6 Things We Want You to Know About Ovarian Cysts

A cyst is simply a fluid-filled sac, but that’s where the simplicity ends. Cysts come in many types, and sizes, and they range from benign and harmless to cancerous and dangerous. This is true of ovarian cysts, which we discuss here.

At Associates in Obstetrics & Gynecology, Dr. Jack Tubbs and our team have a good understanding of ovarian cysts, and there are a few key points we want to share with you about this common health condition.

1. Ovarian cysts are very common

Consider this — when you ovulate, the eggs are housed inside follicles on the outside of your ovaries before they’re released. After the release, the empty follicle sac shrinks down into a group of cells called the corpus luteum, which produces hormones to prepare the next egg. In this regard, it can be said that most every woman develops functional cysts as a normal part of their menstrual cycles.

There are times, however, when things don't go according to plan — the egg doesn't release from the follicle or the sac reseals itself after release and collects fluid. As a result, follicle cysts and/or corpus luteum cysts can form.

Even when this happens, ovarian cysts aren’t necessarily problematic, and these cysts mostly clear on their own. In fact, only 8% of premenopausal women develop cysts large enough to require treatment.

2. There are several types of potentially problematic ovarian cysts

We discussed follicle cysts and corpus luteum cysts above and these are, far and away, the most common types of ovarian cysts.

The other possible forms of ovarian cysts include:

• Endometriomas caused by endometriosis
• Dermoids and cystadenomas, which are caused by abnormal cell reproduction
• Cysts created by polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or pelvic inflammatory disease

Most of these issues are benign (noncancerous). When these cysts become problematic, it’s largely due to size, location, or number.

3. Cancerous ovarian cysts are rare

Less than 1% of ovarian cysts are cancerous. When they are malignant, they mostly affect postmenopausal women.

4. Ovarian cysts are often asymptomatic

If you’ve developed an abnormal cyst on your ovaries, it may not cause any symptoms. In fact, follicle cysts and corpus luteum cysts often clear up on their own within a few months. 

If ovarian cysts become large enough, you may begin to feel some symptoms, such as a heaviness in your lower abdomen or pain during intercourse.

While most symptoms of ovarian cysts develop gradually, if at all, any sudden symptoms, such as severe pain accompanied by nausea and vomiting, could indicate a ruptured cyst or twisted ovary, and you need to seek help straight away.

5. Ovarian cysts don’t often affect fertility

Ovarian cysts aren’t typically associated with fertility issues, unless they stem from a condition like PCOS or endometriosis. The cysts, in these cases, are just byproducts of an underlying condition that is associated with infertility.

6. Ovarian cysts are easy to diagnose and are treatable

If we suspect that you have an ovarian cyst that may be causing problems, the good news is that this condition is simple to diagnose. Using painless ultrasound technology, we can identify ovarian cysts in mere minutes.

If we diagnose a problematic ovarian cyst, there are several treatment options, which include:

• Close monitoring
• Hormonal medications to shrink the cyst
• Minimally invasive surgery to remove the cyst

We hope we’ve given you some helpful information about ovarian cysts, and we’re here to answer all of your questions.

To learn more about ovarian cysts, simply contact our office in Colorado Springs, Colorado, to schedule an appointment.