Many women will develop at least one ovarian cyst in their lifetime. In most cases, the cysts are painless and cause no symptoms.
The ovaries are part of the female reproductive system. They are located in the pelvis and are small organs responsible for retaining eggs and producing hormones. An ovarian cyst can be described as a fluid filled sac present on an ovary. These cysts are common and do not invite any symptoms. are you warned? Most ovarian cysts tend to appear naturally and disappear within a few months without any treatment. You will be surprised to know that the cyst can be small or even large. Furthermore, some cysts can also lead to serious complications.
Symptoms: Large ovarian cysts can cause excruciating pelvic pain, nausea, and vomiting. To their dismay, they can even rupture, causing bleeding into the pelvis. Other symptoms can be bloating, painful sex, and infertility.
Risk factors: Women who are known to have hormonal problems, PCOS, or endometriosis may have a higher chance of being detected with ovarian cysts. In addition, other factors such as pelvic infections, hormonal problems and pregnancy. Those women who once developed an ovarian cyst may also have it again.
Learn how the ovarian cyst affects health: As mentioned above, there are many cysts that do not require any treatment and can go away on their own. But, there are some cysts that can give you a hard time. They can cause unpleasant symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, and irregular periods. There may be delayed menses, no menstruation, and anovulatory cycles. Other than that, urinary or intestinal disorders can also be found due to large cysts. The ovaries can be permanently damaged if the cysts are not handled at the right time. Remember that if the cyst is tender, it will contract the ovarian tissue and damage it.
Diagnosis: Ultrasonography will help in the diagnosis of cysts. Then the doctor will suggest a suitable line of treatment for you. The cyst can also be detected with the help of an ultrasound. In addition, tumor markers/biomarkers in the blood such as CEA and CA-125 can identify the malignant ovarian cyst.
Treatment: You will be asked to opt for hormone treatment or surgery after a thorough evaluation by your doctor. Don’t forget to keep in touch with your gynecologist and go for regular check-ups and controls.
(Inputs from: Dr. Shalini Vijay, Senior Consultant OB/GYN, Maternity Hospitals, Lullanagar)
