What are ovarian cysts?
An ovarian cyst is a fluid-filled sac (or pocket) that grows inside or on top of an ovary and may be caused by either hormone irregularities, pelvic infections, or endometriosis.
Ovaries play an important role in the female reproductive system. Women have two ovaries on either side of their uterus, each the size and shape of an almond. Eggs (or ova) develop in the ovaries and are released in monthly cycles.
An ovarian cyst is a fluid-filled sac (or pocket) that grows inside or on top of an ovary. Many women experience ovarian cysts at some point in their life.
Most of the time, women who have ovarian cysts aren’t aware they have them, and the cysts heal on their own. In other cases, these cysts can cause pain, especially when they rupture.
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Treatments for ovarian cysts
In the majority of cases, ovarian cysts don’t require any treatment because they go away on their own within a few months. Whether or not your ovarian cyst requires treatment depends on several factors:
- Its size
- Whether you’re experiencing symptoms
- Whether you’ve been through menopause
Women who’ve already experienced menopause have a slightly higher risk of being diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
If treatment is needed, surgery is the typical route. There are two types of surgery to treat ovarian cysts: laparoscopy and laparotomy.
Laparoscopy
A laparoscopy is the most common procedure for removing ovarian cysts. In this type of surgery, the surgeon makes small cuts in your abdomen and blows gas into your pelvis to access your ovaries. Then, the surgeon inserts a laparoscope (a small tube-like microscope) into your abdomen to get a good view of the cyst. By making small cuts, the surgeon removes the cyst and then stitches you back up.
Laparotomy
Your doctor may recommend a laparotomy if your cyst is large or there is a chance that it’s cancerous. During this procedure, the surgeon makes a large cut in the abdomen. The surgeon then removes the entire cyst and sends it to a lab for testing. If you have this procedure, you may need to stay in the hospital for a few days.