More About Ovarian Cysts
>> Wednesday, October 15, 2014
The eggs (or ova) form and then mature in clear, fluid-filled cysts. When they reach the size of a large cherry, they "pop" to release the egg into the fallopian tube - a process called ovulation. If the ova is fertilized, then it will implant and pregnancy occurs. If it doesn't, it will pass from the body or dissolve. Once ovulation has occurred, all the remaining developing ova shrivel up, and within 14 days our period comes and the entire process will repeat itself.
But sometimes the developing ova do not shrivel up and will continue to grow and fill with clear or straw-colored fluid until they are the size of a tennis ball or even as large as a soccer ball!!
Mucinous cyst adenomas are similar to the enlarged follicular cysts and behave the same, but do not originate from ovulation. Both of these types of cysts are rarely painful unless they "pop", causing many women to pass out and end up at the emergency room. This is usually not life threatening unless a blood vessel is torn during the rupture, causing internal bleeding.
Torsion is another complication of these benign cysts, which is most likely to happen when they are no larger than the size of a golf ball. Torsion is when the ovary literally flips over on itself, twisting off the blood flow. This is an emergency because not only is it extremely painful, but will cause the ovary to die from lack of blood flow if not surgically corrected as quickly as possible.
'Benign' cysts means they are not cancerous. Benign cysts do not change to 'malignant' (meaning cancerous) cysts, and women with benign cysts are not at a higher risk for making malignant cysts.
There are other forms of benign cysts like Dermoid cysts, also known as mature teratomas. These cysts are known for the hair, fat, muscle, bone and teeth that can be found in them. Hemorrhagic cysts are cysts that have clear fluid and blood clots in them. Women with endometriosis are at risk for making cysts called Endometriomas or "Chocolate cysts". These are cysts filled with old, brownish appearing blood and endometrium that has come from the back flow of period blood into the Fallopian tubes and onto the ovaries. When they rupture it looks like chocolate syrup pouring out and that is why they were nicknamed Chocolate cysts.
Most cysts are identified by ultrasound. Ultrasound is very good at characterizing cysts as benign or malignant, and can identify simple fluid filled cysts from the other types. If simple, fluid filled cysts are 5 cm or less in size they can resolve on their own and you may never need surgery.
Sometimes women notice an increase in discharge when small cysts rupture or leak. This is usually a thin, watery, odorless fluid.
It is always best to see your doctor if you notice changes in your menstruation, pain with sex or when using the restroom, walking or exercising, increase in need to urinate, or a feeling of fullness in your abdomen or pressure on your bladder.
I hope this helps answer your worries and questions about ovarian cysts. There is so much more on this subject but I wanted to simplify it for you a little bit.
But sometimes the developing ova do not shrivel up and will continue to grow and fill with clear or straw-colored fluid until they are the size of a tennis ball or even as large as a soccer ball!!
Mucinous cyst adenomas are similar to the enlarged follicular cysts and behave the same, but do not originate from ovulation. Both of these types of cysts are rarely painful unless they "pop", causing many women to pass out and end up at the emergency room. This is usually not life threatening unless a blood vessel is torn during the rupture, causing internal bleeding.
Torsion is another complication of these benign cysts, which is most likely to happen when they are no larger than the size of a golf ball. Torsion is when the ovary literally flips over on itself, twisting off the blood flow. This is an emergency because not only is it extremely painful, but will cause the ovary to die from lack of blood flow if not surgically corrected as quickly as possible.
'Benign' cysts means they are not cancerous. Benign cysts do not change to 'malignant' (meaning cancerous) cysts, and women with benign cysts are not at a higher risk for making malignant cysts.
There are other forms of benign cysts like Dermoid cysts, also known as mature teratomas. These cysts are known for the hair, fat, muscle, bone and teeth that can be found in them. Hemorrhagic cysts are cysts that have clear fluid and blood clots in them. Women with endometriosis are at risk for making cysts called Endometriomas or "Chocolate cysts". These are cysts filled with old, brownish appearing blood and endometrium that has come from the back flow of period blood into the Fallopian tubes and onto the ovaries. When they rupture it looks like chocolate syrup pouring out and that is why they were nicknamed Chocolate cysts.
Most cysts are identified by ultrasound. Ultrasound is very good at characterizing cysts as benign or malignant, and can identify simple fluid filled cysts from the other types. If simple, fluid filled cysts are 5 cm or less in size they can resolve on their own and you may never need surgery.
Sometimes women notice an increase in discharge when small cysts rupture or leak. This is usually a thin, watery, odorless fluid.
It is always best to see your doctor if you notice changes in your menstruation, pain with sex or when using the restroom, walking or exercising, increase in need to urinate, or a feeling of fullness in your abdomen or pressure on your bladder.
I hope this helps answer your worries and questions about ovarian cysts. There is so much more on this subject but I wanted to simplify it for you a little bit.
