Women frequently experience menstrual pain and cramps, as well as sporadic irregularities in their periods. However, if these persist for an extended period of time and are accompanied by additional symptoms such as lower back and thigh pain, pelvic pain during bowel movements and sexual activity, nausea, vomiting, and a feeling of fullness in your stomach, there’s a possibility that you have an ovarian cyst.
One of the reproductive organs in women is the ovary. They are located on either side of the uterus and have an almond shape. These ovaries release ova or eggs, which aid in childbirth. An ovarian cyst is a sac filled with fluid that forms over or inside the ovaries. Most of the ovarian cysts are harmless but if the ovarian cyst ruptures, there could be serious consequences that you need to look out for.
Types of Ovarian Cysts
Ovarian cysts are of three types. While some are benign and non-cancerous, others might be reason for concern.
Ovulation, the natural physiological process by which an egg or ovum is released from the ovary, is the cause of functional cysts, which are not cancerous. You may suffer from symptoms such as irregular menstrual cycles, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain as a result of functional cysts. On their own, these cysts disappear after one to three months. There are two varieties of these: follicular cysts and corpus luteum cysts. Corpus luteum cysts form if the sac (follicle that contains the egg) does not dissolve after the ovum or egg is released. The sac seals shut after the egg is released, and liquid begins to accumulate inside. These cysts vanish in a few weeks after reaching a maximum size of 4 inches. Although they may twist and cause ovarian bleeding, they are not cancerous and can cause pain. When taking medications like clomid or serophene, the chance of developing these cysts rises. Follicle cysts form when the sac does not rupture to release the egg, and they go away in one to three months.
Cystadenomas, endometriomas, and dermoid cysts are the other forms of ovarian cysts. These ovarian cyst types are less typical. Specialized cells that have the ability to proliferate and differentiate into different types of cells, such as skin, teeth, or hair, are what form dermoid cysts. When these are small, they might not hurt, but as they get bigger, they might. Cystadenomas can be filled with sticky mucus or watery fluid, and they originate from ovarian tissue. Endometriosis, in which uterine cells proliferate on other organs, is the cause of endometriomas. There is a chance that all of these cysts will grow large enough to twist the ovaries, which is an extremely painful condition.
Symptoms
An ovarian cyst may cause irregular menstrual cycle, pelvic pain during sexual intercourse, dull constant pelvic pain radiating to thighs and lower back, pain during and after periods, pressure and pain during bowel movements, breast tenderness, nausea, vomiting, heaviness in abdomen, and difficulty in emptying bladder completely.
Diagnosis
To identify the type of ovarian cyst present, the doctor may prescribe specific tests or procedures, in addition to obtaining a thorough medical history.
The sonogram is used by the doctor to look for any ovarian anomalies. Sound waves are used in a sonogram to create images of the body’s internal structures. The 30-minute procedure involves taking an abdominal or vaginal sonogram of the ovaries. The doctor examines the size and appearance of the cyst by looking at sonogram images of the ovary.
A pregnancy test may be done. The development of a corpus luteum cyst, which occurs when the ruptured follicle is sealed with fluid after the release of the egg, is indicated by a positive pregnancy test result.
Laparoscopy may be advised in some women. During this procedure, the surgeon can view the ovaries and, with the use of an instrument inserted through an abdominal incision, remove any ovarian cysts that may be present.
The CA 125 blood test, which measures the amounts of the protein known as Cancer antigen 125 (CA 125), will be performed if the doctor wants to determine whether the ovarian cyst is cancerous in nature. Elevated levels indicate the possibility of ovarian cancer.
Treatment
The course of treatment for ovarian cysts is determined by the size, type, and age of the cysts as well as any associated symptoms. Given that the majority of cysts go away in one to three months, the doctor would wait, monitor, and re-evaluate in three months. Women who have undergone menopause and have cysts less than 2 cm in size that are filled with fluid undergo routine ultrasound monitoring. In order to lower the risk of developing new cysts, the physician might recommend oral contraceptives. They also lower the chance of developing ovarian cancer.
Surgery is advised if the cyst is large and continues to grow. The cyst is removed during a procedure known as a cystectomy, which does not remove the ovaries. Oophorectomy is the term for the procedure used when only one ovary is required to be removed due to the disease. A hysterectomy, in which the uterus and both ovaries are removed, may be performed by the doctor in the event that the cyst is cancerous. Following menopause, which is the cessation of menstruation between the ages of 45 and 55, this is typically advised. The affected ovary and fallopian tube are removed in their entirety during a laparotomy procedure.
Early detection
There are no definitive preventive measures that can be taken to prevent ovarian cysts, but the best way you can detect them in the early stages is to undergo regular pelvic examinations. You must also note if there are any changes in your monthly periods that are not normal to you, and report it to your doctor without any delay. Early detection of the cyst is the best way to prevent any further complications.
