Ovarian Cysts:
What Are They and How Do I Treat Them?
What are Ovarian Cysts?
Ovarian cysts can be fluid-filled sacs, blood-filled sacs, or other structures (tooth, hair, pasty material) that develop on the ovaries. They are common, especially in women of childbearing age.
In fact, most women will have at least one ovarian cyst during their reproductive years.
Most ovarian cysts go away on their own in 1 to 3 months and do not cause any symptoms. However, some ovarian cysts can cause pain or other problems.
How do I know if I have an ovarian cyst?
You may have an ovarian cyst and not know it because they often cause no symptoms and are incidentally seen on ultrasound or CT scan.
You may have ovarian cysts and You may have No symptoms.
Or You may have symptoms like-
- Bloating or fullness in your abdomen
- Pressure in your lower back or pelvis
- Pain during sex
- Nausea
- Frequent urination
- A dull ache that lasts for weeks
- Pelvic pain before or after menstrual periods
- Sharp pain on one side of the pelvis that comes and goes
- Abnormal vaginal bleeding which includes spotting between periods or heavier bleeding than normal during your period
These symptoms can also be caused by other conditions, so it is important to see your healthcare provider if you experience any of them.
What Are the Causes and Risk Factors for Getting Ovarian Cysts?
There is no single cause of ovarian cysts, but they can be caused by a number of different factors including:
Hormone imbalance - Due to an unhealthy lifestyle, weight gain, and ovulation-inducing medications.
Infections – genital tract infections (chlamydia, gonorrhea, with pus collection.
Family history of ovarian cysts or breast cancer.
Endometriosis.
Diagnosing an Ovarian Cyst:
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION: The first step in diagnosing an ovarian cyst is to have a physical examination by your doctor. They will feel your abdomen for lumps or tenderness and may order additional testing if they suspect that you have an ovarian cyst.
ULTRASOUND is often the first line of investigation for diagnosing an ovarian cyst because it is relatively inexpensive, non-invasive, and can be performed in-office by a technician or physician's assistant.
If a cyst is detected during a pelvic ultrasound and looks suspicious, further testing may be needed to determine if it is benign or malignant (cancerous). These can be CT Scan and an MRI study.
If a cyst is detected on either a pelvic ultrasound or CT scan, further testing may be needed via MRI to determine if it is benign or malignant (cancerous). This matters because early detection is key for successful treatment outcomes with ovarian cancer.
Additionally, if the cyst turns out to be malignant (cancerous), knowing this sooner rather than later will allow for prompt medical intervention which could save the patient's life.
CT SCAN/MRI -It can be used to have a more detailed picture of the involvement of surrounding structures, and lymph node involvement.
TUMOR MARKERS-They are blood tests done to indirectly relate to the type of cancer and whether they are malignant or benign.
Treatment Options for Ovarian Cysts:
If you have an ovarian cyst, you might have questions about how it can be treated. Ovarian cysts are often benign and don't cause any symptoms, but sometimes they can cause pain or difficulty conceiving.
There are a variety of treatment options for ovarian cysts. Your doctor will perform tests to determine the size and location of your cyst before deciding which treatment method is best for you.
SURGERY is one option for treating ovarian cysts, especially if they are large, persistent or cause symptoms such as pain. It involves removing the entire cyst from the ovary or in some cases the entire ovary containing the cyst.
This surgery is usually performed laparoscopically through small incisions in the abdomen to remove the cyst from the ovary or in some cases the entire ovary.
MEDICAL TREATMENT includes medications that help shrink your ovaries so that they no longer produce excess fluid. These medications include birth control pills and progesterone therapy, which can be taken orally or injected into your buttocks every two weeks depending on what works best for you.
Another option is oral contraceptives (OCs), which contain estrogen and progestin hormones similar to those produced naturally by our bodies. They prevent ovulation from occurring each month so that eggs cannot develop into cysts. Additionally, OCs treat Endometriosis, which is a condition where uterine tissue grows in other parts of the body after menstruation and can be responsible for cyst development.
Medical Management matters because it means that there are options available to treat cysts on ovaries without resorting to surgery.
This is important because it helps preserve fertility, and reduces the risks associated with lateral damage with surgical treatment.
The implications of this are that more women will be able to have children if they so desire and that fewer women will experience complications from ovarian cysts.
We should care about this because preserving fertility is important for many women and reducing the risk of complications from ovarian cysts is also beneficial for women's health.
This could mean better outcomes for pregnant women who have had previous problems with ovarian cysts.