What You Shoud Know About Ovarian Cysts: Information For You
When you go to your annual appointment with your gynecologist or you go in for an ultrasound when you are pregnant, you may be confused and concerned if your doctor informs you that you have a cyst or in some cases, cysts, on one or both of your ovaries. After all, an abnormal growth on your ovary is a scary thought, especially if you are or are planning to one day get pregnant and have children. Before you go into panic mode, get to know more of the facts about ovarian cysts and how they can be handled so that you better understand what is going on inside of your body.
What Exactly Is An Ovarian Cyst?
An ovarian cyst is a sac that grows on the ovary which is filled with fluid. Sometimes an ovarian cyst may be a more solid mass, but the majority are filled with liquid much like cysts that can form on the surface of the skin.
While an ovarian cyst may sound scary, most gynecologists and obstetricians know that ovarian cysts are extremely common and almost every woman will have one at some point during her life. As such, while it is easy to panic when you learn you have an abnormal growth on your ovary (or ovaries), you do not need to panic or feel alone.
Are There Any Symptoms?
Ovarian cysts can go unnoticed and undiagnosed for many years because they may not cause any symptoms. Additionally, the symptoms that they do cause can be mild or can seem to be due to an entirely different issue, such as PMS or menstruation.
If you do experience any symptoms of your ovarian cyst, they will likely include discomfort or pain in your lower back or abdomen, irregular bleeding between periods, pain during intercourse, cramps, and excessive gas. All of these symptoms can easy be attributable to something else.
Does An Ovarian Cyst Mean You Have Cancer?
In short, no. Having an ovarian cyst does not mean that you have cancer as well. Some ovarian cysts may be malignant (cancerous). However, the vast majority of these cysts are entirely benign and do not start out as cancer, nor do they become cancerous.
What Are The Treatments?
Many times, your doctor will recommend simply monitoring and observing your ovarian cyst, particularly if you are not experiencing any symptoms. These cysts often develop due to hormonal changes or imbalances in the body that will often correct themselves naturally, causing the cyst to shrink and disappear.
Depending on the size of your cyst and any symptoms you may be experiencing, your doctor may also recommend that you take hormones such as progesterone or estradiol. These hormones are commonly found in birth control pills. If you are not pregnant or trying to get pregnant, you can use birth control as a means of managing and getting rid of your cyst.
Sometimes cysts continue to grow in spite of hormones and cause enough problems that they need to be surgically removed to prevent them from bursting. Doctors can perform this surgically through laparoscopy to avoid large incisions and to make the process easier for you.
Now that you know more of the facts about ovarian cysts, you know what to do and what to expect if your gynecologist diagnoses you with this condition.
Share