Ovarian Cysts Removal

The ovaries are two small organs located on either side of the uterus in a woman’s body. They make hormones, including estrogen, which trigger menstruation. Every month, the ovaries release a tiny egg. The egg makes its way down the fallopian tube to potentially be fertilized. This cycle of egg release is called ovulation.

Ovarian Cysts Causes

Cysts are fluid-filled sacs that can form in the ovaries. They are very common. They are particularly common during the childbearing years.
There are several different types of ovarian cysts. The most common is a functional cyst. It forms during ovulation. That formation happens when either the egg is not released or the sac -- follicle -- in which the egg forms, does not dissolve after the egg is released.
Other types of cysts include:

  • Polycystic ovaries. In polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the follicles in which the eggs normally mature fail to open and cysts form.
  • Endometriomas. In women with endometriosis, tissue from the lining of the uterus grows in other areas of the body. This includes the ovaries. It can be very painful and can affect fertility.
  • Cystadenomas. These cysts form out of cells on the surface of the ovary. They are often fluid-filled.
  • Dermoid cysts. This type of cyst contains tissue similar to that in other parts of the body. That includes skin, hair, and teeth.

Ovarian Cysts Symptoms

Often, ovarian cysts do not cause any symptoms. You may not realize you have one until you visit your health care provider for a routine pelvic exam. Ovarian cysts can cause problems if they twist, bleed, or rupture.
If you have any of the symptoms below, it is important to have them checked out. That is because they can also be symptoms of ovarian tumors. Ovarian cancer often spreads before it is detected.
Symptoms of ovarian cysts and tumors include:

  • Pain or bloating in the abdomen
  • Difficulty urinating, or frequent need to urinate
  • Dull ache in the lower back
  • Pain during sexual intercourse
  • Painful menstruation and abnormal bleeding
  • Weight gain
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Loss of appetite, feeling full quickly

Ovarian Cysts Treatment

Most ovarian cysts will go away on their own. If you do not have any bothersome symptoms, especially if you haven’t yet gone through menopause, your doctor may advocate “watchful waiting” and will check you every one to three months to see if there has been any change in the cyst.
Birth control pills may relieve the pain from ovarian cysts. They prevent ovulation, which reduces the odds that new cysts will form.
Surgery is an option if the cyst doesn’t go away, grows, or causes you pain. There are two types of surgery:

  • Laparoscopy uses a very small incision and a tiny, lighted telescope-like instrument. The instrument is inserted into the abdomen to remove the cyst. This technique works for smaller cysts.
  • Laparotomy involves a bigger incision in the stomach. Doctors prefer this technique for larger cysts and ovarian tumors. If the growth is cancerous, the surgeon will remove as much of the tumor as possible. This is called debulking. Depending on how far the cancer has spread, the surgeon may also remove the ovaries, uterus, fallopian tubes, omentum -- fatty tissue covering the intestines -- and nearby lymph nodes.

Other treatments for cancerous ovarian tumors include:

  • Chemotherapy -- drugs given through a vein (IV), by mouth, or directly into the abdomen to kill cancer cells. Because they kill normal cells as well as cancerous ones, chemotherapy medications can have side effects, including nausea and vomiting, hair loss, kidney damage, and increased risk of infection. These side effects should go away after the treatment is done.
  • Radiation -- high-energy X-rays that kill or shrink cancer cells. Radiation is either delivered from outside the body, or placed inside the body near the site of the tumor. This treatment also can cause side effects, including red skin, nausea, diarrhea, and fatigue. Radiation is not often used for ovarian cancer.

Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation may be given individually or together. It is possible for cancerous ovarian tumors to return. If that happens, you will need to have more surgery.