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Ovarian Cyst Symptoms and Diagnosis

Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled sacs that develop on the ovaries, the female reproductive organs that produce eggs. Women can develop ovarian cysts as a normal part of their menstrual cycle as the ovaries prepare eggs to release into the fallopian tubes. While many of these cysts are completely benign (not harmful to health), some ovarian cysts can be malignant, meaning they pose a danger to health.

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Types of Ovarian Cysts

Ovarian cysts can develop for a number of reasons and range from being completely harmless to life threatening. Here is an outline of the various types of ovarian cysts:

cystadenomas: cysts that develop on the outside of the ovary, causing pain if they are particularly large
dermoid cysts: cysts that can also grow hair, teeth and a variety of other tissues, causing pain if they are particularly large
functional cysts: cysts filled with eggs that develop during menstruation and disappear once the eggs are released
endometriomas: cysts that grow in or outside of the uterus, causing pain if they are particularly large
polycystic ovaries: cysts filled with eggs that aren’t released and, instead, continue to grow.

Symptoms of Ovarian Cysts

The type of ovarian cyst you have will determine the symptoms you experience. However, some cases of ovarian cysts are asymptomatic, meaning the cysts exist without causing any noticeable symptoms. In general, the following are common symptoms associated with the presence of ovarian cysts:

achiness in the in the back (especially the lower back) and upper legs
breast tenderness
irregular menstrual cycles
nausea and/or vomiting
painful sex
pressure and/or pain in the abdomen
pressure and/or pain on the bladder and/or rectum
problems passing urine
weight gain.

Keep in mind that the above symptoms of ovarian cysts are fairly generic and may also be associated with the presence of other conditions, such as endometriosis, ectopic pregnancy or pelvic inflammatory disease. As a result, seeing a doctor is important for an official diagnosis of ovarian cysts.

In more serious cases when the ovarian cysts are particularly harmful to your health, symptoms include:

dizziness or light-headedness
fatigue
fever
severe abdominal pain
shortness of breath and/or rapid breathing
vomiting.

If you start experiencing any of the above symptoms, seek immediate medical attention.

Diagnosing Ovarian Cysts

Because ovarian cysts cause generic, if any, symptoms, most cases of ovarian cysts are diagnosed during a woman’s annual Pap smear. At these routine checkups, your gynecologist feels your ovaries to detect if any swelling exists.

If he identifies inflammation, then he may call for an ultrasound to be performed. The ultrasound points out the shape, size and location of the ovarian cyst. Similarly, ultrasounds can highlight whether the cyst is solid, filled with fluid or composed of some mixed of the two.

Once the cyst has been located, doctors routinely perform blood tests to evaluate whether or not the cyst is cancerous. If the blood test returns with abnormally high amounts of the protein CA-125, the woman likely has some stage of ovarian cancer.

If caught early, treatment options for ovarian cancer (such as chemotherapy, radiation and surgery) are more effective. As a result, getting regular gynecological exams is extremely important to early diagnosis and prompt treatment that can save your life.

Resources

Mayo Clinic (2007). Ovarian Cysts (2007). Retrieved July 5, 2007 from: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/ovarian-cysts/DS00129/DSECTION=2.

Women’s Health (2007). Ovarian Cysts (2007). Retrieved July 5, 2007 from: http://www.4woman.gov/faq/ovarian_cysts.htm#2.

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