25/05/2025
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Ovarian cyst - Symptoms, Causes, Types, Complications, Prevention & Treatment
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Ovarian cyst meaning
An ovarian cyst is a fluid-filled sac that develops either on or inside the ovaries (a part of the female reproductive system). If the cyst of the o***y is filled with fluid, it is called a simple ovarian cyst, which is more common at any age, whereas a cyst is filled with blood or solid material, it is referred to as a complex ovarian cyst, which is less common and more likely to become cancerous.
Cyst meaning
Cysts are closed sacs that contain liquid, semi-solid, gaseous, or other substances. Usually, they are caused by infection, injury, or other medical issues. Cysts are typically harmless (benign) but may need treatment if complications occur.
However, most ovarian cysts are non-cancerous (benign ovarian cyst) and harmless, but they can differ in size and develop for various reasons. The, ovarian cysts do not cause any symptoms, however, a cyst can be problematic if it gets bigger, bleeds or causes pain.
They are very common in women of reproductive age and usually form during ovulation, but their occurrence decreases after menopause.
They often resolve on their own without causing any noticeable symptoms or requiring treatment. But in some cases, they can indicate the underlying medical condition and may need removal.
Preventing the ovarian cysts completely is not possible. However, specific measures must be taken to decrease the risk, such as maintaining a healthy weight, using contraception (birth control) and getting regular pelvic examinations.
Incidence of ovarian cyst
Ovarian cyst epidemiology or the actual number of ovarian cyst cases in women is not known (uncertain) because many people don’t have any noticeable symptoms and are never diagnosed.
Out of 100, every four women will be hospitalized for ovarian cysts by the age they turn 65. In a study of 335 healthy women aged 24 to 40, without symptoms, 8% had an adnexal lesion. An adnexal cyst is a fluid-filled or solid growth that forms around the ovaries, fallopian tubes and surrounding connective tissue.
2.5 out of every 100 postmenopausal women have a simple unilocular adnexal cyst, which is typically benign and may resolve spontaneously.
In a large survey of 33,739 women premenopausal (before menopause) and postmenopausal (after menopause) women, nearly half of the women had an adnexal cyst on transvaginal ultrasound. Among those with the cysts, about 63.2 or 9,958 showed the resolution of the cyst on ultrasounds.
Most of the cysts are benign ovarian cysts (non-cancerous). However, a type called mature cystic teratomas or dermoids is a non-cancerous (benign ovarian cyst) that accounts for over 10% of all ovarian growths.
Para ovarian cysts occur in the broad ligament between the fallopian tube and o***y, which are relatively uncommon and account for only 5–20% of all adnexal masses.
Ovarian cysts are the most common tumour in infants (babies) and foetuses (unborn babies). More than 30 out of every 100 infants and foetuses will have ovarian cysts.
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Types of ovarian cysts
Women contain two ovaries located on either side of the uterus in the lower abdomen as part of the reproductive system. When a cyst develops on the left o***y, it is referred to as a left ovarian cyst, whereas if it forms on the right o***y, it is referred to as a right ovarian cyst. Sometimes, the cysts, called bilateral ovarian cysts, may develop on both sides of the ovaries.
There are different types of ovarian cysts, but they can be broadly categorized into two main groups:
Functional ovarian cysts
Pathological cysts
1. Functional ovarian cysts: These are the most common type harmless (benign ovarian cyst) and short-lived cysts that often develop as part of the menstrual cycle and indicate a sign of healthy ovarian function. Generally, these cysts shrink over time, usually within two months (60 days), without any specific treatment.
There are two subtypes of functional cysts:
Follicular cysts: As a part of a woman's menstrual cycle, the follicle (small sac in the o***y) releases an egg every month for fertilization(ovulation). Follicular cysts happen when a follicle fails to release an egg. Instead, it fills with fluid and continues to grow bigger.
Corpus luteum cysts: After ovulation, a follicle transforms into the corpus luteum (temporary endocrine structure). In some cases, fluid collects in the corpus luteum and may develop as cysts.
In some cases, both follicular and corpus luteal cysts can potentially turn into hemorrhagic cysts, which may occur due to ovulation rather than any medical condition. Other haemorrhagic ovarian cyst causes include follicle rupture, injury to o***y, some fertility drugs or anticoagulant medications. Haemorrhagic ovarian cyst treatment includes bed rest, pain medication and surgery (if the cyst is large and causing severe symptoms.
2. Pathological cysts: These cysts are rare and can develop due to various medical conditions. Examples include:
Dermoid cysts: The dermoid cyst types are sac-like growths, that develops on the ovaries, contain the cells that can form various tissue types in the human body, including skin, teeth, hair and even brain tissue. Ovarian dermoid cyst symptoms are not noticeable until the cysts become large. Dermoid cyst causes include infections, gene mutations, developmental abnormalities
Endometriomas or chocolate cysts: These are cysts filled with endometrial tissue, the same tissue that a woman bleeds (shed) each month during menstruation. Chocolate cyst symptoms include painful and crampy periods, pelvic pain not related to menstruation, infertility for some woman.
Cystadenomas: They develop on the surface of the o***y and are filled with thin and watery or thicker and mucous-like fluid.
Serous cystadenomas: It contains one or more cysts on the surface of the o***y. These are typically filled with a clear, thin, and watery fluid.
Mucinous cystadenomas: These are composed of multiple glands and cysts that are filled with a thick, mucous-like fluid.
Polycystic O***y Syndrome (PCOS): It is a hormonal disorder that affects women and leads to the development of multiple small cysts on the ovaries and causing the ovaries to enlarge.
Ovarian cancer cysts: Unlike the conditions mentioned above, ovarian cancer cysts (tumours) are not fluid-filled sacs. Instead, they are solid masses made up of cancer cells.
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Ovarian cyst symptoms
Women may have ovarian cysts without experiencing any noticeable symptoms. Usually, an ovarian cyst may cause symptoms when it ruptures, grows very large, twists (twisted ovarian cyst), or blocks the blood supply to the ovaries. However, when symptoms do occur, they can vary in severity and may include the following:
Pelvic pain (o***y pain): Ovarian cysts most commonly cause pain or pressure in the lower abdomen, ranging from dull, aching sensation to sharp and severe discomfort that may be constant or come and go. Ruptured ovarian cyst symptoms includes severe and sharp o***y pain. Hemorrhagic ovarian cyst symptoms often include sudden, sharp or severe pelvic pain on the side where the cyst is located.
Bloating: Some women with ovarian cysts may experience pressure, swelling, a feeling of fullness in the lower abdomen or abdominal bloating, which may be persistent or come and go.
Pressure on the bladder or re**um: Large ovarian cysts may push the nearby organs, such as the re**um or bladder, causing increased urinary frequency, pain when urinating or constipation and changes in bowel habits.
Painful Menstrual Periods: Menstrual cycle problems can occur if the ovarian cyst produces s*x hormones, which cause the lining of the uterus to thicken, where the cysts associated with endometriosis are known as endometriomas or chocolate cyst (endometriosis ovarian cyst) can become large and painful, leading to a painful period.
Pain during in*******se: Rupture of cysts can cause sudden onset of sharp pain and typically occurs during s*xual in*******se due to the pressure of the p***s. It usually occurs due to large cysts.
Nausea and Vomiting: Twisting (torsion) or rupturing of an ovarian cyst (twisted ovarian cyst) causes symptoms such as nausea and vomiting along with abdominal pain.
Unexplained Weight Gain: Cysts, especially those associated with polycystic o***y syndrome (PCOS), can be linked to weight gain and difficulty losing weight.
Difficulty Getting Pregnant: Having an ovarian cyst does not usually affect fertility. However, one condition called polycystic o***y syndrome (PCOS), which involves numerous small cysts, which can reduce the chances of becoming pregnant for a woman.
Cancerous cyst symptoms include abnormal bloating and swelling, pelvic pain, changes in bowel habits, feeling full quickly and abnormal menstrual bleeding.
Ovarian cyst causes
The exact cause of most ovarian cysts is idiopathic (unknown). The most probable reason for ovarian cyst formation depends on several factors, including the regularity of the menstrual cycle. In premenopausal women, the most common causes of ovarian cysts include:
Hormonal imbalance: A woman may develop ovarian cysts when there is an imbalance in the hormones (hormonal changes) that regulate the menstrual cycle. Common hormonal imbalances that can lead to ovarian cysts include:
Polycystic o***y syndrome (PCOS): It is a medical condition that is characterised by the overproduction of hormones such as testosterone and androstenedione by the o***y. PCOS can cause the ovaries to form multiple small cysts.
Hypothyroidism: An underactive or overactive thyroid may also affect the ovulation process. Due to the similarity between the alpha subunit of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and hCG, hypothyroidism may stimulate ovarian and cyst growth.
Endometriosis: Women with endometriosis, especially in the advanced stages of the disease, can develop an ovarian cyst called an endometrioma cyst or "chocolate cyst".
Pregnancy (ovarian cyst pregnancy): As a natural process of the woman, an ovarian cyst develops on the o***y in early pregnancy to support it until the placenta forms. It may sometimes persist on the o***y until later in the pregnancy.
Severe pelvic infections: Extreme pelvic infections can spread to the ovaries and fallopian tubes of the woman, forming pus-filled cysts close to the ovaries and fallopian tubes.
Medications: Some fertility drugs and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can raise the risk of developing ovarian cysts.
Genetics: Genetic factors may be the reason for the formation of some ovarian cysts. Women with a family history of ovarian cancer have a higher risk of developing them.
Cancer: Ovarian cysts are a relatively uncommon(rare) result of cancer in premenopausal women -who have not yet been through menopause. Less than 1% of new growths on or around the o***y are related to cancer of the o***y.
In postmenopausal women (who no longer have menstrual periods), the following are the most common causes of ovarian cysts:
Non-cancerous growth
Fluid collection in the o***y
Cancer: New growths on or around the o***y are more likely to be malignant (cancerous) than in those who menstruate.
