Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled sacs that can develop in or on the ovaries. The two main functions of the ovaries are to release an egg monthly as part of the menstrual cycle and to release the sex hormones such as estrogen and progesterone which are important for the female reproduction. These appear to be a common condition that does not cause any symptoms. Most of the women may develop the ovarian cysts at some point in their lives that are harmless. In most of the cases, they can develop and disappear within a few months without the need of any treatment. However, if the cysts tend to rupture, they can cause serious symptoms.
Causes
The cysts can develop because of the normal function of the menstrual cycle which is known as functional cysts. The body can grow cyst-like structures known as follicles every month that produces hormones called estrogen and progesterone which help release the egg with ovulation. There are two types of functional cysts; follicular cyst and corpus luteum cysts. The follicular cysts occur around the middle of the menstrual cycle when the egg bursts out of the follicle and the follicle do not rupture normally or release the egg and instead can grow into a cyst. The corpus luteum cyst can occur when the ruptured follicle can expand into a cyst. Other types of cysts include dermoid cysts that may contain tissues such as skin or hair, cystadenomas that may be filled with mucous material and endometriomas where some of the tissues may bind to the ovary and form a growth.
Symptoms
The cysts may only cause symptoms if they rupture, are very large or blocks the blood supply to the ovaries. In such case, the symptoms can include pain during sex, pelvic pain that can be a sharp severe pain, heavy or irregular periods, bloating or swollen tummy, difficulty emptying the bowels, the need to urinate frequently and difficulty getting pregnant.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis is based on a pelvic and transvaginal ultrasound which can detect the ovarian cysts. During this process, the ultrasound can help determine if the cysts consist of fluid, solid tissue or the combination of both. During laparoscopic surgery, a small incision may be done at the abdomen where a thin tube is inserted to identify the cyst or to remove or biopsy the cyst. If the cysts are suspected to be cancerous, additional tests such as a blood test will be done to detect high levels of certain chemicals that can be an indication of ovarian cancer.
Treatment
The treatment is based on the size of the cyst, the symptoms and if the woman has been through menopause. In most of the cases, the cyst can disappear on its own although a repeat ultrasound may be required to confirm this. If the cysts cause symptoms or are considered to be potentially cancerous, it may be surgically removed.
References
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ovarian-cyst/Pages/Introduction.aspx
http://www.onhealth.com/content/1/ovarian_cysts
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ovarian-cysts/basics/complications/con-20019937
https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/ovarian-cysts
