What is an ovarian cyst?
An ovarian cyst is a fluid-filled sac that develops on one or both ovaries. Most ovarian cysts are harmless, non-cancerous, and go away without requiring treatment.
They may develop as a result of underlying health conditions like endometriosis (a painful condition where the cells from the inner lining of the womb grow outside the uterus and in the surrounding areas such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes and ovarian ligaments) or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). There are two main groups of ovarian cysts: benign functional cysts and benign non-functional cysts.
Benign functional cysts
These can be follicle cysts, or corpus luteum cysts.
Follicle cysts may form during a woman’s menstrual cycle. During the normal menstrual cycle, a follicle will form and an egg within it will be released once matured. Follicle cyst forms when the follicle doesn’t break open to release the egg, causing it to continue growing into a cyst. They often have no symptoms and go away on their own in 1 – 3 months.
Once the follicle ruptures, it becomes corpus luteum. Corpus luteum cyst forms if the sac does not shrink, but instead, fills up with fluid. Most corpus luteum cysts usually will resolve on their own and go away after a few weeks.
Benign non-functional cysts
There are 3 main types of such cysts. Endometriotic cysts, dermoid cysts and cystadenomas.
Endometriomas (endometriotic cysts) are caused by endometriosis. Endometriosis happens when the lining cells of the uterus grow outside of the uterus. When endometriosis is found in the ovary, this may lead to the accumulation of ‘menses blood’ and this could see endometriotic cysts forming in the ovary.
Dermoid cysts come from cells present in the ovary from birth and do not usually cause symptoms. Fat tissue, bone, teeth, hair and other connective tissues may be found within the dermoid cyst.
Cystadenomas are filled with watery fluid and can sometimes grow very large.
Malignant (cancerous) cysts are rare and they are more commonly found in older patients.
What are the symptoms of ovarian cysts?
Most ovarian cysts are small and don’t have any symptoms.
However, if a cyst does cause symptoms, you may feel pressure, bloating, swelling, or pain in the lower abdomen on the side of the cyst.
Painful and ruptured ovarian cysts
The rupturing of a cyst ruptures, it can สมัคร ufabet กับเรา รับโบนัสทันที cause sudden, severe pain. A cyst may also cause twisting of an ovary (torsion), and should it happen, pain will be felt, along with nausea and even vomiting.
How are cysts diagnosed?
Ultrasound
If an ovarian cyst is suspected, an ultrasound scan of pelvis, either trans-abdominal or trans-vaginal may help doctors to confirm the diagnosis.
Radiological imaging
In some cases, further radiological imaging with computerised tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) pelvis may be required. In the course of observation, further scans may be advised to monitor the cyst, to determine if it has gone away on its own.
When to see a gynaecologist
If the cyst persists, your doctor may recommend blood tests or refer you to a gynaecologist, especially if there are concerns that the cyst link to cancer. For women who have gone through menopause, the risk of ovarian cancer is slightly higher and may require more regular monitoring.