Ovarian Cysts: Types, Symptoms, Treatment, Prevention

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Globally, ovarian cysts are a common cause of hospitalisations and surgical procedures among women. According to statistical data, 8-18 percent of both premenopausal and postmenopausal women across the world have ovarian cysts and the majority of post-menopausal cysts persist for years.

Table of Contents:

Feel free to skip ahead if one topic catches your eye:

1. What is Ovarian Cyst?
2. What are the main causes of Ovarian Cysts?
3. Signs and Symptoms of an ovarian cyst
4. How is ovarian cyst diagnosed?
5. What are the treatments for ovarian cyst?

1. What is Ovarian Cyst?

The ovaries, which are located in the lower abdomen on both sides of the uterus, are integral parts of the female reproductive system. Females have two ovaries that produce the hormones estrogen and progesterone as well as eggs.
At times, a fluid-filled sac known as a cyst gets developed on one of the female ovaries. The majority of women develop at least one cyst during the lifetimes, many of which demonstrate no symptoms and are painless. It is important to note that these cysts are common in girls and women with regular periods. However, immediate medical intervention is highly recommended if the cysts turn large. Less common after menopause, ovarian cysts when experienced by postmenopausal women are risky as they may indicate ovarian cancer.

What are the types of ovarian cysts?

Functional ovarian cysts
Functional ovarian cysts form in a small majority of women of childbearing age when there is a functional fault with ovulation.
These may further be of two types:

1. Follicular cysts: Females may experience an enlarged follicle that gets filled with fluid. They are usually noticed in women who are receiving infertility treatment.
2. Corpus luteum cysts: These cysts may happen when the corpus luteum (a mass of cells that forms in an ovary) gets filled with blood or fluid. A cyst that is filled with blood is sometimes known as a hemorrhagic cyst.

Dermoid cysts
Also known as benign mature cystic teratomas, Dermoid cysts generally occur in younger women. These cysts include odd contents such as parts of teeth, hair removal, parts of bone, etc. and grow quite large. This health condition usually runs in families.

Cystadenomas
These cysts are usually attached to the female ovary by a stalk instead of growing within the ovary itself. Cystadenomas are generally benign but some may turn cancerous.

2. What are the main causes of Ovarian Cysts?

The primary causes of ovarian cysts include:

• Endometriosis: Women with endometriosis may develop an endometrioma, a type of ovarian cyst. The endometriosis tissue may get attached to the ovary and develop growth. These cysts may be painful during the periods and sex.
• Hormonal problems: Generally, functional cysts subside on their own without treatment. These cysts may be a result of hormonal problems or because of medications to help you ovulate.
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): PCOS is a leading cause of infertility in women. Women with Polycystic ovary syndrome usually have many small cysts on their ovaries.

What are the signs and symptoms of an ovarian cyst?

Generally, ovarian cysts don't demonstrate any symptoms. However, symptoms may start showing up as there is a growth in the cysts.

The symptoms of ovarian cysts may include:

• abdominal swelling or bloating
• Irregular menstrual bleeding
• breast tenderness
• painful intercourse
• painful bowel movements
• vomiting and nausea

In rare cases, females may experience rapid breathing, dizziness, faintness, fever, or severe pelvic pain when they have ovarian cysts.

4. How is ovarian cyst diagnosed?

If you have experienced any symptoms of ovarian cysts, it is suggested that you must have a word with your doctor immediately. The doctor would perform a pelvic examination to look out for possible signs of swelling of a cyst on the ovary. In case a cyst is found, the doctor may recommend some medical tests such as:

• Pelvic Ultrasound: The doctor may recommend a pelvic ultrasound test that makes use of sound waves for creating images of the body. Using the ultrasound reports, the doctor may see the shape, location, mass, and location of the cyst.
• Hormone level tests: Hormone level tests may be recommended by the doctor to ascertain if there are any hormone-related complications.
• Pregnancy test: The doctor may recommend a pregnancy test to check if you are pregnant.
• Blood test: If you are past menopause, the doctor may recommend a test for measuring the amount of cancer-antigen 125 (CA-125) in the blood. The level of CA-125 is higher in women with ovarian cancer. A high level of CA-125 in premenopausal women may be a result of many other illnesses or diseases besides cancer.

5. What are the treatments for ovarian cyst?

The doctor may recommend specific treatments for removing or shrinking the cyst if it does not subside on its own or if it grows larger.

• Laparoscopy:Your doctor may perform a laparoscopy if the cyst is small and imaging test results have ruled out the possibility of ovarian cancer. During this surgical procedure, the doctor would make a tiny incision near the navel and then insert a small instrument into the abdomen for removing the cyst.
• Laparotomy: Your doctor may surgically remove the cyst if it is of larger size by making a large incision in the abdomen. The doctor would then perform a biopsy immediately and may perform hysterectomy, if the cyst is found cancerous and remove uterus and ovaries.

If you are looking for the best ovarian cyst treatment, it is best for you to select a reputed clinic like Kalosa.

Kalosa is a leading clinic for the treatment of ovarian cysts through advanced techniques in the hands of experts like Dr. Deepti Asthana. She is well trained and experienced in laparoscopic surgeries, so all possible cases are dealt with minimum invasive methods. She is associated with corporate hospital, at present with Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon and prefers doing her surgeries there due to the multidisciplinary team of professionals and world class infrastructure.