Cysts on
ovaries are common in women of a childbearing age. However, most women have a
limited knowledge when it comes to ovarian cysts. This is usually to no one’s
advantage especially considering the health risks that women who have cysts in their
ovaries are exposed to. This does not mean that every woman who has a cyst will
suffer from the symptoms of ovarian cysts. All that it means is that increasing
your ovarian cyst knowledge will work to your advantage since it will help you
to ensure that they do not develop in your ovary and in cases where they are
already present, they do not grow and thus increase in size. The following are
the common types of ovarian cysts that you should know about.
Functional
cysts are the most common type of ovarian cysts. They are usually regarded as
normal and usually cause no side effects especially in cases where they do not
become overly large. Normally, they disappear at a certain stage of a woman’s
menstrual cycle. They usually shrink and disappear after a month or two and
thus should not be a cause of worry. Wait-and-see is the method that most
doctors usually prescribe for these types of ovarian cysts. They are normal in
women who are ovulating and thus if a woman is in menopause or past this stage,
the occurrence of these types of cysts may be an indication of a serious
condition.
Endometriomas,
commonly known as chocolate cysts, are common in women with a condition of the
female reproductive system known as endometriosis. This is a condition in which
cells of the endometrial lining grow in other parts of the female reproductive
system such as the fallopian tubes, ovaries and sometimes even adjacent organs
such as the kidneys. These types of ovarian cysts are usually filled with a
thick dark brown substance and hence the reason why they are commonly referred
to as chocolate cysts. Symptoms of chocolate cysts include severe pain in the abdomen
area, bloating of the abdomen, pain during sex, pregnancy problems and they may
sometimes lead to infections of the reproductive system. Painful menstrual periods
are also common in women with endometriomas.
Benign cystic
tumors, also known as cystadenomas, are also another type of ovarian cysts.
They are generally non-cancerous. Unlike most cysts that are usually filled
with liquids, these types are usually filled with fatty substances. They
usually develop from cells located on the outer regions of a woman’s ovaries.
Dermoid cysts, which are an example of a benign tumor, are usually filled with
structures such as patches of skin, bone tissues and hair. They are usually
small, although there are cases in which they can grown into extremely large
cysts and thus making a woman’s life unbearable.
For women who
find regular ovulation a rare occurrence, the risks of developing multiple
cysts are usually high. This is a disorder of the female reproductive system
which is characterized by a woman’s ovaries becoming enlarged and having many
tiny ovarian cysts. This situation can be a result of a condition known as
polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Some of the symptoms of PCOS include
increased bodily hair, infertility and irregular periods among others.
This is just
but a summary of some of the types of ovarian cysts which you ought to know
about.
At least you are now a step closer to taking control of your
reproductive health. Congratulations!
