ovariansymptoms.com

Causes of ovarian cysts are many. During a normal menstrual cycle, the ovaries develop follicles each month. Estrogen and progesterone, two hormones which support pregnancy, are produced by these follicles. If a normal follicle continues growing for an extended period of time ovarian cysts can result.
Follicular cysts are among the most usual type. These cysts rarely have symptoms, usually harmless and disappear on their own. Ovarian cysts affecting the follicle are caused by the release of hormones from the pituitary gland that is supposed to initiate the release of an egg. Failure to release the egg makes the follicle continue to grow and develop into a cyst.
When luteinizing hormone surges during the monthly cycle and an egg is released a corpus luteum cyst is created. Once the egg is released the body then begins to prepare for possible conception through the ruptured follicle producing estrogen and progesterone. At this stage, the follicle is known as corpus luteum. A cyst is formed when the corpus luteum seals off and fluid collects inside it.
Corpus luteum cysts usually disappear on their own without treatment within a few weeks. In the meantime, however, it can grow to nearly 4 inches in diameter. It can also bleed into itself or twist the ovary.  This can cause severe pelvic and abdominal pain. Moreover, if the corpus luteum cyst fills with blood, the cyst may rupture. This can cause internal bleeding and sudden, sharp pain.
Clomiphene citrate, a commonly prescribed fertility drug to induce ovulation, might be a cause of ovarian cysts. Usage of this drug may result in an increased risk that  a corpus luteum cyst might develop. Corpus luteum cysts by themselves do not pose a risk to pregnancy.
Ovarian cysts containing blood, known as hemorrhagic or endometrioid cysts, form in the same way. The presence of blood might have been the result of an injury or from leakage of surrounding blood vessels through to the egg sac. When causes of ovarian cysts from  bleeding and shedding of endometrial tissue occurs in the ovaries, painful cysts may form. If left to continue, the pooling blood may rupture causing pelvic pain.
Though it is not possible to completely prevent the causes of ovarian cysts, increasing exercise, controlling stress, improving the quality of your diet, and improving your health can help minimize the probability of the development of an ovarian cyst.

Anytime an ovarian cyst is causing severe pain, is ruptured or twisted, large, solid, irregularly shaped, or suspected of being cancerous, removal of the cyst is recommended. The chances of a cyst being cancerous will increase for older patients, so the older the patient with the ovarian cyst is, the more likely that ovarian cyst removal will be undertaken.

Prior to the removal of the ovarian cyst, a doctor will usually perform a physical exam on the patient. They will also conduct a review of medications, a urine test, and a blood test. They may do a CT scan and X-ray of the abdomen to confirm their diagnosis before considering ovarian cyst removal.

In order to remove an ovarian cyst, a doctor may choose to perform either laparoscopic surgery or open surgery, depending on the type of ovarian cyst that is removed. It is common to perform open surgery on larger cysts.

In laparoscopic surgery, the surgeon makes a small incision in which to insert a thin tube called a laparoscope. The tube is used to find the cyst and from there, the surgeon is able to remove the cyst.

For large ovarian cyst removal, surgery under general anesthesia may be needed. Patients may experience some pain in the abdomen after surgery. They also may experience such complications as infection or bleeding. It is important to understand that recurrence of ovarian cysts is possible. In a few rare cases, the patient may also experience infertility and blood clots.

If ovarian cancer is not detected during the surgery, it is highly unlikely that the patient will suffer any complications. Full recovery is expected within weeks after the surgery. On the other hand, if ovarian cancer is detected, then the patient may have to have one or both ovaries removed either during the surgery or in another surgery. Treatment of ovarian cancer would need to follow.

After the removal of an ovarian cyst, it is important to contact your doctor if you experience fever or chills, excessive pain or bleeding, shortness of breath, headaches, muscle aches, nausea, abdominal swelling, vomiting, or any other signs of ill health. An ovarian cyst removal, like all other surgeries, must be closely monitored post-surgery but should have no complications.