Ovarian Cysts

The ovaries are part of the female reproductive system. Sometimes, a fluid-filled sac called a cyst will develop on one of the ovaries. Many women will develop at least one cyst during their lifetime. In most cases, cysts are painless and cause no symptoms.

An ovarian cyst is a fluid-filled sac that grows inside an ovary. Most ovarian cysts are non-cancerous (benign) and cause no symptoms and can be easily detected on ultrasound scan. However, a very small percentage can cause problems such as pain and irregular bleeding.

There are various types of ovarian cysts and they can vary in size from less than a size of a pea to a large melon. They are common among women and can occur at any age. Your age, the size and appearance of the cyst determines what the best management plan is.  This could be conservative management with monitoring in the form of repeat ultrasound scans and blood tests (if thought to be functional cysts) or key hole surgery to remove the cyst or the ovary if a different type of cyst.

Functional types are:

• Follicle cysts: These often resolve in 1 to 3 months

• Persistant corpus luteum cysts: Most of these cysts resolve after a few weeks. They may bleed or twist the ovary and cause pain. Some drugs used to cause ovulation, such as Clomiphene can raise the risk of developing these cysts

Other types of ovarian cysts are:

• Endometriomas: These cysts form in women who have endometriosis

• Cystadenomas: These cysts grow from cells on the outer surface of the ovary. They may enlarge and cause pain

• Dermoid cysts: These cysts contain many types of cells. They may be filled with hair, teeth, and other tissue. They can become large and cause pain

• Polycystic ovaries: These are not cysts despite the name

• Ovarian cancer: Although most ovarian cysts are benign/harmless, ovarian cancer can present as an ovarian cyst