What are ovarian cysts ?

One of my wife spouse die because of ovarian cysts. Honestly I dunno much about this so I’ve google and found this to share with you.

What are ovarian cysts?
A cyst is a fluid-filled sac. It can form in many places in the body. Ovarian cysts form in or on the ovaries.

Who gets ovarian cysts?
Ovarian cysts are common in women with regular periods. In fact, most women make at least one follicle or corpus luteum cyst every month. You may not be aware that you have a cyst unless there is a problem that causes the cyst to grow or if multiple cysts form. About 8% of premenopausal women develop large cysts that need treatment.1

Ovarian cysts are less common after menopause. Postmenopausal women with ovarian cysts are at higher risk for ovarian cancer.

At any age, see your doctor if you think you have a cyst. See your doctor also if you have symptoms such as bloating, needing to urinate more often, pelvic pressure or pain, or abnormal (unusual) vaginal bleeding. These can be signs of a cyst or other serious problem.

What causes ovarian cysts?
Ovarian cysts are common in women with regular periods. In fact, most women make at least one follicle or corpus luteum cyst every month. You may not be aware that you have a cyst unless there is a problem that causes the cyst to grow or if multiple cysts form. About 8% of premenopausal women develop large cysts that need treatment.1

Ovarian cysts are less common after menopause. Postmenopausal women with ovarian cysts are at higher risk for ovarian cancer.

At any age, see your doctor if you think you have a cyst. See your doctor also if you have symptoms such as bloating, needing to urinate more often, pelvic pressure or pain, or abnormal (unusual) vaginal bleeding. These can be signs of a cyst or other serious problem.

What causes ovarian cysts?
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.
Endometriosis. Women with endometriosis can develop a type of ovarian cyst called an endometrioma. The endometriosis tissue may attach to the ovary and form a growth. These cysts can be painful during sex and during your period.
Pregnancy. An ovarian cyst normally develops in early pregnancy to help support the pregnancy until the placenta forms. Sometimes, the cyst stays on the ovary until later in the pregnancy and may need to be removed.
Severe pelvic infections. Infections can spread to the ovaries and fallopian tubes and cause cysts to form.

What are the symptoms of ovarian cysts?
If you have symptoms of ovarian cysts, talk to your doctor. Your doctor may do a pelvic exam to feel for swelling of a cyst on your ovary.

If a cyst is found, your doctor will either watch and wait or order tests to help plan treatment. Tests include:

Ultrasound. This test uses sound waves to create images of the body. With obstetrical ultrasound, your doctor can see the cyst’s:

Shape
Size
Location
Mass (whether it is fluid-filled, solid, or mixed)

Pregnancy test to rule out pregnancy
Hormone level tests to see if there are hormone-related problems
Blood test. If you are past menopause, your doctor may give you a test to measure the amount of cancer-antigen 125 (CA-125) in your blood. The amount of CA-125 is higher with ovarian cancer. In premenopausal women, many other illnesses or diseases besides cancer can cause higher levels of CA-125.

Are ovarian cysts ever an emergency?
Yes, sometimes. If your doctor told you that you have an ovarian cyst and you have any of the following symptoms, get medical help right away:

  • Pain with fever and vomiting
  • Sudden, severe abdominal pain
  • Faintness, dizziness, or weakness
  • Rapid breathing

These symptoms could mean that your cyst has broken open, or ruptured. Sometimes, large, ruptured cysts can cause heavy bleeding.

What types of surgeries remove ovarian cysts?
If your cyst requires surgery, your doctor will either remove just the cyst or the entire ovary.

Surgery can be done in two different ways:

Laparoscopy (lap-uh-ROSS-kuh-pee). With this surgery, the doctor makes a very small cut above or below your belly button to look inside your pelvic area and remove the cyst. This is often recommended for smaller cysts that look benign (not cancerous) on the ultrasound.
Laparotomy (lap-uh-ROT-uh-mee). Your doctor may choose this method if the cyst is large and may be cancerous. This surgery uses a larger cut in the abdomen to remove the cyst. The cyst is then tested for cancer. If it is likely to be cancerous, it is best to see a gynecologic oncologist, who may need to remove the ovary and other tissues, like the uterus.

How do ovarian cysts affect pregnancy?
Ovarian cysts are common during pregnancy. Typically, these cysts are benign (not cancerous) and harmless.4 Ovarian cysts that continue to grow during pregnancy can rupture or twist or cause problems during childbirth. Your doctor will monitor any ovarian cyst found during pregnancy.

Can I prevent ovarian cysts?
No, you cannot prevent functional ovarian cysts if you are ovulating. If you get ovarian cysts often, your doctor may prescribe hormonal birth control to stop you from ovulating. This will help lower your risk of getting new cysts.

Source:-WomensHealth

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