How Ovarian Cyst Affect Females?

Suffering from ovarian cyst condition that is affecting your overall body health? Read on the following piece of medical information shared by Dr. Chaitali Mahajan Trivedi, ovarian cyst treatment expert and gynaecologist in Mumbai at Nanavati Superspeciality Hospital.

Ovarian cysts are solid or fluid-filled sacs of varying sizes located on or in the ovaries. The ovaries are one of the organs of the female reproductive system. Every woman possesses two ovaries- small, oval-shaped glands on either side of the uterus. These produce and store eggs as well as make hormones to control pregnancy and menstruation.

Ovarian cysts are common in females as they are usually formed during the ovulation-the process of releasing eggs (ovum) from ovaries every month during the menstrual cycle. Such benign cysts are termed functional ovarian cysts and are found in women who haven’t gone through menopause yet. These are harmless and painless and can resolve on their own within a few weeks without any treatment. The problem arises when cysts become larger and fails to settle without receiving treatment. These may become painful and rarely cancerous.

Ovarian cysts may not cause symptoms but even if they do, the symptoms include swelling, pressure, bloating, or sharp/dull pain on the sides of the cysts in the lower abdomen of the women. If the females have ruptured ovarian cysts, severe pain appears suddenly and if there is twisting of ovaries, intense pain along with nausea and vomiting is experienced by the women.

Different Kinds Of Ovarian Cysts?

The two most common forms of ovarian cysts include:

• Follicle cysts- During a normal menstrual cycle, a single egg is released every month which grows inside a tiny sac known as a follicle found within ovaries. This follicle breaks upon the maturity of the egg to release it. A follicle cyst appears if the follicle wall doesn’t rupture to release the egg. Such cysts are not associated with any symptoms and disappear on their own in 1–3 months.
• Corpus luteum cysts- Upon the release of an egg, the empty ovarian follicle sac shrinks and leaves only a mass of cells called corpus luteum. The corpus luteum further produces hormones to prepare the female for the next menstrual cycle and the release of another egg. When an empty follicle sac fails to shrink, it seals itself and gets filled with fluid, thereby forming a corpus luteum cyst. Mostly, these cysts resolve within a few weeks. However, they may grow to almost 4 inches wide, bleed, or twist the ovary and result in pain. Women may develop such cysts due to some medications provided to cause ovulation.

Other less common, non-cancerous, and non-functional ovarian cysts include Endometriomas due to endometriosis, Dermoids from cells present from birth, and Cystadenomas which are filled with watery fluids. Some women have ovaries containing multiple small cysts which affect their pregnancy. This is a condition known as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Malignant ovarian cysts rarely form and are most common in older women.

Who Gets Ovarian Cysts?

Dr. Chaitali Mahajan Trivedi, best gynaecologist in India, shares that ovarian cysts (either follicle or corpus luteum) are commonly formed in women having regular menses. These may become problematic if they grow or if multiple cysts are forming inside the ovary. Premenopausal women can develop ovarian cysts that require treatment while postmenopausal women who have ovarian cysts are usually at high risk of ovarian cancer.

Causes/Risk Factors Of Ovarian Cysts In Females:

The factors that increase the likelihood of a person getting ovarian cysts include:

• Hormonal issues- When there is an imbalance of female sex hormones released during the menstrual cycle or women are on fertility drugs to help them ovulate, then the risk of having ovarian cysts increases.
• Pregnancy- Some women may continue to have ovarian cysts, as developed during ovulation, on their ovaries throughout their pregnancy or after childbirth.
• Endometriosis- This is a female reproductive disorder wherein the inner lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus. These cells can attach to the ovary and lead to the formation of ovarian cysts at that location.
• A previous ovarian cyst- If females had earlier experienced at least a single ovarian cyst that disappeared with or without treatment, then they have a chance of getting other cysts.
• A serious pelvic infection- Infections in the pelvic area can progress to the ovaries and develop cysts there.

Dr. Chaitali Mahajan Trivedi offers the best treatment for managing cysts. Ovarian cysts can be treated in multiple ways depending on their size, type, and severity. A cyst that is lesser than 4cm are treated with lifestyle changes and medication and for larger cyst, Dr. Chaitali Mahajan Trivedi performs laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy surgery in Mumbai, which is the most advanced and minimally invasive surgical option to remove an ovarian cyst.

For more information about the benefits and cost of Ovarian Cyst Surgery In Mumbai, book an appointment with Dr. Chaitali Mahajan Trivedi.