An ovarian cyst is a fluid-filled sac within the ovary. Many women will develop at least one cyst during their lifetime. In most cases, cysts are painless and cause no symptoms.
Most ovarian cysts are related to ovulation being either follicular cysts or corpus luteum cysts. Other types include cysts due to endometriosis, dermoid cysts, and cyst adenomas. Many small cysts occur in both ovaries in polycystic ovarian syndrome. Pelvic inflammatory disease may also result in cysts. Rarely cysts may be a form of ovarian cancer.
Types of ovarian cysts
There are various types of ovarian cysts, such as dermoid cysts and endometrioma cysts. However, functional cysts are the most common type. The two types of functional cysts include follicle and corpus luteum cysts.
Follicle cyst
During a woman’s menstrual cycle, an egg grows in a sac called a follicle. This sac is located inside the ovaries. In most cases, this follicle or sac breaks open and releases an egg. But if the follicle doesn’t break open, the fluid inside the follicle can form a cyst on the ovary.
Corpus luteum cysts
Follicle sacs typically dissolve after releasing an egg. But if the sac doesn’t dissolve and the opening of the follicle seals, additional fluid can develop inside the sac and this accumulation of fluid causes a corpus luteum cyst.
Other types of ovarian cysts include:
Dermoid cysts: Sac-like growths on the ovaries that can contain hair, fat, and other tissue
Cyst adenomas: Non-cancerous growths that can develop on the outer surface of the ovaries
Endometriomas: Tissues that normally grow inside the uterus can develop outside the uterus and attach to the ovaries, resulting in a cyst
Some women develop a condition called polycystic ovary syndrome. This condition means the ovaries contain a large number of small cysts. It can cause the ovaries to enlarge, and if left untreated, polycystic ovaries can cause infertility.
Polycystic ovarian disease:
Polycystic ovarian disease is a heterogeneous, multisystem endocrinopathy in a woman of reproductive age with the ovarian expression of various metabolic disturbances and a wide spectrum of clinical features. Such as obesity, menstrual abnormalities and hyperandrogenism. It is characterized by bilaterally enlarged polycystic ovaries, secondary amenorrhoea or oligomenorrhoea and infertility as a result of anovulation. The clinical diagnosis rested on the symptoms of hirsutism, amenorrhoea, obesity and acanthosisnigricans.
Polycystic ovarian syndrome has been attributed to several causes including change in lifestyle, diet and stress. Genetic and familial environment factors were added as etiological factors in the development of polycystic ovarian syndrome. Gene mutation and familial occurrence has also been noted. Obesity is another cause of insulin resistance and hyperinsulinaemia.
Symptoms of an Ovarian cyst
Often times, ovarian cysts do not cause any symptoms. However, symptoms can appear as the cyst grows. Symptoms may include:
Abdominal bloating or swelling
Uterine bleeding. Pain during or shortly after beginning or end of menstrual period; irregular periods, or abnormal uterine bleeding or spotting.
Pelvic pain before or during the menstrual cycle
Painful intercourse
Pain in the lower back or thighs
Breast tenderness
Nausea and vomiting
Fullness, heaviness, pressure, swelling, or bloating in the abdomen.
Change in frequency or ease of urination (such as inability to fully empty the bladder), or difficulty with bowel movements due to pressure on adjacent pelvicanatomy.