Causes, Signs and Types of Ovarian Cysts

Cyst on ovaries is a common health issue with women and is most likely to happen during their reproductive years. In most cases of ovarian cysts, they are harmless, some might even not cause symptoms so women do not even know they have them. They are small fluid-filled sacs like a blister that can form on ovaries as the woman goes through the cycle of menstruation. There are some that can become cancerous and some that are non-cancerous. The latter often may not even need treatment and go away by themselves, but serious cases of cysts cause some more worrying symptoms and in a small percent can be fatal.

Table of Contents

Ovarian cyst types

The five main types of cysts are as follows;

A Cystadenoma cyst – these develop on the ovary’s outer surface.
A functional cyst – a normal cyst that can develop during ovulation. More likely to affect younger women in their first few menstruation cycles but then disappear after that.
A dermoid cyst on ovaries – these are ovarian cysts that then develop filled with not just fluid but also different tissues like skin and hair.
An endometrioma cyst – is a cyst that forms when a tissue that is similar in nature to the uterus lining, attaches to the woman’s ovaries.
Polycystic disease – this is where there is a build-up of follicle cysts that leads to the ovaries thickening and becoming overly large that then causes a thick outer coating over the ovaries and interrupts the ovulation process. These cysts can impact women who are trying to get pregnant.

Symptoms more commonly seen

As mentioned there are a lot of women that have completely benign cysts on ovaries with no symptoms of them at all. Cysts that burst, bleed or grow larger are more likely to cause irritation and noticeable symptoms. The more common symptoms when they are experienced include;

Pressure in the stomach or pelvic area
A dull ache
Pain when having intercourse
More severe pain in the stomach or pelvic area
Delayed, painful and irregular periods
Having problems emptying your bowels
Feeling the need to urinate more frequently
Bloating
Feeling overly full when you have barely eaten
Having trouble getting pregnant

Treating ovarian cysts

The treatment for ovarian cysts really depends on their type, size and what symptoms there are causing. There are several options including a number of medications, before things like surgery are considered unless dealing with a cancerous cyst. Doctors will often suggest with non cancerous smaller cysts to have the wait and see approach. The pain and other symptoms can be helped by;