts do not have any symptoms if they are smaller in size. However, the following are the ovarian cyst symptoms or signs:

●       You could feel pain, swelling, bloating and pressure in the lower abdomen.

●       Nausea if the cysts twist in the ovary.

●       Heavy bleeding and severe pain due to ruptured cells that need immediate medical help.

●       Pain, fever and unceasing vomit, dizziness, weakness, fast breathing and severe abdominal pain are the few warning signs of a ruptured cyst.

 

Bilateral Polycystic Ovaries

When there are several cysts in the ovaries, the condition is known as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome or PCOS. Women with PCOS have irregular menstrual cycles. The ovaries also produce high levels of male hormones or androgens. Either or both of the ovaries may be affected by this condition. If both the ovaries have a number of cysts, they are called bilateral polycystic ovaries.

 

It becomes difficult for such women to get pregnant, and they might not ovulate. But it becomes possible for them to be pregnant by controlling their weight. PCOS is a hormonal disorder, and it can happen due to genetic and/or other factors. The other common symptoms include excess and thick hair growth, obesity, oily skin and acne.

 

PCOS is not curable, but it can be treated by major lifestyle changes. Reducing the excess weight itself shows a lot of improvement in PCOS. A regular lifestyle, exercise and balanced diet can be of much help. There are many medicines available to treat this condition. Laparoscopic ovarian drilling is a minor surgical procedure done to treat PCOS. Pregnancy-related complications may be higher with PCOS, particularly when you are obese.

 

That’s all about the Ovarian cysts. If you experience the above symptoms, it is advised to consult your doctor and get the underlying medical condition treated.