Ovarian cysts can cause complications, including rupture, hemorrhage, and torsion, which are considered gynecological emergencies. Therefore, it is essential to promptly diagnose and treat them to avoid high morbidity and mortality.
What Can Happen If a Cyst Is Left Untreated? Most cysts will go away on their own. However, if an untreated cyst twists or ruptures, you could risk losing your ovary or bleeding excessively. These complications can affect your fertility and, in rare cases, lead to death.
Cysts can develop in response to a pelvic infection (called an abscess). If an infected cyst ruptures, it can trigger sepsis, a life-threatening immune response to harmful bacteria. Women with infected cysts are treated with antibiotics and sometimes require hospitalization for surgical drainage of the cyst.
There are different types of ovarian cysts, most of which are painless and harmless (benign). Usually, ovarian cysts don't cause symptoms. You likely won't know you have one unless your provider finds one during a routine pelvic exam or imaging procedure. Rarely, ovarian cysts can cause complications.
Ovarian cysts can also lead to problems with the menstrual cycle, such as heavy or irregular periods, or spotting (abnormal vaginal bleeding between periods). Menstrual cycle problems occur if the cyst produces sex hormones that cause the lining of the womb to grow more.
Small fluid-filled sacs can form on your ovaries; these are ovarian cysts. In most cases, ovarian cysts are nothing to be concerned about. But if you experience symptoms of a cyst or it becomes exceptionally large, you may need medical intervention.
The time it takes ovarian cancer to develop varies. Some types progress from early to advanced stages within a year. The ovaries are two small, gland-like organs on either side of the uterus. They are connected to the uterus by ligaments.
In most cases, ovarian cysts disappear in a few months without the need for treatment. Whether treatment is needed will depend on: its size and appearance.
Is ovarian cystectomy a major surgery? It depends on what type of surgery you have. If your surgeon can perform the procedure laparoscopically, it's minimally invasive and you'll likely return to your typical activities within two or three weeks. There are still risks to surgery, but they're low.
The most common causes of ovarian cysts include: Hormonal problems. Functional cysts usually go away on their own without treatment. They may be caused by hormonal problems or by drugs used to help you ovulate.
They often go away with no treatment. Only a small number of ovarian cysts are caused by cancer. PCOS, endometriosis, and pelvic infection are some of the other causes of ovarian cysts. A cyst may cause symptoms, such as abdominal pain.
Ovarian cyst Diet should exclude food rich in carbohydrates, junk food, toxic and acidic foods as they cause hormonal imbalance and weaken the immune system. Diet including sugar and less fresh vegetables could prevent the removal of toxins thereby causing ovarian cysts.
However, an alternative to surgery is so-called 'watchful waiting', where doctors do not remove the cysts, but monitor their size and appearance with regular ultrasound scans. This is because many cysts shrink and disappear or do not change over time.
Once a cystadenoma is about 5 - 6 cm in size and has been there for several months (so it's not likely to be a functional cyst), you and your gynaecologist may decide to have it removed, as it may twist the ovary or burst in the future (both are not common).
Medication Summary
Narcotic analgesics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can be used for pain relief in patients with ovarian cysts.
It's important to consult with a women's health specialist if you are experiencing possible symptoms of ovarian cancer or a cyst. It's impossible to differentiate cancers and cysts based on symptoms alone, so an imaging procedure such as an ultrasound or CT scan is necessary to make a diagnosis.
What is the recovery time? Most patients are fully recovered in four to six weeks.
If your ultrasound and any other tests lead your doctor to suspect that your cyst is cancer, they can do surgery to remove the ovary your cyst is in or on. That's the only way to know for sure if you have ovarian cancer.
Besides intense pain, watch for infection and bleeding
Some say it feels like an attack of appendicitis, especially since ovarian cysts are more common on your lower right side, near your appendix. However, the pain can be on either or both sides of your abdomen. And it may come with: Nausea and/or vomiting.
While most ovarian cysts don't need treatment, we may monitor your cyst and perform an ultrasound to determine whether you need surgery. We may recommend surgical removal if a cyst: grows bigger than 10 centimeters. ruptures and continues to bleed (though this is rare).