Ovarian cyst (examination of symptoms, causes and treatment methods)

Ovarian cyst disease is one of the common diseases in women that occurs at least once in women after experiencing an active menstrual period. This disease causes problems such as severe pain and discomfort in the ovary and abdomen, a feeling of heaviness in the abdomen, headache, nausea and vomiting, weight gain, and changes in the menstrual pattern due to menstrual disorders or excessive hair growth. If you see any of these symptoms, it is better to see a gynecologist. Unfortunately, despite the importance of the disease, some girls still do not share this disease with their families due to insufficient information about it. If this disease is not treated in time, the possibility of more serious problems such as the enlargement of the cyst and the occurrence of more side effects will increase. Ovaries are two oval-shaped glands on both sides of the uterus and are responsible for the secretion of estrogen and progesterone hormones and produce eggs. The presence of a cyst in or inside the ovary prevents the egg from being sent to the uterus and can cause problems such as infertility or lack of a regular menstrual cycle. Therefore, if you encounter problems such as severe pain in the ovary and abdomen, headache, nausea and vomiting, heavy feeling in the abdomen, weight gain, or changes in the menstrual pattern, it is better to see your doctor and get medical advice to diagnose and treat this disease. **What is an ovarian cyst?**

Ovaries are two oval-shaped glands on both sides of the uterus and are connected to each other through the fallopian tubes. These glands are responsible for producing hormones such as estrogen and progesterone, which regulate the menstrual cycle and produce eggs. In a healthy person, every month one egg is completed and thrown into the uterus. But in people with ovarian cysts, the egg is complete but not thrown into the uterus. Ovarian cysts consist of fluid-filled sac masses that grow inside or on the ovary. The size of these cysts can be from the size of a pea to the size of an orange and they are formed at the time of ovulation. Most ovarian cysts go away on their own or with pills within 6 to 8 weeks. But some of them may be painful or make menstruation more difficult. If not diagnosed in time, ovarian cyst can cause severe pain. Today, with lifestyle changes, improper nutrition and weight gain, single women and girls are more prone to this problem.

**Types of ovarian cysts **Ovarian cyst types include functional and non-functional categories.** Functional cysts are mostly formed in response to body changes during the menstrual cycle. This category includes follicular, corpus luteum and functional cysts. - Follicular cysts are formed when the egg is not released by the follicle. - After the egg is released by the follicle, the corpus luteum releases a hormone called the corpus luteum, which, if there is a cyst, will cause fluid to collect inside the corpus luteum and cause it to grow excessively. These types of ovarian cysts usually go away without special treatment after a month. On the other hand, non-functional cysts appear as a result of a disease and have nothing to do with the menstrual cycle. - cystadenoma cysts that are often formed on the ovaries and are filled with thin, watery or thick and mucous fluid. Also, dermoid cysts (teratoma) are created from the cells that make up all types of human body tissue, such as hair, skin, teeth, or brain tissue. - The endometrium is also filled with the tissue that bleeds every month during the menstrual cycle, i.e. the endometrial tissue. Also, cancerous ovarian cysts are solid masses of cancer cells (tumors) that require treatment, unlike functional cysts. **Other articles: Ovarian dermoid cyst and its definitive treatment method**

** Ovarian cyst symptoms Ovarian cyst symptoms can be different in both functional and non-functional cyst types and there may be no symptoms in some cases. Below are the common symptoms of ovarian cysts for both types: **Symptoms of functional ovarian cyst:** - Severe pain in the ovary - Heaviness or enlargement of the ovary - Abdominal swelling - Pain in the pelvis or lower abdomen - Hot and red areas in the ovary area - Severe complications such as heavy bleeding during menstruation **Symptoms of non-functional ovarian cyst:** - Ovarian pain - Heaviness or enlargement of the ovary - Abdominal swelling - Pain in the pelvis or lower abdomen - Menstrual disorder Changes in skin texture, such as acne or hair growth If you have any of these symptoms, it is better to see a doctor so that proper examination and treatment can be done. It should be noted that in some cases ovarian cysts exist without symptoms and are diagnosed by medical examinations.

**The cause of ovarian cyst The cause of ovarian cyst may be different for both types of cysts, functional and non-functional. Below are the common causes of ovarian cysts for both types: **Causes of functional ovarian cyst:** - Hormonal changes during menstruation - Taking drugs that are used to regulate hormones - pregnancy - Disorder in the ovaries **Causes of non-functional ovarian cysts:** - Age above 40 years - Family history of ovarian cysts - History of polycystic ovary disease - Triple hormonal disorders such as polycystic ovary syndrome and ovarian diseases - Ovarian trauma, meaning the presence of an abnormal mass in the ovary - Infection in the ovary - Changes in the level of hormones such as luteinizing hormone and ovarian follicles (LH and FSH) - Hormonal stimulation of the brain and pituitary gland - Damage to the ovary due to surgery or trauma It should be noted that in some cases, the cause of ovarian cyst is not known. Anyway, if you have symptoms of ovarian cyst, it is better to see a doctor so that he can do the necessary tests and make an accurate diagnosis. Ovarian cyst treatment If you have an ovarian cyst, you may not need treatment. Whether you need treatment depends on: - Type of cyst - Who's size? - If you have symptoms - If you have gone through menopause **Other articles: Ovarian cyst laparoscopy + risks and precautions** If your ovarian cyst is small and does not cause any problems, your doctor may recommend that you monitor it for a while with an ultrasound scan. Most small cysts on the ovaries disappear on their own and do not cause problems. Therefore, this approach helps you avoid treatments you don't need. Your doctor will discuss with you when you should have another ultrasound. This may be in the following circumstances: - **If you still have periods after a year** If you have gone through menopause, once every four to six months for a year You may also be asked to have another blood test for CA-125. If your ovarian cyst does not go away, your gynecologist may recommend surgery to remove it. - **pregnancy** Ovarian cysts during pregnancy almost always go away without treatment. Your doctor will usually recommend surgery only if the cyst is causing symptoms or is very large. ### Surgery If your cyst is large, causes symptoms, or doesn't go away, your doctor will likely recommend surgery to remove it. They also recommend surgery if there is a risk of ovarian cancer. **There are two methods to perform ovarian cyst surgery:** - Closed surgery (laparoscopy) - Open surgery (laparotomy) Other articles: Laparoscopy