Ovarian Cysts

What Are Ovarian Cysts?

Cysts can be benign (non-cancerous), borderline (risk to become malignant is present)or cancerous. Depending on the presentation, age of the woman, time of her menstrual cycle, a cyst could be nothing but a sac filled with fluid that develops in the ovaries. Cysts sometimes are formed when the follicle that contains an egg fails to break and release the egg out of the ovary, resulting in the accumulation of fluid and sometimes blood in the follicle.

Cause of Ovarian Cysts

Some of the risk factors for cyst formation include heredity, early menstruation, irregular menstrual cycles - PCOS, excessive upper body fat distribution, and hormonal treatments like ovulation induction or IVF. 

Symptoms of Ovarian Cysts

Ovarian Cysts usually do not cause any symptoms, but you must visit us if you observe swelling or bloating of the abdomen, experience pelvic pain, severe pain leading to nausea and vomiting, and pain in the pelvis region before or after the menstrual period begins.

Diagnosis

Cysts are confirmed on ultrasound. Very rarely if malignancy is suspected CT scan will be requested. MRI is occasionally used for assessment of the severity of endometriosis.

Treatments for Ovarian Cysts

Some cysts will disappear by themselves and some cysts that are large will require treatment.

Treatment options include non-surgical and surgical treatment. The non-surgical treatment includes:

• Birth control pills help to decrease the formation of new cysts and prevent the formation of eggs that will become cysts.
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen help to relieve pain.

Surgery will be recommended to remove the cyst if its size exceeds 5 cm, or if the cyst is causing pain and discomfort, or even to remove the whole ovary if they are highly suspicious to be malignant. Laparoscopic surgery (key-hole surgery) to remove the cysts is usually performed, sometimes laparotomy (open abdominal cut) is necessary.