Ovarian cysts | Office on Women’s Health

Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled sacs in the ovary. They are common and usually form during ovulation. Ovulation happens when the ovary releases an egg each month. Many women with ovarian cysts don’t have symptoms. The cysts are usually harmless.

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.

What are the different types of ovarian cysts?

The most common types of ovarian cysts (called functional cysts) form during the menstrual cycle. They are usually benign (not cancerous).

The two most common types of cysts are:

• follicle cysts. In a normal menstrual cycle, an ovary releases an egg each month. The egg grows inside a tiny sac called a follicle. When the egg matures, the follicle breaks open to release the egg. follicle cysts form when the follicle doesn’t break open to release the egg. This causes the follicle to continue growing into a cyst. follicle cysts often have no symptoms and go away in one to three months.
• Corpus luteum cysts. Once the follicle breaks open and releases the egg, the empty follicle sac shrinks into a mass of cells called corpus luteum. Corpus luteum makes hormones to prepare for the next egg for the next menstrual cycle. Corpus luteum cysts form if the sac doesn’t shrink. Instead, the sac reseals itself after the egg is released, and then fluid builds up inside. Most corpus luteum cysts go away after a few weeks. But, they can grow to almost four inches wide. They also may bleed or twist the ovary and cause pain. Some medicines used to cause ovulation can raise the risk of getting these cysts.

Other types of benign ovarian cysts are less common:

• Endometriomas are caused by endometriosis. Endometriosis happens when the lining of the uterus (womb) grows outside of the uterus.
• Dermoids come from cells present from birth and do not usually cause symptoms.
• Cystadenomas are filled with watery fluid and can sometimes grow large.

In some women, the ovaries make many small cysts. This is called polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). PCOS can cause problems with the ovaries and with getting pregnant.

Malignant (cancerous) cysts are rare. They are more common in older women. Cancerous cysts are ovarian cancer. For this reason, ovarian cysts should be checked by your doctor. Most ovarian cysts are not cancerous.

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?

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?

Most ovarian cysts are small and don’t cause symptoms.

If a cyst does cause symptoms, you may have pressure, bloating, swelling, or pain in the lower abdomen on the side of the cyst. This pain may be sharp or dull and may come and go.

If a cyst ruptures, it can cause sudden, severe pain.

If a cyst causes twisting of an ovary, you may have pain along with nausea and vomiting.

Less common symptoms include:

• Pelvic pain
• Dull ache in the lower back and thighs
• Problems emptying the bladder or bowel completely
• Pain during sex
• Unexplained weight gain
• Pain during your period
• Unusual (not normal) vaginal bleeding
• Breast tenderness
• Needing to urinate more often

How are ovarian cysts found?

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 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.

Will my ovarian cyst require surgery?

Maybe. The National Institutes of Health estimates that 5% to 10% of women have surgery to remove an ovarian cyst. Only 13% to 21% of these cysts are cancerous.²

Your cyst may require surgery if you are past menopause or if your cyst:

• Does not go away after several menstrual cycles
• Gets larger
• Looks unusual on the ultrasound
• Causes pain

If your cyst does not require surgery, your doctor may:

• Talk to you about pain medicine. Your doctor may recommend over-the-counter medicine or prescribe stronger medicine for pain relief.
• Prescribe hormonal birth control if you have cysts often. Hormonal birth control, such as the pill, vaginal ring, shot, or patch, help prevent ovulation. This may lower your chances of getting more cysts.

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.

Can ovarian cysts lead to cancer?

Yes, some ovarian cysts can become cancerous. But most ovarian cysts are not cancerous.

The risk for ovarian cancer increases as you get older. Women who are past menopause with ovarian cysts have a higher risk for ovarian cancer. Talk to your doctor about your risk for ovarian cancer. Screening for ovarian cancer is not recommended for most women.³ This is because testing can lead to “false positives.”  A false positive is a test result that says a woman has ovarian cancer when she does not.

Can ovarian cysts make it harder to get pregnant?

Typically, no. Most ovarian cysts do not affect your chances of getting pregnant. Sometimes, though, the illness causing the cyst can make it harder to get pregnant. Two conditions that cause ovarian cysts and affect fertility are:

• Endometriosis, which happens when the lining of the uterus (womb) grows outside of the uterus. Cysts caused by endometriosis are called endometriomas.
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), one of the leading causes of infertility (problems getting pregnant). Women with PCOS often have many small cysts on their ovaries.

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.

Did we answer your question about ovarian cysts?

For more information on ovarian cysts, call the OWH Helpline at 1-800-994-9662 or contact the following organizations:

• Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), NIH, HHS
  Phone Number: 800-370-2943 (TDD: 888-320-6942)
• American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP)
  Phone Number: 800-274-2237
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
  Phone Number: 800-673-8444
• American Society for Reproductive Medicine
  Phone Number: 205-978-5000

Sources

1. Ross, E. K. (2013). Incidental Ovarian Cysts: When to Reassure, When to Reassess, When to Refer. Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine; 80(8): 503–514. Retrieved from 2013 article.
2. NIH consensus conference (1995). Ovarian cancer: screening, treatment, and follow-up. NIH Consensus Development Panel on Ovarian Cancer. JAMA; 273: 491–497. Retrieved from 2013 article.
3. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (2016). Screening for Ovarian Cancer.
4. Horowitz, N.S. (2011). Management of adnexal masses in pregnancy. Clinical Obstetrics & Gynecology; 54: 519–527.

The Office on Women’s Health is grateful for the medical review by:

• Cheryl B. Iglesia, M.D., FACOG, Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Georgetown University School of Medicine; Director, Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, MedStar Washington Hospital Center; Food and Drug Administration Advisory Committee

All material contained on these pages are free of copyright restrictions and maybe copied, reproduced, or duplicated without permission of the Office on Women’s Health in the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. Citation of the source is appreciated.

Page last updated:
February 22, 2021

Board Certified Obstetrics & Gynecology

All About Corpus Luteum Cysts: Samuel D. Van Kirk, M.D.: Board Certified Obstetrics & Gynecology

Ovaries are the female reproductive organs that create and release eggs. You have two ovaries, one on each side of your lower abdomen, and each month during your menstrual cycle, one of them releases an egg for fertilization.

When an ovary releases an egg, it emerges from a sac called a follicle. The follicle seals itself off and forms a clump of cells that’s called the corpus luteum. If the egg is fertilized, the corpus luteum begins producing the hormone progesterone to support early pregnancy. 

The corpus luteum performs an essential step in preparing for and maintaining pregnancy, but sometimes, it can develop into a cyst. Ovarian cysts are the result of fluid getting trapped in a sac, and corpus luteum cysts are some of the most common.

Most women have at least one ovarian cyst during their lifetime, and most of the time, the cysts don’t cause noticeable symptoms. However, ovarian cysts can cause complications and health conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome in some women. 

Samuel Van Kirk, MD, and our OB/GYN team specialize in diagnosing and treating ovarian cysts, and today we’re taking a closer look at corpus luteum cysts: what they are, and how they can affect your health.

Understanding the corpus luteum

Your ovaries contain follicles, which are fluid-filled sacs capable of creating, growing, and releasing eggs for fertilization. Each month during your menstrual cycle, one follicle grows larger than the others and releases a mature egg during a process called ovulation.

After releasing the egg, the follicle is empty. It naturally seals off and becomes a mass of cells that’s called the corpus luteum. What happens to the corpus luteum depends on whether you get pregnant during your cycle.

If you get pregnant, the corpus luteum begins to create progesterone, which is an essential hormone that supports early pregnancy. It encourages your uterine lining and the uterus itself to grow, and it increases blood flow and oxygen supply.

The corpus luteum continues to supply extra progesterone for the first 7-9 weeks of pregnancy, and it starts to shrink around week 10. After that point, the fetus is large enough to produce enough progesterone to sustain the pregnancy and the corpus luteum.

If you don’t get pregnant, the corpus luteum starts shrinking and breaking down shortly after it forms. It triggers a drop in estrogen and progesterone, which leads to your next menstrual period.

Corpus luteum cysts

The corpus luteum should disappear when it’s no longer needed, whether you didn’t get pregnant or you’re past your 10th week of pregnancy. But sometimes, fluid gets trapped inside the sac, and it doesn’t go away like it should.

When this happens, it’s called a corpus luteum cyst. Corpus luteum cysts are a type of functional ovarian cyst, and they’re fairly common.

Most corpus luteum cysts eventually go away on their own, but they may take from a few weeks to several months to fully vanish. If the cyst doesn’t disappear, it can cause a range of unpleasant symptoms that could require medical intervention.

Symptoms of corpus luteum cysts

Ovarian cysts, including corpus luteum cysts, might not cause noticeable symptoms. In fact, it’s possible to have one or more cysts and not know it. However, some women do have symptoms, including:

• Abdominal pain or lower back pain
• Abnormal vaginal bleeding
• Breast tenderness
• Bloating
• Painful bowel movements
• Pain with sex
• Pelvic pain

If a cyst bursts suddenly, it can cause intense symptoms like:

• Fever
• Faintness or dizziness
• Nausea or vomiting
• Sharp or severe pelvic pain

Seek prompt medical care if you experience symptoms of a ruptured cyst or any signs of pelvic pain. Whether you’re pregnant or not, these symptoms could indicate serious health complications, making medical attention essential.

To find out more about corpus luteum cysts and your treatment options, schedule a consultation with Dr. Van Kirk at 530-242-4129 or send us a message online.

Life After a Hysterectomy

If you’re considering a hysterectomy, it’s important to weigh your options before you make a decision. Having a hysterectomy means you’re no longer able to get pregnant, and it impacts your gynecologic health in a number of other ways too.

Your Treatment Options for Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a common cause of pelvic pain and infertility. While there’s no cure, treatment can reduce your symptoms and improve your quality of life. If you have endometriosis, now’s the time to learn more about your treatment options.

Everything You Didn’t Know About HPV

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States. It usually doesn’t cause symptoms, but it could lead to cancer if it’s left untreated. Learn more about HPV and what you can do to stay healthy.

Why Every Woman Should Have a Gynecologist

A gynecologist specializes in women’s health. It might seem unnecessary to schedule annual well-woman visits with a specialist, but when you have a gynecologist, you have a partner in health at every stage of your life.

Is There a Link Between Ovarian Cysts and Infertility?

Ovarian cysts are common. Many women get cysts during their menstrual cycles without ever knowing it. But since they grow on or in your ovaries, do they affect fertility? Find out more about ovarian cysts and when they might be linked to infertility.

What Conditions Warrant Having a Hysterectomy?

A hysterectomy is surgery to remove your uterus. While it’s best known for permanent birth control, it can be an effective treatment option for severe gynecologic conditions from cancer to endometriosis. Find out if it could be right for you.

Ovarian cyst during pregnancy – signs, causes, treatment

An ovarian cyst can form at any time in a woman’s life, including during pregnancy. Cystic ovarian formations are diagnosed in one patient out of a thousand pregnant women. They are not a reason to have an abortion, but require close attention.

Pregnancy ovarian cyst

During each monthly cycle of a woman, follicle growth occurs. After the dominant follicle reaches a certain size, it bursts and the egg is released into the abdominal cavity. It enters the fallopian tube, where fertilization takes place.

But sometimes, for some reason, the follicle does not rupture, and it turns into a follicular ovarian cyst. Sometimes a cystic formation is also formed in place of the corpus luteum. Is an ovarian cyst an obstacle to pregnancy? Doctors believe that as long as there is a cyst in the ovary, further growth of follicles is impossible, which means that subsequent ovulation will not occur. It may recur after two months if the cysts lyse on their own during this period of time. Only then will conception be possible.

Other cysts (endometrioid and dermoid) also form in the ovaries. They in no way affect the development of follicles and the process of ovulation. However, their indirect effect lies in the fact that such a cystic formation, if it is large, creates a mechanical obstacle to the conception process, puts pressure on the follicles, and also changes the hormonal background.

As you can see, in one patient, an ovarian cyst is unlikely to create an obstacle to pregnancy, while in another, it interferes with conception. If a woman suffering from infertility has no potential reasons for the inability to become pregnant, after several unsuccessful attempts to conceive, experts recommend performing a laparoscopy to remove pathological cysts.

Causes of an ovarian cyst during pregnancy

Can an ovarian cyst develop during pregnancy, and for what reasons? Today, doctors cannot unambiguously answer this question. Certain factors are known to contribute to the development of ovarian cysts during pregnancy:

• hormonal disorders;
• congenital predisposition of the organism;
• dietary disorders that provoke an imbalance of hormones;
• post-traumatic stress disorder;
• psycho-emotional lability;
• taking contraceptives for a long time;
• early puberty;
• menstrual disorders;
• overweight or underweight;
• unnecessarily frequent abortions;
• lack of coitus;
• early cessation of lactation;
• infectious processes in the body;
• bad habits;
• inflammatory diseases of the reproductive organs.

Signs of an ovarian cyst during pregnancy

Does an ovarian cyst appear in any way during pregnancy? As a rule, uncomplicated ovarian cysts do not manifest themselves in any way and are an accidental finding on an ultrasound examination of the pelvic organs. The presence of specific signs depends on the location and size of the ovarian cyst, as well as on its origin.

Endometrial cyst has no pathognomonic symptoms. If it is present in the ovaries, then a woman may have dysfunction, as well as pain in the lower abdomen, which increases on the eve of menstruation or in the first days of menstruation. There may also be problems with conception, intestinal disorders (constipation, followed by diarrhea). Patients often notice the appearance of smearing “chocolate discharge”.

Small ovarian cysts may not show up during pregnancy. Also, its growth cannot be predicted – it can be slow or too rapid. Such an ovarian cyst during pregnancy can pose a threat if it ruptures, since this is the cause of peritonitis, requiring abdominal surgery.

A follicular ovarian cyst during pregnancy can cause pressure and a feeling of heaviness in the projection area of ​​the ovary. With its increase, pain may appear, aggravated by bending and fast running. An additional indirect symptom of a follicular ovarian cyst may be a decrease in basal temperature after ovulation.

Paraovarian ovarian cyst can be detected both during pregnancy and before it. It is usually found by accident. With a small size of cystic formation, the patient does not complain. In the case when the ovarian cyst during pregnancy reaches sixteen centimeters in diameter, the woman’s stomach does not correspond to the term, it becomes large, the internal organs experience pressure.

With a large size of the paraovarian ovarian cyst, pregnancy may not occur, the woman begins, dysfunctional uterine bleeding. She experiences periodic pain in the abdomen and sacral area. Due to pressure on nearby organs, women experience digestive disorders, pain during intercourse and bladder dysfunction.

Consequences of an ovarian cyst during pregnancy

If a woman is diagnosed with an ovarian cyst and she becomes pregnant, one can only rejoice. However, a cystic mass must be observed, undergo an ultrasound examination and be examined by a gynecologist. If an ovarian cyst begins to increase in size during pregnancy, it puts pressure on the uterus, disrupts the natural position of the ovaries, and creates the preconditions for an early miscarriage or premature birth.

If an ovarian cyst torsion or torsion occurs during pregnancy, its necrosis may develop an inflammatory process. In this case, it is necessary to perform urgent surgical intervention. In some cases, a laparotomy is indicated.

The presence of an ovarian cyst increases the risk of complications during childbirth. If a woman has intense contractions, then excessive tension of the rectus muscles of the anterior abdominal wall can cause a rupture of the cystic formation. This situation requires immediate surgical intervention.

If the ovarian cyst is small and grows slowly during pregnancy, without any effect on the woman’s body, she is observed, and no measures are taken.

Is it possible to rupture an ovarian cyst during pregnancy

Of course, if the ovarian cyst grows rapidly during pregnancy, it may rupture. A pregnant woman develops acute pain in the lower abdomen on the affected side. She suffers from nausea and often vomiting. There is a sharp rise in body temperature, acceleration of the pulse. In the blood, the ESR and the number of leukocytes increase. During vaginal examination, the most intense pain is noted on the side and in the region of the posterior surface of the uterus.

Rupture of an ovarian cyst is manifested by the following symptoms:

• sudden sharp pains in the lower abdomen;
• hyperthermia not relieved by antipyretics;
• sudden weakness;
• the appearance of bloody discharge from the vagina;
• attacks of nausea;
• hypotension, dizziness and loss of consciousness.

Treatment of an ovarian cyst detected during pregnancy

As a rule, functional cystic formations such as follicular cysts and corpus luteum cysts do not require surgical intervention. It is enough to observe them during pregnancy with the help of ultrasound. Surgical treatment of large ovarian cysts is advisable to carry out at the stage of pregnancy planning.

This refers to ovarian cystic masses that do not regress within three cycles or are pathological. If the ovarian cyst becomes large, it must be removed, as it will no doubt pose a threat during pregnancy. There is no doubt the need to perform laparoscopy or laparotomy for torsion and rupture of the ovarian cyst.

It is considered reasonable to perform laparoscopic removal of an ovarian cyst during pregnancy only if necessary. As a rule, first they wait for the birth of the child, and only then, if necessary, perform a laparoscopy and remove the cyst. If the laparoscopic method of treating a cyst in a particular case is unacceptable, then laparotomy access is used to remove the cystic formation. During a laparotomy, the anterior leaf of the ligament of the uterus is dissected, then the cyst is carefully exfoliated within healthy tissues. In this case, the ovaries are not damaged.

In order to reduce the risk of miscarriage after removal of the cyst, the patient in the postoperative period is prescribed therapy aimed at maintaining the pregnancy.

Laparoscopy for ovarian cyst in pregnancy

During pregnancy, laparoscopy is sought no later than the sixteenth week. For anesthesia, intravenous anesthesia is used. Perform three punctures: one in the umbilical region and two in the areas of the projection of the ovaries. Instruments are introduced into the abdominal cavity, with the help of which gas is first pumped in, and then the cyst is husked. After that, hemostasis is performed and they leave the abdominal cavity. Stitches and aseptic dressings are applied to the incision sites.

Depending on the size of the ovarian cyst and the duration of the pregnancy, laparoscopy can take from half an hour to two hours. In the absence of complications, the patient is discharged from the clinic on the third day. To prevent premature termination of pregnancy, she is undergoing further treatment in a gynecological hospital.

The following contraindications for laparoscopy for ovarian cysts during pregnancy are known:

• overweight;
• bronchial asthma;
• infectious diseases;
• arterial hypertension;
• anemia of pregnancy;
• violation of cardiac activity.

It must be remembered that during laparoscopy it is possible to remove an ovarian cyst with a diameter of no more than six centimeters. If its size is larger than this, then laparotomy access is used.

Prevention of ovarian cysts during pregnancy

It is known that ovarian cysts can become complicated during pregnancy. To avoid this, a woman at the planning stage of conception needs to undergo a comprehensive examination and find out if she has neoplasms. If there is an ovarian cyst, it must be removed before pregnancy.

If doctors found an ovarian cyst in a woman only during pregnancy, then further management of the patient should be approached differently. With small sizes of cystic formations, it is enough to observe them. If they cause concern, then the operation should be performed in the first trimester of pregnancy.

What is the prognosis for having an ovarian cyst during pregnancy? It is no different from that before conception. As you know, cystic neoplasms of the ovaries can behave unpredictably: either do no harm, or at any time provoke an urgent situation requiring immediate surgical intervention.

An ovarian cyst during pregnancy requires special attention to the patient, but it is not a reason for an abortion for medical reasons. It should be remembered that, subject to the recommendations of the doctor and adequate treatment, pregnancy in most cases ends in successful delivery.

Free appointment with a reproductive specialist

until June 30, 2023

23 days left

Dear patients! Clinic “IVF Center” invites you to a free appointment with a reproductologist with an ultrasound scan and a treatment plan .

Start your journey to happiness – right now!

Name *

Telephone *

E-mail *

Message *

By submitting this form, I confirm that, in accordance with the requirements of the “Federal Law on Personal Data No. 152-FZ” and in accordance with the Terms, I consent to the processing of my personal data

Leave this field blank

Other articles

Artificial insemination: what is it and how is it carried out?

Read article

Do’s and don’ts after IVF?

Read article

Ovarian cyst during pregnancy

Pregnancy is a very important period for a woman. The expectant mother should be careful and attentive to her health, since the health and life of her baby, the normal course of pregnancy and successful delivery depend on it. Therefore, at the first alarming signs, a woman should immediately seek medical help and undergo an appropriate examination.

Ovarian cyst during pregnancy is diagnosed quite often. Usually, a neoplasm occurs even before the onset of an “interesting” situation. But it also happens that an ovarian cyst appears during pregnancy. If you have been diagnosed with this, then you should not panic. In gynecological practice, there are safe, proven and effective methods for treating cysts during pregnancy, which we will discuss in our article.

What is an ovarian cyst

First of all, it is necessary to determine what this pathology is.

A cyst is a benign formation in the ovary, consisting of a thin membrane with liquid contents inside. According to international medical statistics, an ovarian cyst occurs in almost every 4 women of childbearing age.

In gynecology, the following types of cysts are distinguished:

• Follicular (or functional)
• Endometrioid
• Luteal (yellow cyst)
• Dermoid
• Hemorrhagic
• Serous
• Mucinous
• Paraovarian

Symptoms of an ovarian cyst during pregnancy

An ovarian cyst during pregnancy is dangerous because in the early stages of development it does not give any symptoms. The disease proceeds without pain, discomfort and malaise. Diagnosis of an ovarian cyst during pregnancy is possible only with the help of a thorough ultrasound examination of the pelvic organs. An ultrasound scan allows you to determine the exact location, size and type of neoplasm.

If the cyst grows more than 7-8 centimeters in diameter, then the corresponding symptoms appear. The fact is that a neoplasm of this size affects the work of neighboring organs and systems. The following symptoms appear:

• Aching pain in the pelvic area;
• Difficulty urinating;
• Disorders of the digestive system (constipation, bloating).

Often such manifestations are taken for granted, because during pregnancy a woman encounters similar conditions and may decide that this is normal. That is why, with any alarming symptom, it is imperative to consult a gynecologist in order to exclude the presence of a cyst during pregnancy, as well as other diseases of the reproductive system.

Diagnosis and treatment of ovarian cysts during pregnancy

As already described above, ultrasound is used to diagnose ovarian cysts during pregnancy. Additionally, laboratory tests for the study of vaginal microflora and tumor markers may be prescribed.

In general, the treatment of ovarian cysts during pregnancy is expectant. This is especially true for follicular types of cysts, which tend to resolve on their own. In this case, the optimal solution would be constant monitoring of the neoplasm dynamics.

Removal of an ovarian cyst during pregnancy

Any surgical intervention in the reproductive system of a pregnant woman is highly undesirable. But sometimes surgery is the only chance to protect the health of the future mother and fetus.

The indications for removal of an ovarian cyst during pregnancy are clearly defined:

• The cyst is larger than 8-10 centimeters in diameter;
• Risk of miscarriage;
• Neoplasm threatens the normal development of the fetus.