Signs and Symptoms of Ovarian Cysts
81Cyst on the Left and Ovary on the Right
What is an Ovarian Cyst
I realize the picture could be graphic but it is reality as I am only able to define what it really is by presenting what it looks like.
You have to first define what an Ovarian Cyst is, to better understand the symptoms and how it should treated. An Ovarian cyst is a small fluid filled sac that develops inside a woman's ovaries and women of all ages can be affected by them. What causes the cyst is when a follicle fails to rupture and release the egg, the fluid could remain and form a cyst in the ovary. It is quite common for it to normally happen in one of the ovaries. Many cysts are (functional) meaning that they have nothing to do at all with disease of any type and others are (benign) meaning non-cancerous and for the majority many of these cysts can disappear with a few weeks. These wonderful litte sacs occur normally during our wonderful child-bearing years.
Ovarian Cyst Causes
How lucky we are to be a woman as there are so many causes but nothing to really get alarmed however however we should always pay close attention to our bodies and for goodness get the yearly poke and prod , as it could save your life and the wonderful "Gyno" may find these pesty little things that are causing you pain or heavy bleeding before you do. He/She may also decide to prescribe medication if necessary. Here are a few possible risk indicators that could cause a cyst in the ovaries.
1. If you started your menstrual cycle early 11 years or younger
2. Irregualar menstrual cycles , skipping and common back worse then before this is one of the causes.
3. Hyperthyroidism if you have an thyroid that is moving slower then most of us do this could also create a problem.
4. Infertility I realize it saddens so many of us but the truth is ovarian cysts can also plague you , if you have not given birth.
Ovarian Cyst Symptoms
Normally you will not have any symptoms and a majority of the time they can be caught on you regular check-up or on a ultrasound. However there are some symptoms that could be present so if you are experiencing any of these my recommendation is to contact your Physician or Gyno as it is better to feel and be healthy then to be absolutely miserable and chew the heads off of the ones your are closest too.
1. Pelvic pain after sexual intercourse or excercise, if he thinks it is all about him that caused you the pain , not necessarily listen to your body and don't believe that he miraculoulsy stretched it out.
2. Irregular menstrual cycles exciting for some when you skip one or two and for others they think they are going through pre-menopause!!! Not always the case seek your doctor as irregular is not necessarily normal.
3. Pelvic pain that may be felt in the lower back , we all know this is unbearable and many end up in bed from the pain have your doctor run an ultrasound and take some tests, odds are you are not PMS'ing Mr. Fluid-Sac is rearing his mighty head and making your life miserable.
4. Feeling of lower pressure or fullness , if you are feeling bloaty often or if you feel like something is bearing down on you , do not hesitate to check it out.
5. Vaginal spotting or pain , while some of you may think you are pregnant and no matter how many E.P.T. you have read and it still comes back negative please go and get checked as there is definitely something that is working its magic and making you miserable.
6. Nausea and Vomiting , now who wants to go through that on every cycle ? Not many of us and our spouses, significant others lives are turned upside down when some of us go through this seek a Dr. immediately on this one and do not wait.
When To Seek A Physician
If you have had or are having any of these please make an appointment to see your Dr. as if left untreated in some cases you may end up with more then you bargained for.
1. Fainting
2. Persistent Fever
3. Anemia (from loss of blood)
4. Increased facial hair
5. Unexplained Weight Loss
6. Excessive thirst or urination
7. Abdominal tenderness
These and many more are reason to seek a Physician as a Ovarian Cyst cannot cause a miscarriage but many others possibilites could, he will advise and take the step necessary to eliminate the issue. He may choose to prescribe medication or may decide on surgery, whatever he/she decides will be the right decision for you.
copyright©2008AEvans
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Comments
Great hub. I recently wrote a hub about this if you want to take a look at my experience. I'm glad you wrote this. More women need to know what to look for because they can cause serious health problems and even death. This is a well-written hub and very informative. Thanks for writing it. If you want to see my ordeal with one, here is the link. Again, great hub! Keep up the good work.
How an Ovarian Cyst almost killed me:
I had a couple between my two pregnancies. On both ovaries and two different types. The Dr thought i would not get pregnant again, because of damage to the ovaries, but he wisely did not worry me with that thought , or even tell me until I had another healthy son.
ps-typo:"(bening)"
It might be surprising to many that ovarian cysts are great mimickers of acute appendicitis. Thanks to modern day imaging techniques, we seldom miss the diagnosis before hand these days.
great information.
Rangerwife, You are welcome as I am a nurse and love to share information.
allshookup, I also read your article and I thank you for sharing your experience and the Vitamin K recommendation is perfect!!
Rochelle, I am so glad that you had a healthy pregnancy and beat the odds and thank you again as I will correct the type. :0
Besnon, I am also very thankful for modern day imaging techniques as now our industry is able to diagnose and provide more informative information and thank you for the kudos.
I had one too on my right side. I had extreme pain, enough to double me over every single month for a year. They kept telling my that it was just my periods. I finally went to get a second opinion after one painful episode when I could hardly walk. This gyno couldn't find anything in the exam nor did she find it on the ultra sound so she did exploratory surgery and there it was. It was huge 33cm and she coulld not figure out why the ultra sound didn't pick that one up. I am so glad that it was drained because I have had nothing like that since.
I have never had one thankfully. I didnt know much about them until reading this. Thanks AEvans
Lady Guinevere, I am so happy that they found it and thank you for sharing your story about it.
Ashley , Always keep an eye on your body and I am happy to hear that you have not expereinced it as they can be so painful for so many.
Thanks! Very informative and useful.
Denise, You are welcome as medical is actually my forte' although I am expressive in so many other areas, it is certainly nice that this information is needed.
Great Hub AEvans. I had a golf ball sized cyst removed from my right ovary some years ago. More recently I had another one diagnosed on my left ovary whilst I was seeking fertility treatment. When they operated to check out my ovaries etc, they discovered I had such extreme internal adhesions that they couldn't even find my ovaries, never mind see if the dye came out the ends when they injected it through my tubes. The result was the doctor has told me that it is extremely unlikely I will ever get pregnant without IVF, (which we can't possibly afford). I never even thought to ask if they managed to remove the new cyst, so for all I know it could still be there. Very depressing all round, as I am soon to be 39, and running out of time to have a baby. If you are interested in the whole story I wrote a hub on it which explains in more detail what they did, found etc. The link is: http://hubpages.com/hub/My-Desparate-for-a-Baby-Di
Misty, I will be happy to read it and although you are longing for a child of your own, have you considered adoption as there are so many children with nobody to love them, guide them or nurture them. I however am so sorry to hear about the issue that plagues your heart. We adopted and it is funny but our son acts and resembles my husband and one would honestly think that he is ours.:)
Thanks for commenting on my other hub AEvans. If all else fails we may consider adoption, but right now, having been pregnant once, I can't quite get my head around the idea of having a child that is not my own flesh and blood. Until I felt 100% comfortable with this I don't think it would be fair to go down the adoption route for the child's sake as I would feel like I was only settling for my second choice.
The other concern I have is that I don't have much in the way of maternal instincts towards other people's children, although they seem to gravitate towards me without fail. My half Sister was the same, and says she felt differently about her own son when he was born, but still doesn't have much in the way of maternal instincts towards other people's children. It would worry me that I would not have the same emotions towards an adopted child as I would have towards one I had given birth to.
Misty, I understand and I thought the same thing about loving a child that someone else gave birth to, however after our son cam along I realized that my heart and love for him was in all of the right places as to me , he is and always will be my son. I am glad that you are thinking things through before making the decision and believe me it can be a complicated one , due keep us posted in the coming days and I am looking forward to more of your journal. I hope that you will conceive your own child as so many of us could not. I wish you all of the best.
Thanks AEvans, I shall keep you posted with any news and keep on adding to the hub journal also. :)
Thanks for this great hub, it's very interesting and I didn't know what all the signs were before.
Misty, Please do as I am looking forward to it.
Moon Daisy, I am glad that I could shed some light as so many of us ignore signs and symptoms
Thanks for a great hub. A couple of weeks ago I had to go to ER as I had unbearable pain which resembled a nephritic colic. After two days in hospital and innumerable tests and exams, the doctors told me that I had an enormous cyst which needs to be taken off ASAP. I was very surprised as I never had any of the symptoms you or anyone else mentions! Still, the cyst is there and it needs treatment. Next week I am going for surgery hoping that it all goes well.
Thanks again for the info in here; it has helped me to understand better what is happening.
Princessa, I am certainly happy that I was able to share the information and happy to hear that they found the problem. I am certain that all will definitely go well and I hope to hear how you feel after and the outcome. The symptom that you had is also one of the signs as it is extreme pressure on the kidneys and as if something is bearing down. Good Luck!!
very informative hub! At least some people would be aware of this! That includes me!
Thanks for your support, I am terrrified about surgery. At least they found quick what it was but I am not looking forwards to having the surgery... I'll be back in a couple of weeks to let you know how it went. Thanks.
betherickson, Thank you for the kudos and I am glad that I could make others aware as so many do not have any idea.
Princessa, Do let me know as it is a normal procedure and you may have some discharge etc however you will feel 100% better. :)
AEvans,
Many lives could be saved by being informed of the symptoms of ovarian cysts, and then by having a yearly OBGYN checkup.
Thanks for the information. ~ Barbie Perkins
This is a fantastic hub. I suffer from these buggers from time to time. But never as bad as my first bout with them since I discovered natural wellness. Mine are linked to blood sugar issues. If I'm not taking care of myself, I gets cysts. It's pretty simple ;)
Thanks for publishing this important information :)
Barbie, I couldn't agree with you more and I can only stress those yearl check-ups as they are important.
Latrelle, I am so happy that you discovered natural wellness to keep yourself healthy and I am glad that I published it.:)
I never had cyst but I have many friends who had them.
You are a very good writer AEvans- enjoyed your article.
Thank you for the great information. I am post-menopausal, never had a hysterectomy and I often wonder about pains I get off and on. Very informative. Very appreciated.
New Life, Thank you and I am glad I could assist. :)
Netters, Iwould recommend a yearly especially if it is due and you are quite welcome :)
Hi, as promised I am back with the news. My cysts were removed. Unfortunately one of them was too big and my ovary had to be removed as well. The good news is that the other cyst was smaller so my other ovary was saved. Things got complicated after the surgery as my blood pressure collapsed and I lost too much blood. So I had too stay in hospital longer than expected until my blood pressure was stable and the anaemia controlled.
I am back home now but it looks like it is going to be a loooong recovery.
Princessa, I am so glad that you have gotten through the surgery and yes it will be a little longer recovery, but I am happy that you are at home and feeling a little better. Do not over exert yourself and this will be a memory. Now you can share this story and the recovery process. Have a wonderful thanksgiving and welcome back. :)
Wow great hub on ovarian cysts. Probably the most extensive information I have seen on the signs and symptoms of cysts I've seen. Great work!
-Darren
moneyworks: I do have to say myself that your work is as well wonderful being in the industry , provides a creative mind. Thanks so much for stopping by.:)
Hi AEvans... it was great that I have found your article about Cysts today.
I am 41 and and I don't have children. Only in one occasion, around the age of 28, I taugh I was pregnant as my period was late for 20 days. My breast changed size and my moods were up and down... happy and sad. But, I had many pains in my lower back, which I found that something wasn't quite right. My periods were never easy to me, always very painful since early age.
I have been to the doctors in November/2008, regarding very painful periods. One of my periods were so painful, like if I was going to give birth, with contractions every minute or so. My husband had to take me to our local surgery or clinic, and I was given a very strong painkiller.
Then next time I have seen the doctor, he recommended a Scan and they found a Cyst of about 5cm, and he said that it might have to be removed.
Well, my period had just finished, then I had some bleeding 4 days or so after my period. It was just like a broken sack, as I managed to catch it in tissue paper while using the toilet. I just wonder if that could have been the cyst? This was the only time I had bleeding in between periods.
Then the doctor made an appointment to see a Gynechologist at our local hospital.
Do you know if Cysts can rupt themselves and come out eventually? Well, today I have been to a Ginechologyst at the hospital, and she asked me all the questions again, regarding my symptoms and painful periods. Then she did an smear and gave me a prescription for contraception pill to try to reduce the cyst.
Then I had to take a blood sample and she asked me to make another appointment to came back in 4 months time and then have another scan.
Do you think I should wait this long for another scan? Are cysts dangerous?
I will appreciate your return on this questions... tks for your help! take care
Maise
Maise: This I can tell you although I am only a Nurse and I will still recommend getting a second opinion from another Doctor, yes Cysts can rupture and if they are large, you can run into some problems, can they be dangerous? I am not a Doctor however I have seen some serious complications if left untreated. The prescription is to see if they can reduce the cyst however that is not a guarantee and waiting 4 months I would not recommend if I were a Doctor as that is putting a bandage on the problem.
Please seek a second opinion and explain the pain that you are in, they may choose to do out patient surgery so that you do not continue to have this on-going issue. Remember it is your body and your health and do not settle for the first opinion if you are not comfortable. Best to you and please let me know the outcome.:) Remember be admant and they will take care of it!!:)
Maise, AEvans is right on--you go get a second opinion right now!!
hI AEvans,
tks very much for your honest oppinion, and I will make another appointment to see my doctor and tell them my experience at the hospital. I will get in touch again as soon as I have more news... take care
tks also for your support Lady Guinevere
i am 15 and early this past december i had severe pain in my abdomen, turns out when i did an ultrasound they found a cyst in my ovary. i believe for people my age it becomes major concern when it is about 3 or 4 centimeters. so i had to have a c-section surgery to remove what they thought was a 16-centimeter cyst, but it was actually larger than a foot...
i had never heard of this before and now that i have had it, i want to make other people aware. it was very difficult for me to go through, after the surgery i was put in the maternity section. it was surreal. anyways, it was serious pain and i have a horrible scar now. but regardless im happy that im okay now :)
just wanted to share haha.
Wow! I can tell you really know your stuff! I've heard that Ovarian Cysts are extemely painful, and that they can even burst. I would hate to have one of those!
Thanks!!! You definitely would not want one of those , that is why it is good to make an appointment with your gyno yearly and have a pelvic and pap done. You can get them at a young age as well.
My sister suffered from these for many years, as did my best friend. I have been fortunate enough to only have 1 but that was enough for me. My sister and bff eventualy had ablation surgery which helped for a while, but my bff has passed out from the pain involved in one rupturing. This is not a thing to be taken lightly and needs to be in the public more... great post..very informative
singedwingangel: Many women have suffered and taken it lightly isn't a great thing to do, we should always pay close attention to our bodies and not take it for granted. :)
Brilliant hub! Thumbs up article. My aunt Cindy passed away from Ovarian cancer, she never even knew until it was too late. She was only 40 years old. Knowledge is power!
thelesleyshow: That is so sad that she passed away from Ovarian Cancer , hopefully one day that will be eliminated. :)
Excellent info for all in this hub,AEvans!Many thanks.
This is indeed informative and a well written hub about ovarian cysts. Thanks for sharing AEvans and for others who have jumped in on it.
Purple Perl: I apologize I don't know how I missed you but thank you for the kind words. :)
DAlfor: Thank you and you are so welcome. :)
A very informative Hub - thanks for writing
starme77: You are quite welcome. :)
Hi my friend. This is a great page. Please be a friend and visit my page as well. http://www.bukisa.com/articles/159014_a-killer-is-
Misstakl1: Thank you for commenting and I will as well pay you a visit. :)
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Rangerwife says:
13 months ago
Thanks. This was great. Very informative.