When young girls hear about ovarian cysts for the first time, they get worried whether they may need surgery to get relief from the condition. However, what they don’t know is that cysts could be of different types and that they are a normal part of their monthly cycle. In this blog, we discuss what your young daughter should know about an ovarian cyst.
What is an ovarian cyst?
An ovarian cyst is a sac-like structure filled with fluids. The ovarian cyst is very common among adolescents and is found incidentally. The cyst could either be a complex cyst or a simple cyst but they all are mostly “physiologic” in their characteristic. This means that they form naturally, and are a result of the normal functioning of the ovaries.
In menstruating women, the ovary runs through a monthly cycle to prepare the egg and then release it to the uterus via the fallopian tube. During a regular cycle of menstruation, the egg remains enclosed inside the follicle. This follicle continues to grow for 2 weeks and ends up rupturing, further releasing the mature egg into the uterus. This is called ovulation. After releasing the egg, the follicle is further evolved into a structure called the corpus luteum. This structure shrinks in size and disappears within 2 weeks to give way for the development of the new follicle. The ovarian cyst generally occurs when this follicle does not break and drop the egg into the uterus or when the corpus luteum is unable to shrink in size.
If the ovarian cyst develops multiple pockets of fluids, then it is known as a complex cyst. Sometimes, cysts do contain blood and skin cells as well apart from fluids.
Ovarian cyst symptoms
More often the cysts do not necessarily cause symptoms and go away as naturally as they appear within 3 months. However, sometimes, women may experience a sharp sudden pain in their lower abdominal area during their monthly cycle. This pain corresponds to the rupturing of the follicle which will drop the egg into the uterus. This pain subsides quickly.
Large cysts cause symptoms of pain mainly because of their size or if they are ruptured. In such cases, you could experience pelvic pain or pain in the lower abdomen followed by irregular periods. A feeling of fullness or bloating can also be observed somewhere around the lower abdomen.
Now, if a cyst turns out to be larger in size, then it could push the surrounding organs, causing constipation, increased urgency for urination, pelvic heaviness or indigestion. If you or your daughter are experiencing such symptoms, then you should consult a private gynaecologist in London.
Ovarian cyst treatment
A Cyst could be monitored and visualised through ultrasound machines. Cysts that might be smaller in size, are generally asymptomatic and would just require monitoring without any medical intervention.
Generally, the cysts get removed automatically after a few weeks without needing any ovarian cyst removal procedures. In most cases, even the young girl doesn’t know about the existence and resolution of cysts in her ovaries.
However, if a cyst grows larger in size and starts causing pain and heavy bleeding, then a private gynaecologist in London could suggest medications in the form of pills (most likely birth control) or oral contraceptive pills for ovarian cyst removal through medications.
If the cyst has become too big to be resolved through medications and has begun to twist the ovary, then the gynaecologist may recommend an ovarian cyst surgery. Most ovarian cyst surgeries are a minimally invasive procedure to safely remove the cyst.
Every woman should have detailed information about an ovarian cyst because there is a possibility of them forming every month naturally during your natural monthly cycle. Better information will help you find better advice and consultation to treat the condition before it becomes a major health problem.
If you want further details about ovarian cyst surgery, you must visit Well Women Clinic today.
