Ovarian cyst

Ovarian cyst

Ovarian cyst formation is similar to a bag containing liquid within or on the surface of the ovaries. They are paired organs about the size and shape of an almond located on each side of the uterus. At the ovaries and developing eggs that are released in monthly cycles throughout a woman's reproductive period.

Each month, an egg is formed in a structure inside the ovary called a follicle. The follicular fluid content is meant to protect the egg. It matures and is expelled through the rupture of the follicle. Sometimes, however, the follicle does not release an egg, or egg shrinks after expulsion, but continues to grow as it fills with fluid. This forms an ovarian cyst.

Many women have ovarian cysts at a time of life. Most cysts do not cause health problems and disappear without treatment within a few months. But when they break, ovarian cysts cause serious symptoms can be life threatening. The best way to protect health is performing pelvic examinations regularly. It is also important to know the symptoms and types of ovarian cysts that can signal a serious health problem.

Ovarian cysts can grow up to 5 -6 cm and persists between four and six weeks. Cysts are common, are usually painless and usually disappear without treatment.

Causes:

Normally develops in the ovary every month cyst-like structures called follicles - they produce estrogen and progesterone and release eggs.
Sometimes a normal follicle continues to grow and is called a functional cyst, as occurred during the menstrual cycle.

There are two types of functional cysts:

Follicular cyst
The middle of the menstrual cycle, the pituitary luteinizing hormone (LH), which stimulates the release of eggs from the follicle. Normally, the follicle ruptures and the egg is released and enters the fallopian tube where it waits to be fertilized.
Follicular cyst begins to form when the LH surge does not occur. The result is a follicle that does not rupture or release its egg. Instead, he continues to grow and becomes a cyst. Follicular cysts are harmless, rarely cause pain and often disappear on their own within two or three menstrual cycles.
Ovarian cyst
Luteum cyst or corpus luteum
When the pituitary secrete LH and egg is expelled, the ruptured follicle produces large amounts of estrogen and progesterone to prepare the body for a possible pregnancy. Follicle is now called the corpus luteum or yellow body. Sometimes, however, accumulates inside the fluid and the corpus luteum to expand into a cyst. Although the cyst resolves in a few weeks, it can reach 10 cm in diameter can be twisting (twist) or bleed, causing pelvic or abdominal pain.
Treatment for infertility with clomiphene citrate (Clomid, Serophene), used to induce ovulation, increases the risk of a corpus luteum cyst developing after ovulation. These cysts do not prevent a pregnancy and pregnancy endanger not formed.


Signs and symptoms
Presence of an ovarian cyst may be responsible for the following signs and symptoms:

»Menstrual disorders
»Pelvic pain - a dull ache, constant or intermittent, which may radiate to the spine and lower limbs
»Pelvic pain - immediately after the start of menstruation or immediately after they
»Pain during intercourse (dyspareunia)
»Nausea, vomiting or breast pain similar to those present during pregnancy
»Abdominal pain
»Feeling pressure on your rectum or bladder - difficulty emptying the bladder completely

Signs and symptoms that require immediate medical attention include:
»Severe pelvic pain that occurs suddenly
»Pain accompanied by fever or vomiting
»Feeling cold, clammy skin, rapid breathing, fainting, dizziness, weakness, signs that indicate a shock

Most times, women do not have signs. Or when symptoms are present, they are similar to those of other conditions such as endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy and ovarian cancer. Even appendicitis and diverticulitis can cause symptoms similar to those caused by a ruptured ovarian cyst.
Diagnosis
An ovarian cyst can be identified during a pelvic exam, during which your doctor feel its ovaries. If discovered an ovarian cyst, your doctor may recommend additional tests to determine the type, size and composition of the cyst. This information allows making a decision regarding the need for surgery.

To identify the type of cyst, using the following procedures:

Ultrasound - can be on hold abdominal or vaginal (transvaginal ultrasound) and uses ultrasound, allowing visualization of the uterus and ovaries. Ultrasound allows confirmation of the presence of a cyst and precise determination of position, volume and its composition (if solid, fluid-filled or mixed).

Laparoscopy - using a thin instrument, equipped with a light source (laparoscope) and inserted into your abdomen through a small incision, the doctor can see the ovaries and even remove the cyst (cystectomy).

CA 125 (cancer antigen 125). CA 125 levels are elevated in women with ovarian cancer. If an ovarian cyst that is partially solid and high risk of ovarian cancer, your doctor may test the level of CA 125 levels to determine if the cyst is malignant. Elevated CA 125 levels may indicate non-cancerous conditions such as endometriosis, uterine fibroids and pelvic inflammatory disease.
Complications
A large ovarian cyst can cause abdominal discomfort, clicking on neighboring organs.
Torsion is the most common complication and results in a sudden and violent pain. It is a medical emergency requiring surgery because no analgesic drug can reduce pain. Ultrasound examination, confirming the presence of an ovarian cyst, sometimes with bleeding.

Hemorrhage and rupture of a cyst is sometimes a shock origin (inability bodies to ensure the main function). Most often, it is a corpus luteum cyst. They generally occur after treatment to stimulate ovulation (treatment with gonadotropins) and early pregnancy.

Some women have ovarian cysts unusual that do not produce symptoms and are found during a pelvic exam. Ovarian cysts that develop after menopause may be malignant (cancerous). For this reason, pelvic exams should be performed periodically.

These types of cysts are less common than functional cysts:

Dermoid cyst - this type of cyst may contain hair, skin and teeth as they develop from the cells that form the human embryo. Are rarely cancerous, but may increase greatly, causing ovarian torsion.

Endometriosis cyst - is the result of endometriosis, a condition in which the cells lining the uterus (endometrium) are found outside the uterus. Part of this tissue may be attached to an ovary to form cysts.

Cystadenoma - this type of cyst can develop from ovarian tissue and can contain a clear, aqueous or solid material. They can be large, reaching up to 30 cm in diameter and can cause ovarian torsion.
Treatment
Treatment depends on your age, the type and size of cysts and the symptoms presented.
Ovarian cyst
Expectation

Patients of reproductive age who have no symptoms and the ultrasound reveals a simple cyst, with fluid, we recommend a waiting period (for medical supravegherre without treatment). After 1-3 months, the patient is examined again in order to detect any changes in the cyst.
Expectation, with repeat ultrasound examination at regular intervals is also recommended in postmenopausal women who have a cyst with fluid, less than 5 cm in diameter.

Birth control pills

Your doctor may prescribe birth control pills to reduce the chance of new cysts developing in future menstrual cycles. Oral contraceptives offer the added benefit of significantly reducing the risk of ovarian cancer - the risk decreases with increasing contraceptive dosing period.
Ovarian cyst
Surgery

Surgical treatment is established when large cysts, abnormal ultrasound appearance that continues to grow or disappear after 2 or 3 cycles. Cysts that cause pain or other symptoms are removed (cystectomy). In other cases, the affected ovary is removed, leaving the other intact (unilateral oophorectomy). Both procedures allow you to maintain fertility in women of reproductive age. Maintaining an ovary has the advantage of having a source of estrogen production.

If ovarian growths are cancerous, your doctor may recommend a hysterectomy with total anexectomy (ablation uterus and both ovaries). After menopause, the risk that an ovarian cyst being cancerous increases. Therefore, some doctors recommend surgery cysts that occur after menopause.
Prevention
Although there is no way to prevent ovarian cysts, pelvic examinations are a way to ensure that all changes ovaries are diagnosed soon.
In addition, women should be alert to changes in the menstrual cycle, including symptoms that accompany menstruation and that persists for several cycles.