The term "ovarian cyst" refers to a neoplasm of a benign nature, formed directly in the tissues of the organ. It is a cavity that is filled with liquid. In some cases, a cyst on the ovary is not a health hazard; it passes on its own without any intervention. If it does not disappear, the doctor draws up an individual treatment regimen, which may include both conservative and surgical methods.
Development mechanism
The ovary is a female paired organ. Its main task is to perform reproductive and hormonal functions. The right or left ovary produces monthly eggs that do not exceed the size of a walnut. This process is the initial stage of a new menstrual cycle.
All eggs are enclosed in follicles. The process of maturation of the latter occurs until the uterus is ready for fertilization. Follicular growth is provided by the female sex hormone - estrogen. A similar cycle is repeated monthly. As a rule, as a result of its completion, the egg remains unfertilized. In this case, the process of release of the contents from the uterus is started, that is, menstruation begins.
Each ovary has a small number of cysts. During ovulation, one or two follicles burst. The rest continue to grow, but over time, their size decreases. After several cycles, the cysts disappear on their own without any treatment. It also happens that follicles accumulate fluid in themselves, increasing in size. In this case, we are talking about pathology.
Types of neoplasms
If the follicle that accumulates fluid, independently decreases in size over time and disappears on its own, it is customary to talk about a functional ovarian cyst. This process is physiological and does not pose a threat to health. To prevent the development of complications (for example, torsion), women with a constantly appearing functional ovarian cyst are recommended to undergo ultrasound regularly. Treatment in such cases is rarely prescribed.
In addition, the following types of neoplasms exist:
- Cyst of the corpus luteum. She appears after ovulation. The tumor is localized on only one ovary. In this case, the corpus luteum can be filled with liquid, less often with blood.
- Hemorrhagic cyst. Its formation occurs against a background of hemorrhage in the neoplasm.
- Dermoid cyst. It can reach 15 cm in diameter. This cyst on the ovary can be filled with various types of tissue: adipose, connective, nervous, cartilage, bone. In most cases, it is localized on the right side. Its feature is a high risk of developing all kinds of complications - rupture, torsion, inflammation. In addition, a dermoid cyst of the right ovary can transform into a cancerous tumor. According to statistics, such a complication is diagnosed in 3% of patients.
- Endometrioid ovarian cyst. Its formation comes from the tissues of the internal uterine mucosa. Such a neoplasm is most often detected in women with endometriosis. The size of the cyst can vary from 2 to 20 cm. Its contents, as a rule, are represented by the remnants of the blood secreted during menstruation.
- Polycystic ovary. The organ grows in size, and on its outside there is the formation of multiple small formations.
- Cystic adenoma. It is characterized by large sizes, can reach 30 cm. It is formed from ovarian tissue.
- Paraovarial cyst. This neoplasm is formed due to the appendage, which is located above the ovary. The contents of its cavity are represented by a transparent liquid.
- Mucinous cyst. A large neoplasm, divided into several chambers in which mucus is located. A feature of the cyst is its ability to degenerate into a cancerous tumor.
Thus, not all neoplasms are harmless. In order to avoid the development of serious complications, it is necessary to consult a doctor when the first alarming signs appear.
Causes
The exact nature of the occurrence of ovarian cysts is currently unknown. Nevertheless, it is proved that the development of the pathological process is triggered by certain provoking factors.
Indirect causes of the formation of neoplasms are the following diseases and conditions:
- Surgical intervention in the organs of the reproductive system. According to statistics, in a third of patients after an artificial termination of pregnancy, an ovarian cyst is detected.
- Inflammatory processes in the genitals. They are one of the main reasons. Ovarian cysts, as a rule, are formed against a background of STDs, chronic pathologies, endometriosis, etc.
- The first appearance of menstruation at an early age (up to 11 years).
- Disorders of the hormonal background. Due to the imbalance that has arisen, an ovarian cyst is often diagnosed during pregnancy.
- Lack of ovulation process.
- Irregular menstrual cycle.
- Infertility.
- Ovarian dysfunction.
- Diabetes.
- Overweight.
In addition, a cyst on the ovary may form when taking certain medications designed to treat breast cancer.
Symptoms
Many patients do not have any signs of a pathological condition. In this regard, often the ailment is detected randomly during an examination prescribed for another reason. Anxiety symptoms usually occur when a cyst reaches a large size.
Symptoms of the disease are the following conditions:
- Painful sensations. The degree of their severity directly depends on the size of the neoplasm. The nature of the pain in most cases is dull. It is localized mainly in the lower abdomen. If a woman has a cyst of the right ovary, pain is felt only from this side. Its intensity increases with physical exertion and sexual intercourse. The highest severity of pain is noted with the development of complications - rupture or torsion of the cyst. In this case, the woman also observed: increased body temperature, nausea and vomiting. In some cases, there is no pain at all. In such cases, patients complain of a feeling of constriction in the pelvis and a feeling of heaviness in the abdomen.
- Frequent urination, pain when urine comes out. The occurrence of these symptoms is due to compression of the vessels and organs of the cyst. A neoplasm (mainly large) can also lead to constipation and the appearance of a false urge to commit an act of defecation. This is due to the pressure of the cyst on the area in which the lower intestines are located.
- Menstrual irregularities. Monthly periods are abundant, they are accompanied by severe pain. The danger is that they are easily confused with uterine bleeding, which also serves as a sign indicating the presence of a cyst. It also happens that in women, on the contrary, amenorrhea occurs, that is, a complete absence of menstruation.
- Hirsutism. This term refers to the excessive secretion of male sex hormones. Against the background of this process, a woman's voice becomes coarse, her hair intensively begins to grow on her body.
- An increase in the abdomen, its asymmetry. This symptom occurs if the cyst has reached a huge size. In such situations, an increase in the circumference of the abdomen is noted.
In addition, the following symptoms are alarming:
- high body temperature;
- pallor of the skin;
- dizziness;
- severe weakness;
- severe pain in the abdomen;
- deviation of the blood pressure index up or down;
- thirst that is difficult to quench;
- a sharp decrease in body weight for no apparent reason.
With a pronounced deterioration in well-being, you should immediately consult a doctor or call an ambulance team.
Diagnostics
If alarming symptoms occur, you must make an appointment with a gynecologist. The doctor will conduct the initial diagnosis, which consists in interviewing and examining the patient.
For an accurate diagnosis, the following studies can also be assigned:
- Ultrasound (transvaginal). With its help it is possible to detect any kind of cysts.
- CT, NMR. They allow to identify the features of the neoplasm, which is impossible during ultrasound.
- Laparoscopy. The method is not only diagnostic. In the process of research, it is even possible to remove the cyst.
- Blood test for tumor marker SAN-125. Allows you to find out the nature of the disease (benign or malignant).
- Pregnancy test. Ovarian cysts during gestation require a different approach to treatment. In addition, it is important to exclude or confirm the presence of an ectopic pregnancy. This is due to the fact that the development of pathology is accompanied by the same symptoms as the formation of a cyst.
It is extremely rare that a doctor prescribes a puncture from the Douglas pocket. This is the area located on the posterior vaginal fornix. The purpose of the study is advisable only if suspected bleeding or rupture of the cyst.
Conservative treatments
If it is a functional neoplasm, therapy is not required. It is enough to periodically visit a doctor for the purpose of control and prevention. Treatment of ovarian cysts is required if it does not disappear on its own.
Doctors always initially try to rid patients of the disease by conservative methods. But in some cases it is impossible to cure an ovarian cyst without surgery.
Contraindications to drug therapy:
- age over 45 years;
- large size of the neoplasm;
- the impossibility of accurately determining the nature of its occurrence;
- suspicion of oncology.
Conservative treatment of ovarian cysts means taking the following drugs:
- Hormone-containing. As a rule, the doctor prescribes oral contraceptives that contribute to the normalization of the menstrual cycle.
- Anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial. The task of receiving these funds is to eliminate a chronic infection. In addition, the negative impact on the work of the appendages is excluded.
Physiotherapeutic procedures have shown high efficiency in the treatment of pathology. But they are always prescribed at the same time as taking medication, and only if oncology is ruled out.
Surgical treatment
With the ineffectiveness of conservative methods, surgical intervention is indicated. Currently, laparoscopy is most widely used to get rid of ovarian cysts. The operation is minimally invasive in nature - all manipulations are performed through small punctures (with a diameter of not more than 1 cm) in the abdominal cavity. The surgeon inserts endoscopic instruments into them, and the doctor monitors the intervention process using a monitor, the images to which are transmitted by a miniature camera.
After removal of the ovarian cyst by the laparoscopic method, the patient begins daily activities after 1-2 days. In some cases, a woman can leave the hospital within a few hours.
Despite the minimally invasive procedure, after laparoscopy of an ovarian cyst, it is necessary to follow certain recommendations:
- reduce the intensity of physical activity;
- pay due attention to hygiene procedures to prevent suppuration of wounds;
- Do not lift heavy objects;
- do not consume hard-to-digest food and alcohol-containing drinks for 2 weeks.
If severe pain occurs, consult a doctor.
Complications
Judging by medical reviews, an ovarian cyst, detected in a timely manner, rarely poses a threat to health. With untimely treatment, the presence of a neoplasm can lead to the following negative consequences:
- Oncological diseases. Of particular danger are some types of cysts that easily degenerate into a malignant tumor.
- Twisting the legs of the neoplasm. Against the background of this condition, the blood circulation in the cyst is disturbed, which entails the development of necrosis in its tissues. In addition, peritonitis occurs. Torsion of the legs through the loop of the intestine can provoke its obstruction.
- Ruptured cysts. In this case, the symptoms are similar to signs of acute appendicitis. If an ovarian cyst bursts, peritonitis may also develop. In addition, the contents of the pathological neoplasm can lead to blood poisoning, which is life threatening.
- Infertility. It develops in most cases while ignoring the disease.
In order to prevent the likelihood of serious complications, it is necessary to consult a doctor when the first alarming symptoms appear.
Forecast
A timely detected neoplasm rarely poses a threat to a woman's health. In addition, in comparison with emergency surgery, planned surgical treatment does not entail severe trauma to the follicular apparatus. With timely contact with a specialist, the prognosis is favorable. When ignoring the problem, all sorts of complications develop very quickly.
Finally
An ovarian cyst is a benign neoplasm formed from organ tissues. In some cases, it disappears on its own without any intervention. If this does not happen, the doctor draws up a treatment regimen. With its inefficiency, the question of the advisability of surgical intervention is being resolved.