Ovarian Cysts- A Wide Spread Ailment in Females

Ovarian cysts is a wide spread ailment in females. A cyst is an abnormal sac-like structure with a tissue that contains fluid which can occur anywhere in the body.

Ovaries are an important part of female productive system, they are two small, round organs that release an egg every month. The egg is formed in a tiny structure inside the ovary called a follicle. If the follicle fails to release an egg or does not shed its fluid, it can swell with the fluid and thus becomes an ovarian cyst. Ovarian cysts can grow up to 5 or 6 centimeters wide. Normally they are painless and go away without any treatment.

Ovarian Cysts Symptoms

Most ovarian cysts are small and harmless and so not produce any marked symptoms. However, larger cysts may cause problems and one needs a physician’s advice if any of the following symptoms occur:

• Pain and discomfort low down in the abdomen. It may be lasting or periodic.
• Depending on the size and location of the cyst, it may put a pressure on the bladder, increasing your need to go to the bathroom.
• In rare cases, it can also cause abnormal amounts of hormones to be produced. It may have some effect on your periods and bring a change in breast and hair growth.
• If a cyst grows on a stem from an ovary, the stem can get twisted, which stops the blood supply to the cyst and causes immense pain in the lower abdomen.

Causes of ovarian cyst in females:

There are several types of ovarian cysts. Some of the types of ovarian cysts are mentioned below:

Follicular Cyst

It can develop if a follicle doesn’t release an egg or if a follicle doesn’t release its fluid after it releases the egg. Instead, it gets filled up with fluid and in turn becomes a cyst.

Corpus Luteum Cyst

They are less common and only develop when a tissue that has been left behind after the release of an egg fills with blood or fluid. They also split sometimes, causing internal bleeding as well as severe pain.

Dermoid Cyst

It contains a range of tissues, such as skin, teeth or hair as it forms cells that make eggs in the ovaries. They are more common in young women and need surgery to remove them.

Cystadenoma

It develops from the cells that cover the outer part of the ovaries. Some are filled with watery liquid and others with a thick mucous paste. It does not grow inside the ovary; rather it is attached to the ovary by a stalk, which means they can grow very large.

Ovarian cysts are also developed when you have endometriosis that is, when the tissues that line the uterus start appearing in other parts of the body. Polycystic ovarian syndrome also causes you to develop lots of small, though harmless cysts.

Diagnosis of Ovarian Cysts

Ovarian cysts are not easily diagnosed unless by chance during a pelvic examination or an ultrasound.

• An ultrasound scan is carried out as well as CT or MRI scans.
• Blood sample is taken.

Treatment recommended for Ovarian Cysts

Sometimes, surgery is the only option to remove the cyst.

Surgery

If the cyst is large and causes symptoms, it is surgically removed. Smaller cysts are often removed using a surgical technique called laparoscopy, in which two small cuts are made in the lower abdomen and then a laparoscope is passed into the abdomen to make a cut in the cyst and drain the fluid away.

The other surgery called laparotomy is also available in which a larger cut is made to see the cyst with the eye and the whole cyst is taken out.

Thus, if any unusual pain or hormonal changes are noticed, a physician should be consulted and proper course of treatment should be followed.