Ovarian cysts are noncancerous growths that can appear on the ovaries at any age. Most of the times, such cysts are completely harmless and may go away on their own; other times, they might require medical treatment to ease unpleasant symptoms such as pain and discomfort.
Sometimes, though, ovarian cysts may also appear as a symptom that hides a bigger health problem. Today, we’ll have a look at the most common causes for ovarian cysts and when you should seek medical assistance.
Believe it or not, developing ovarian cysts can be completely normal when they are caused by menstruation.
Medically known as follicular cysts or corpus luteum cysts, these growths form naturally at different parts of the menstrual cycle. A follicle is a clear sac of fluid which contains the egg that is about to be released during ovulation.
Rebecca Brightman, assistant clinical professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Mount Sinai, says that sometimes a follicle can grow more than necessary without releasing an egg. It usually goes away on its own; at maximum, it may cause some pain and discomfort.
Needing special treatment for follicular cysts is extremely rare. However, if you do experience severe symptoms that don’t go away, make sure to contact a specialist.
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At this point, things are getting a bit more serious.
Endometriosis manifests itself through small lesions or implants similar to the uterine lining, which are located outside or the uterus. This disease doesn’t always cause a cyst, but sometimes one or more cysts may grow and attach themselves to the ovaries. These cysts are medically called endometriomas.
Endometriomas, or ‘chocolate cysts,’ contain old blood and tissue originated from the uterine lining eliminated during menstruation. Sometimes endometriomas become painful especially during menstruation, but it’s not necessarily a rule; this is why it’s crucial that you get ultrasounds regularly after being diagnosed with endometriosis.
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