Resultsbee.com

OVARIAN CYST TREATMENT

Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled sacs or pockets in an ovary or on its surface. Women have two ovaries — each about the size and shape of an almond — on each side of the uterus. Eggs (ova), which develop and mature in the ovaries, are released in monthly cycles during the childbearing years.
Many women have ovarian cysts at some time. Most ovarian cysts present little or no discomfort and are harmless. The majority disappears without treatment within a few months.
However, ovarian cysts — especially those that have ruptured — can cause serious symptoms. To protect your health, get regular pelvic exams and know the symptoms that can signal a potentially serious problem.

Symptoms
Most cysts don’t cause symptoms and go away on their own. However, a large ovarian cyst can cause:
Pelvic pain — a dull or sharp ache in the lower abdomen on the side of the cyst
Fullness or heaviness in your abdomen
Bloating

When to see a physician
Seek immediate attention if you have:
Sudden, severe abdominal or pelvic pain
Pain with fever or vomiting
If you have these signs and symptoms or those of shock — cold, clammy skin; rapid breathing; and light headedness or weakness — see a physician right away.

Causes
Most ovarian cysts develop as a result of your menstrual cycle (functional cysts). Other types of cysts are much less common.
Functional cysts
Your ovaries normally grow cyst-like structures called follicles each month. Follicles produce the hormones estrogen and progesterone and release an egg when you ovulate.
If a normal monthly follicle keeps growing, it’s known as a functional cyst. There are two types of functional cysts:
Follicular cyst. Around the midpoint of your menstrual cycle, an egg bursts out of its follicle and travels down the fallopian tube. A follicular cyst begins when the follicle doesn’t rupture or release its egg, but continues to grow.
Corpus luteum cyst. When a follicle releases its egg, it begins producing estrogen and progesterone for conception. This follicle is now called the corpus luteum. Sometimes, fluid accumulates inside the follicle, causing the corpus luteum to grow into a cyst.
Functional cysts are usually harmless, rarely cause pain, and often disappear on their own within two or three menstrual cycles.

Other cysts
Types of cysts not related to the normal function of your menstrual cycle include:
Dermoid cysts. Also called teratomas, these can contain tissue, such as hair, skin or teeth, because they form from embryonic cells. They’re rarely tumorous.
Cystadenomas. These develop on the surface of an ovary and might be filled with a watery or a mucous material.
Endometriomas. These develop as a result of a condition in which uterine endometrial cells grow outside your uterus (endometriosis). Some of the tissue can attach to your ovary and form a growth.
Dermoid cysts and cystadenomas can become large, causing the ovary to move out of position. This increases the chance of painful twisting of your ovary, called ovarian torsion. Ovarian torsion may also result in decreasing or stopping blood flow to the ovary.

Treatment for an ovarian cyst
Your physician may recommend treatment to shrink or remove the cyst if it doesn’t go away on its own or if it grows larger.
Birth control tablets
If you have recurrent ovarian cysts, your physician can prescribe oral contraceptives to stop ovulation and prevent the development of new cysts. Oral contraceptives can also reduce your risk of ovarian tumor. The risk is higher in postmenopausal women.
Laparoscopy
If your cyst is small and results from an imaging test to rule out a tumor, your physician can perform a laparoscopy to surgically remove the cyst. The procedure involves your physician making a tiny incision near your navel and then inserting a small instrument into your abdomen to remove the cyst.
Laparotomy
If you have a large cyst, your physician can surgically remove the cyst through a large incision in your abdomen. They’ll conduct an immediate biopsy, and if they determine that the cyst is tumorous, they may perform a hysterectomy to remove your ovaries and uterus.
Ovarian cyst prevention
Ovarian cysts can’t be prevented. However, routine gynecologic examinations can detect ovarian cysts early. Benign ovarian cysts don’t become tumorous. However, symptoms of ovarian malignant can mimic symptoms of an ovarian cyst. Thus, it’s important to visit your physician and receive a correct diagnosis. Alert your physician to symptoms that may indicate a problem, such as:
changes in your menstrual cycle
ongoing pelvic pain
loss of appetite
unexplained weight loss
abdominal fullness
What’s the long-term outlook?
The outlook for premenopausal women with ovarian cysts is good. Most cysts disappear within a few months. However, recurrent ovarian cysts can occur in premenopausal women and women with hormone imbalances.
If left untreated, some cysts can decrease fertility. This is common with endometriomas and polycystic ovary syndrome. To improve fertility, your physician can remove or shrink the cyst. Functional cysts, cystadenomas, and dermoid cysts do not affect fertility.
Although some physicians take a “wait and see” approach with ovarian cysts, your physician may recommend an operation to remove and examine any cyst or growth that develops on the ovaries after menopause.