Understanding Ovarian Cyst: Causes, Symptoms, and Management

What is it?

Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled sacs in the female ovary. The cysts are usually harmless and resolve on their own after a few months.
The majority of ovarian cyst are benign, meaning non-cancerous, but rarely they can be malignant, especially if you are past menopause.
Most ovarian cysts are small, don't cause symptoms, and will not prevent you from getting pregnant.
The most common type of ovarian cyst, called functional ovarian cyst, form during ovulation, when the ovary releases an egg. Another type of cysts are pathological ovarian cysts, which are far less common. Cysts can also originate in another condition, like endometriosis.

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Additional names

This group contains additional names:
- Theca-lutein cyst
- Simple cystoma
- Serous ovarian cyst
- Hyperreactio luteinalis
- Germinal inclusion cyst

Signs & symptoms

Many women with ovarian cysts don't have symptoms.
Others may suffer from a feeling of pressure, bloating and pain in the lower abdomen, on the side of the cyst.
If a cyst ruptures, it can cause sudden, severe pain.
If a cyst causes twisting of an ovary, called torsion, you may have pain along with nausea and vomiting.

Diagnosis

If you have symptoms, your doctor may do a pelvic exam to feel for swelling of a cyst on your ovary.
The following tests will then be needed:
-Ultrasound- to identify the cyst’s shape, size and location.
-Pregnancy test to rule out pregnancy
-Hormone level tests to see if there are hormone-related problems
Further test might be needed, especially if you are post- menopausal.

Treatment

Treatment vary according to the size of the cyst, your age and your symptoms.
If you are young and have no symptoms, you may be recommended to wait and see if the cyst gets bigger. Birth control pills can help prevent new cysts.
Surgery will be needed if you have pain, you are past menopause, or if the cyst does not go away.
If a cyst bursts or causes bleeding, you should get medical help right away.

☝️ This is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult with your physician before making any medical decision.

Learn more about our editorial process for content accuracy.

Source of Information - We analyze big data of more than 23 million patients de-identified medical records from the following sources:

National Institution of Health ∙ World Health Organization ∙ University of Illinois hospital