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The ovarian cyst, also known as an ovarian cyst, is a fluid-filled pouch that forms inside or around the ovary, which can cause pain in the pelvic area, delay in menstruation or difficulty in becoming pregnant. Generally, the ovarian cyst is benign and resolves after a few months without needing treatment, however, if you develop symptoms, you may need medical treatment.
Having an ovarian cyst, in most cases, is not serious because it is a common situation that happens in many women between 15 and 35 years of age, and it can appear several times throughout life.
Main symptoms
Most of the time the presence of cyst in the ovary does not lead to the appearance of signs or symptoms, only when the cyst is more than 3 cm in diameter, there may be pain in the ovary, during ovulation or during sexual intercourse, delay in menstruation and bleeding outside the menstrual period. Learn to identify the symptoms of ovarian cyst.
However, to confirm the diagnosis, the gynecologist must perform physical and imaging exams to identify the presence of the cyst, characteristics and type, indicating the most appropriate treatment.
Types of ovarian cysts
The type of cyst in the ovary can be evaluated in the gynecologist through exams such as ultrasound or laparoscopy, the main ones being:
- Follicular cyst: forms when there is no ovulation or when the egg does not leave the ovary during the fertile period. It usually has no symptoms and does not need treatment. Its size can vary from 2.5 cm to 10 cm and usually decreases in size between 4 to 8 weeks, as it is not considered cancer.
- Corpus luteum cyst: can appear after the egg is released and usually disappears without treatment. Its size varies between 3 and 4 cm and can break during intimate contact, but no specific treatment is necessary, but if there is severe pain, pressure drop and fast heartbeat, it may be necessary to remove it by laparoscopic surgery.
- Theca-lutein cyst: It happens rarely, being more common in women who take medication to get pregnant.
- Hemorrhagic cyst: it happens when there is bleeding in the cyst wall, which can cause pelvic pain;
- Dermoid cyst: also called mature cystic teratoma, which can be found in children, containing hair, teeth or bone fragments, requiring laparoscopy;
- Ovarian fibroma: it is a more common neoplasm in menopause, the size can vary from microcysts to weigh up to 23 kg, and must be removed by surgery.
- Ovarian endometrioma: appears in cases of endometriosis in the ovaries, needing to be treated with medication or surgery;
- Adenoma cyst: benign ovarian cyst, which must be removed by laparoscopy.
Because they are filled with fluid, these cysts can still be known as anechoic cysts, as they do not reflect the ultrasound used in diagnostic tests, however, the term anechoic is not related to gravity.
Is it possible to get pregnant with ovarian cyst?
The ovarian cyst does not cause infertility, but the woman may have difficulty conceiving due to the hormonal changes that led to the cyst. However, with proper treatment, the ovarian cyst tends to shrink or disappear, causing the woman to return to her normal hormonal rhythm, facilitating fertilization.
When a woman with an ovarian cyst is able to become pregnant, she should have regular consultations with the obstetrician as there is a greater risk of complications, such as ectopic pregnancy, for example.
Is ovarian cyst cancer?
An ovarian cyst is usually not cancer, it is just a benign lesion that can disappear on its own or be removed through surgery, when it is very large and there is a risk of rupture or causes significant pain and discomfort. Ovarian cancer is more common in women over 50, being very rare under 30.
Some characteristics of cysts that can be cancer are those with large size, with thick septum, solid area. In case of suspicion the doctor must order the CA 125 blood test, because this high value may indicate a cancerous lesion, however women with ovarian endometrioma may have elevated CA 125, and not be cancer.
Treatment for ovarian cyst
Having a cyst on the ovary is not always dangerous, and in most cases it is indicated by the gynecologist that only follow-up is carried out to make sure that the cyst shrinks over time without any type of treatment.
However, in some cases, the ovarian cyst can also be treated with the use of birth control pills according to the doctor's recommendation. In cases where the cyst is very large and causes symptoms, surgery to remove the cyst or ovary may be indicated when there are signs indicating cancer or torsion of the ovary. See more details of the treatment for ovarian cyst.
In addition, a way to relieve discomfort is to use a compress of warm water over the painful area. Check out other ways to relieve ovarian cyst pain and discomfort by watching the following video: