Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: Symptoms
• Method 2 of 3: Medical Treatment for Ovarian Cysts
• Method 3 of 3: Types of Ovarian Cysts

A cyst is a general term for a closed mass filled with a semi-liquid substance, gases, or liquid. Cysts are both microscopic and quite large. Most ovarian cysts form during monthly ovulation. They proceed without any signs or symptoms and are usually completely harmless. Learn how to tell if you have an ovarian cyst and what to do if this happens.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Symptoms

1. 1 Pay attention to stomach problems. One of the most common symptoms of an ovarian cyst is an upset stomach. A cyst may cause bloating or swelling in your abdomen. You may feel some pressure or a feeling of fullness in the lower abdomen.
   • You may also experience unexplained weight gain.
   • Painful sensations may occur in the right or left lower abdomen. In rare cases, pain can occur on both sides at once. The pain may be intermittent and disappear suddenly. It can also be sharp or dull.
2. 2 Watch for problems with the body's excretory functions. Some less common symptoms of ovarian cysts can cause problems with the elimination of waste products from the body. You may have trouble urinating or feeling pressure on your bladder. This can lead to more frequent urination or an inability to empty the bladder completely. You may also have difficulty having a bowel movement.
   • If the cyst bursts, the sudden and intense pain can make you feel nauseous and vomiting.
3. 3 Beware of discomfort during sex. Other rare symptoms of an ovarian cyst include discomfort during sex. You may experience pain during sex. You may also experience pain in the pelvis, lower back, and hips. The chest may become more tender than usual on palpation.
   • You may also experience pain during your menstrual cycle or abnormal vaginal bleeding outside of your period.
4. 4 Identify risk factors for developing an ovarian cyst. There are a number of possible risk factors that can lead to the development of an ovarian cyst. If you fall into one of the following categories and have symptoms, pain and discomfort may be caused by an ovarian cyst. Risk factors include:
   • the presence of cysts in the past;
   • irregular menstrual cycles;
   • the onset of menstruation before the age of 12;
   • infertility or previous infertility treatment;
   • poor thyroid function;
   • treatment with tamoxifen for breast cancer;
   • smoking or using tobacco products;
   • chronic inflammatory diseases.

Method 2 of 3: Medical Treatment for Ovarian Cysts

1. 1 Make an appointment with your doctor. If you know you have an ovarian cyst and have sudden abdominal pain or pain accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and fever, make an appointment with your doctor right away or go to the emergency room. If your skin becomes cold and clammy, or you experience rapid breathing and dizziness, see your doctor or emergency department immediately.
   • If you are already post-menopausal and have an ovarian cyst, be aware that this increases your chances of developing ovarian cancer. You need to undergo an ultrasound scan and a blood test for Ca125-glycoprotein and / or OVA-1. These are markers for a number of different diseases, including ovarian cancer. The OVA-1 test is more focused on detecting ovarian cancer. If the doctor suspects that the cyst may be cancerous, he or she will remove it.
2. 2 Get a pelvic exam. Symptoms of an ovarian cyst cannot be diagnosed. To make sure you have a cyst, your gynecologist needs to examine you.The doctor may feel for a tumor that indicates an ovarian cyst.
   • Depending on other symptoms, your doctor may ask you to have additional tests to measure your hormone levels and rule out other conditions.
3. 3 Expect to need a pregnancy test. Your doctor may also ask you to do a pregnancy test. If it turns out that you are pregnant, this may indicate a corpus luteum cyst. This type of cyst is formed when the ovum descends and the ovarian follicles begin to fill with fluid.
   • Most likely, the doctor will also want to rule out an ectopic pregnancy. In an ectopic pregnancy, the attachment of a fertilized egg occurs outside the uterine cavity.
4. 4 Get visual diagnostics. If the doctor detects a cyst, they will advise you to undergo a series of imaging tests, such as an ultrasound scan. Imaging tests are needed to determine the location and characteristics of the cyst.
   • Visual diagnostics will allow the doctor to determine the size, shape, and exact location of the cyst. With this information, the doctor will be able to find out if the cyst is filled with a liquid, solid mass, or semi-liquid substance.
5. 5 Start treating the cyst. If the symptoms are not causing you much of a problem, doctors usually recommend that you monitor them closely. Remember that most ovarian cysts go away on their own. For some women, doctors may advise you to start taking hormones in the form of birth control pills. About 5-10 percent of women require surgery to remove the cyst.
   • Tiny and complex cysts can be removed with laparoscopy. During the procedure, your doctor will make a small incision in your abdomen and remove the cyst through an incision in your skin.
   • A laparotomy may be necessary to remove larger and potentially cancerous cysts. The doctor makes a large incision in the anterior abdominal wall of the abdomen, and then removes the entire cyst or ovary.

Method 3 of 3: Types of Ovarian Cysts

1. 1 Learn about the causes of ovarian cysts. During the menstrual cycle, eggs are released from one or both of a woman's ovaries. Cysts in the ovary can form due to hormonal imbalance, blockage of fluid flow, infection, diseases leading to chronic inflammation such as endometriosis, congenital condition, pregnancy, age, and a number of other reasons.
   • Ovarian cysts are quite common in women of reproductive age and most cases go away without any symptoms. Such cysts are called functional. Most cases of functional ovarian cysts proceed without the need for treatment.
   • Ovarian cysts are rare after menopause. Having a cyst in a postmenopausal woman increases the risk of developing ovarian cancer.
2. 2 Functional cysts are not dangerous. This is either a follicular cyst, which forms in the area of ​​the ovary where the eggs mature, or a corpus luteum cyst, which forms on what remains of an empty follicle after the egg is released. These are the usual cases for the ovaries to work. Most follicular cysts are painless and disappear after three months.
   • Corpus luteum cysts usually disappear after a few weeks, but can enlarge, curl, bleed, and cause pain. Corpus luteum cysts can be caused by medications (such as clomiphene) used to treat infertility.
3. 3 Identify non-functional cysts. There are other non-functional types of ovarian cysts. This means that they have nothing to do with the normal functioning of the ovaries. These cysts can be painful or painless. These include:
   • Endometrioid ovarian cyst: These cysts are usually the result of a condition called endometriosis, in which uterine tissue grows outside the uterus.
   • Dermoid cyst: These cysts are formed from the embryonic cells of the woman, not the fetus. They are usually painless.
   • Ovarian cystadenoma: These cysts can be large and filled with watery fluid.
   • With polycystic ovary syndrome, a large number of cysts are formed. This disease is very different from cases where a single ovarian cyst is formed.