Women who are premenopausal make up the majority of people who have ovarian cysts. Most ovarian cysts are harmless and most are found in women who are of childbearing years. Some ovary cysts cause problems such as bleeding and pain and require surgery if the cysts is more than 5 cm in size. There are various types of cysts and they each are formed differently.
A Graafian follicle cyst is a simple cyst which is the most common type of ovarian cyst. These usually occur when ovulation doesn’t occur and a follicle does not release its egg but instead grows until it becomes a cyst. Ultrasound is the primary tool used to document the follicular cyst and a pelvic exam can determine if the cyst is large enough to be seen. Follicle cysts ordinarily disappear on their own, but a physician will monitor to determine if other treatment options should be considered.
A corpus luteum cyst is a type of ovarian cyst which can rupture about the time of menstruation and can possibly take up to three months to disappear entirely. This type of cyst occurs after an egg has been released from the follicle. This type of cyst usually develops on one side and does not produce any symptoms of ovarian cyst.
Hemorrhagic ovarian cysts is the third type of cyst which is common and is sometimes called a blood cyst. It occurs when a very small blood vessel in the wall of the cyst breaks and the blood enters the cyst. Symptoms for this type of cyst can include abdominal pain on one side of the body, often the right side. Occasionally these ruptured ovarian cysts form clots which can be determined on a sonogram. If ruptured, the blood enters the abdominal cavity and can be very painful. In many cases these resolve without surgery or prolonged pain.
Ovarian dermoid cyst is a cystic teratoma that contains developmentally mature skin complete with hair follicles and sweat glands. Because it contains mature tissue, these types of cysts are always benign. These are sometimes commonly called complex ovarian cysts. Treatment for this type of cyst is complete surgical removal, preferably in one piece without any spillage of the cyst contents into the abdomen.
Many cysts go away on their own and surgery is normally not required. While there is no category for a complex ovarian cyst, there are some cysts that are more complicated to remove and some that are difficult to diagnose. The treatment of ovarian cyst should be discussed with your physician or healthcare provider, who can suggest treatment for ovarian cyst problems. Be Healthy!
