Ovarian Cysts Specialist

What is an ovarian cyst?

Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled sacs that develop on your ovaries. These types of cysts are very common in women during childbearing years and after menopause.

Most ovarian cysts are benign, or noncancerous, and go away on their own. Rarely, a cyst may become ovarian cancer.

There are several types of ovarian cysts, including:

Functional cyst

Functional cysts are the most common type of ovarian cyst. They usually don’t cause symptoms and go away in 6-8 weeks without treatment.

Teratoma

Also called dermoid cysts, this type contains tissues such as hair, skin, or teeth. These cysts may exist at birth and then grow during your reproductive years. In rare cases, teratomas may become cancer.

Cystadenoma

These cysts develop on the outer surface of your ovary and can become very large. Cystadenomas usually aren’t cancerous, but their large size may cause symptoms.

Endometrioma

This type of cyst forms as a result of endometriosis, a medical condition that causes the tissue that normally grows inside your uterus to develop in other places.

How do I know if I have an ovarian cyst?

Most ovarian cysts don’t cause symptoms. However, a large cyst may cause symptoms such as pelvic pain or bloating. If a cyst ruptures or twists, you may experience sharp, severe abdominal or pelvic pain that comes on suddenly.

If you experience sudden sharp pain along with a fever, vomiting, or other signs of shock, you should seek medical care immediately.

How do you diagnose and treat ovarian cysts?

Your provider at Mott Women Healthcare may discover an ovarian cyst during a routine pelvic exam. If they detect an unusual growth or suspect you may have an ovarian cyst, they may take additional tests, such as:

• Ultrasound imaging test
• Blood tests
• Pregnancy test 

Then, they develop a treatment plan that best suits your specific condition. Depending on factors like the size and type of your cyst, treatment may begin with watchful waiting or monitoring the cyst with follow-up ultrasounds.

If the cyst grows larger, causes symptoms, or might be cancerous, your provider at Mott Women Healthcare may recommend surgery to remove it.

To find out if you have an ovarian cyst, call Mott Women Healthcare or book an appointment online today.