Ovarian Cysts

Ovarian cysts can develop for many reasons. Every month during a typical menstrual cycle, the ovaries produce follicles which resemble cysts in structure. The follicles produce the estrogen and progesterone hormones. Common causes of ovarian cysts occurs when a follicle keeps growing beyond its normal time period and becomes an ovarian cyst.

Among ovarian cysts, follicular cysts are the most prevalent. They hardly ever produce any symptoms and usually resolve by themselves. They are usually harmless. Follicular ovarian cysts are usually caused when the pituitary gland hormones that stimulate egg release by the ovaries cause the follicle to swell instead. The enlarged follicle develops into a cyst.

Some normal causes of ovarian cyst can be attributed to when the luteinizing hormone surges and an egg is released. Upon the release of the egg, the ruptured follicle produces estrogen and progesterone in order to prepare for possible conception. At this point, the follicle is now called the corpus luteum. What happens next is that the egg seals off and fluid accumulates inside the follicle causing the corpus luteum to expand and become a cyst.

Treatment is normally not needed for a corpus luteum cyst as it typically disappears. Before it does disappear it can grow to almost 4 inches in diameter. Hemorrhaging and twisting of the ovary can also potentially occur. Severe pelvic and abdominal pain can result. Corpus luteum cysts may rupture if filled with blood, this can cause sharp pain and internal bleeding.

The drug clomiphene citrate is a fertility drug that works to induce ovulation, and might in itself, be among the causes of ovarian cysts. Clomiphene citrate is in fact known to increase the risk of developing a corpus luteum cyst (which does not prevent or threaten pregnancy), and therefore probably causes other cysts as well.

Ovarian cysts containing blood, known as hemorrhagic or endometrioid cysts, form in the same way. The presence of blood might have been the result of an injury or from leakage of surrounding blood vessels through to the egg sac. When causes of ovarian cysts from bleeding and shedding of endometrial tissue occurs in the ovaries, painful cysts may form. If left to continue, the pooling blood may rupture causing pelvic pain.

Though it is not possible to completely prevent the causes of ovarian cysts, increasing exercise, controlling stress, improving the quality of your diet, and improving your health can help minimize the probability of the development of an ovarian cyst.

In the US, ovarian cancer is the fourth major cause of death from cancer for women and affects 1 in 57 women. This can be successfully treated if it is diagnosed early. However, only about 24% of ovarian cancer cases are detected early on, resulting in lower survival rates. Hence, it is highly essential for women to watch for early symptoms of ovarian cancer.

During the summer of 2007, the American Cancer Society and other similar organizations published findings that symptoms such as unexpected bloating, gas, or a feeling of fullness; fatigue, menstrual abnormalities, abdominal or pelvic pain, sudden urge and/or frequent urination and sudden changes in food habits such as difficulty in consuming food or feeling full too quickly may be early symptoms of ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer cannot be easily detected since no reliable medical screening currently exist for early detection of symptoms of ovarian cancer. Women at risk of having an ovarian cancer should monitor themselves for the early symptoms of ovarian cancer so that it could be diagnosed immediately. Although early symptoms of ovarian cancer, which can include menstrual irregularities or pelvic pain, do not definitely point to cancer, women should learn to recognize these symptoms early.

In order to rule out ovarian cancer, it is essential to visit your doctor if you experience any sudden or out of the ordinary symptoms, and then follow it up with a bimanual pelvic exam, a transvaginal ultrasound, and a Ca125 blood test. Women who have the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation, have never used birth control pills or have had no pregnancies and whom were diagnosed with breast cancer before they were 50 years old are more likely than most to develop ovarian cancer.

Some women are at more risk of developing ovarian cancer than others. Women who are Ashkenazi Jews, are over the age of 50, have 2 or more relatives diagnosed with ovarian cancer, have been exposed to many fertility drugs are at higher risk. Regular monitoring for early symptoms of ovarian cancer are doubly important for these women.

Women who experience what seem like early symptoms of ovarian cancer may not necessarily have ovarian cancer. Many of these symptoms can instead be related to other conditions, such as ovarian cysts, or irritable bowel syndrome. For this reason, women should seek medical attention, especially if these symptoms last for more than a couple of weeks.

It is extremely critical to be aware of what the early symptoms of ovarian cancer are so this disease can be stopped before getting any worse. More than 6 percent of cases of cancer are fatal and women along with their physicians need to be aware of these symptoms and keep a close watch for them.

Ovarian cyst removal is usually recommended when cysts are large, solid, shaped in irregular forms, suspected of being cancerous, twisted, ruptured, or causing severe pain. Older patients with ovarian cysts are more likely to need to have them removed since the likelihood of having a cancerous cyst increases with age.

Prior to the removal of the ovarian cyst, a doctor will usually perform a physical exam on the patient. They will also conduct a review of medications, a urine test, and a blood test. They may do a CT scan and X-ray of the abdomen to confirm their diagnosis before considering ovarian cyst removal.

In order to remove an ovarian cyst, a doctor may choose to perform either laparoscopic surgery or open surgery, depending on the type of ovarian cyst that is removed. It is common to perform open surgery on larger cysts.

In laparoscopic surgery, the surgeon makes a small incision in which to insert a thin tube called a laparoscope. The tube is used to find the cyst and from there, the surgeon is able to remove the cyst.

To excise a particularly large cyst, the physician may need to perform a surgical procedure for ovarian cyst removal using general anesthesia. The patient may suffer some discomfort after the operation. Complications such as infection and bleeding may occur as well. The patient must recognize that further cysts may develop in the future. And, while it is rare, the patient may also become infertile and/or suffer clotting.

If during the surgical operation to remove an ovarian cyst, no ovarian cancer is being detected, then it is highly unlikely that there will be any complications. The patient is expected fully recovered weeks after surgery. Once ovarian cancer is found, the patient may need surgery to remove either one or both of the ovaries. After surgery, a treatment program for the ovarian cancer would need to be implemented.

After the removal of an ovarian cyst, it is important to contact your doctor if you experience fever or chills, excessive pain or bleeding, shortness of breath, headaches, muscle aches, nausea, abdominal swelling, vomiting, or any other signs of ill health. An ovarian cyst removal, like all other surgeries, must be closely monitored post-surgery but should have no complications.