What is an syst on your ovary?

What is an syst on your ovary? What does it mean?

What is an syst on your ovary?
Abnormal bleeding and irregular periods can also be caused by an ovarian cyst. This is a scary diagnosis, but ovarian cysts are very common and are not cancerous conditions. Just like a breast cyst, which is a fluid-filled lump, these cysts form on the ovary. Often, ovarian cysts don't even require surgery and just need to be monitored. An ultrasound can tell your doctor whether the cysts are benign.





Follicular Cysts





During normal ovulation, the follicle spits out the egg. When the follicle fails to do this, fluid, hormones, and other "guck" build up inside the unruptured follicle until a cyst develops. This kind of ovarian cyst is most common in women who are between the ages of twenty and forty. Some women are plagued by follicular cysts, which may keep forming. The symptoms of follicular cysts are different from symptoms of ovarian cancer. They include delayed periods, bleeding between periods, pelvic pain (constant dull ache or sharp jabbing), and cramping, but often there are no symptoms. As mentioned above, a full pelvic exam is done first in investigating abnormal bleeding. Often, follicular cysts are found in a bimanual exam. If your ovary is enlarged by more than two inches, it will immediately be investigated. Your doctor will order a blood test to see how well your ovary is producing hormones. Then he or she will perform an ultrasound scan to see the size and composition of the ovary. Just like an ultrasound can determine fluid-filled lumps in breasts, it can also determine fluid-filled lumps on the ovaries. In the United States, sometimes a CAT scan or MRI is done as well. Follicular cysts are always benign.





The next step in treating follicular cysts depends on your age and the size of the cyst. If you're younger and the cyst is small, waiting it out may be the best course of action. However, since most follicular cysts resolve within one menstrual cycle, the first step is simply observation, eliminating the need for expensive tests and treatment. Most go away without rupturing, but these cysts may also rupture on their own. In either case, your menstrual cycle will get back in sync and return to normal. You'll then need to be re-evaluated. If you're under thirty, you can be re-evaluated in about two cycles (eight to ten weeks). If you're between the ages of thirty and forty, you should be re-evaluated after only one cycle (about four to six weeks).





If you are experiencing a lot of pain, are over forty, or have a solid enlargement of the ovary, you'll need to be treated immediately. If the cyst persists after a second evaluation, you'll also need to be treated.





Treatment involves a laparoscopy procedure, which will tell the doctor more about the texture and size of your cyst. Depending on what he or she finds, the cyst might be aspirated on the spot, at which point it will simply collapse and you'll be cured. But if the ovary is unusually large, the cyst is removed and your ovary biopsied via fine-needle aspiration. If no cancerous cells are found, once the cyst is removed, you'll also be cured.





Sometimes a condition known as polycystic ovary disease can occur where a woman has numerous follicular cysts, which can be treated. This is also a major cause of infertility.





Corpus Luteum Cysts





After your egg is spat out by the follicle, which then turns yellow and becomes the corpus luteum (an empty shell that produces progesterone), the follicle doesn't shrink like it's supposed to. Instead, the little blood vessels that feed the follicular sac and bleed during ovulation continue to bleed into the empty sac and form a blood-filled cyst. This sounds dangerous, but it isn't. Corpus luteum cysts will often rupture and resolve on their own. If not, the diagnosis and treatment route is the same as above, the blood is aspirated during laparoscopy, and the ovary biopsied. Sometimes, though, the ovary may be too large or the bleeding too severe. At this point, some doctors may opt to remove the ovary, but this is premature. The bleeding is caused by a stubborn blood vessel that can be tied off, which will stop the bleeding, allowing the cyst to be aspirated and the ovary to remain intact.





Dermoid Tumors





These are not cysts but common benign tumors (making up about 10 percent of benign ovarian tumors). Dermoid tumors are more common in young women but can occur throughout the reproductive years. Prepare yourself -- these are really disgusting! What happens here is that the egg begins developing without being fertilized. So these growths develop hair, teeth, cartilage, and fat. Even surgeons are shocked by their appearance. The symptoms and diagnosis process for these tumors are the same as above, and an ultrasound test or even an X ray can pinpoint dermoid tumors. Teeth (!) often show up in the scans or X rays.





Many surgeons will do laparoscopic surgery to remove the tumor and leave the ovary intact. Unfortunately, some doctors will just remove the ovary altogether. Because dermoid tumors can be removed, leaving the ovaries intact, your best bet is to seek out a doctor who will not remove the ovary. If you can't find one, call HERS, an organization that has lists of surgeons who perform alternative surgery to hysterectomy and oophorectomy.
Reply:First, if you're trying to look up info online, it's spelled "cyst."





Ovarian cysts are quite common. It's a fluid-filled sac on your ovary, kind of like a blister. It's NOT cancer, if that's what you're worried about. They're generally harmless and may not even lead to any symptoms, before just going away on their own.





Generally they're not a big deal, but questions about your specific case should be directed to your doctor.
Reply:An ovarian cyst is any collection of fluid, surrounded by a very thin wall, within an ovary.





Any ovarian follicle that is larger than about two centimeters is termed an ovarian cyst.





Most cysts are harmless,but some cause problems such as bleeding and pain, and surgery may be required to remove those cysts. An ovarian cyst can be as small as a pea or as large as a grapefruit.





Ovarian cysts affect women of all ages. Cysts occur most often, however, during a woman's childbearing years.





Symptoms


Some or all of the following symptoms may be present, though it is possible not to experience any symptoms:





Dull aching, or severe, sudden, and sharp pain or discomfort in the lower abdomen (one or both sides), pelvis, vagina, lower back, or thighs; pain may be constant or intermittent -- this is the most common symptom


Fullness, heaviness, pressure, swelling, or bloating in the abdomen


Breast tenderness


Pain during or immediately after sexual intercourse (dyspareunia), masturbation, strenuous exercise, or menstrual period (or shortly after beginning or end of menstrual period)


Irregular periods, or abnormal uterine bleeding or spotting


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 pelvic anatomy


Weight gain


Nausea or vomiting


Fatigue


Infertility


Increased level of testosterone or hair growth


Increased facial hair or body hair





Treatment


About 95% of ovarian cysts are benign, meaning they are not cancerous.





Treatment for cysts depends on the size of the cyst and symptoms. For small, asymptomatic cysts, the wait and see approach with regular check-ups will most likely be recommended.

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