Ovarian Cysts
What are ovarian cysts? All the information about the causes, symptoms, and treatments of ovarian cysts.
Symptoms and Causes
Ovarian cysts are usually benign, asymptomatic tumors composed of a mass or a sac filled with fluid. Although they are generally not a health risk, if they rupture and release the fluid inside, they can cause serious problems that need urgent treatment.
These formations can be located inside the ovary or on its surface and are relatively common. Typically, they disappear on their own without the need for treatment.
Most ovarian cysts are functional, meaning they develop when a follicle (which forms and then ruptures to produce estrogen and progesterone during ovulation) fails to open as it should and continues growing abnormally. There are two types:
- Follicular cyst: When an egg is released and moves towards the fallopian tube, a follicle continues to grow abnormally within the ovary.
- Corpus luteum cyst: The opening through which hormones are released becomes obstructed, causing the follicle to fill with fluid and grow into a cyst.
There are also non-functional cysts, meaning they are not related to the menstrual cycle. Among them, the most common are:
- Endometrioma: Known as a chocolate cyst due to its appearance and color, it is a result of endometriosis. When the endometrium grows outside the uterus, it can reach the ovary and form a mass when bleeding occurs during menstruation, but this fluid accumulates because it cannot exit.
- Dermoid cyst or teratoma: Forms from embryonic tissue due to a malfunction in stem cells.
- Cystadenoma: Develops from epithelial cells that line the surface of the ovary. Sometimes, they are filled with a liquid or mucous substance.
Symptoms
Ovarian cysts usually do not cause symptoms and are detected during routine checkups. Sometimes, especially when they are very large, they may show some signs, such as:
- Abdominal bloating and pressure.
- Abdominal and pelvic pain.
- Feeling of fullness.
- Stomach heaviness.
Causes
Ovarian cysts may occur due to endometriosis or polycystic ovary syndrome. At other times, they simply result from a temporary malfunction in the follicles.
Risk Factors
Some factors that increase the likelihood of developing an ovarian cyst include:
- The use of medications to induce ovulation.
- Endometriosis.
- Pelvic infection.
Complications
It is rare for ovarian cysts to lead to complications. However, they may rupture, and when the fluid is released, it can cause severe pain and bleeding. If they grow large, they can displace the ovary and cause ovarian torsion, which is very painful and leads to vomiting.
Prevention
There is no way to prevent ovarian cysts. It is recommended to attend regular gynecological checkups to detect them early and prevent complications.
Which doctor treats ovarian cysts?
Gynecologists usually handle the monitoring and treatment of ovarian cysts. If they are malignant, intervention by an oncologist or a radiotherapy specialist is required.
Diagnosis
Ovarian cysts are typically diagnosed during routine checkups, where a pelvic ultrasound is usually performed. Once detected, additional tests are done to verify their nature and characteristics:
- Pregnancy test: If positive, corpus luteum cysts are normal.
- Transvaginal ultrasound to examine the tumors in more detail and determine their characteristics:
- Regular or irregular shape.
- Size.
- Fluid-filled, solid, or mixed content.
- Tumor marker test to rule out or confirm cancer.
- Laparoscopy to define the diagnosis, as it allows a detailed view of the ovaries. It can also be used to remove the cysts in a single procedure.
Treatment
Treatment for ovarian cysts depends on their characteristics and the patient's age. The most common approaches include:
- Waiting and monitoring periodically, as it is likely that the cyst will be reabsorbed on its own.
- Hormonal contraceptives to prevent new cysts from forming.
- Laparoscopic surgery to remove them if they are large and painful. In some cases, it is necessary to also remove the ovary.
