Ovarian cysts are common among women during their childbearing years, and if they rupture, they can lead to a medical emergency. OBGYN Centers of Memphis can diagnose and treat women with ovarian cysts. If you want a caring and compassionate team to help you with your ovarian cysts, book an appointment online or over the phone today.

Ovarian Cysts Q & A

What are ovarian cysts?

Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled sacs in the ovaries. There are different types of ovarian cysts, including:

Follicle cysts

Follicle cysts form during your menstrual cycle when an unfertilized egg matures and grows inside a follicle. If the follicle doesn’t break open to release the egg, it can continue to grow into a cyst.

Corpus luteum cysts

If a follicle releases an egg during your menstrual cycle, but the follicle fails to shrink, it can fill with fluid and become a corpus luteum cyst.

Endometriomas

Endometriomas are cysts made of endometrial tissue that grow outside the uterus near the ovaries.

Dermoids

Dermoid cysts are made up of cells that are present from birth.

Cystadenomas

Cystadenomas are fluid-filled sacs that develop from tissues that line the pelvic cavity. In some cases, the ovaries can also form many small cysts, which is called polycystic ovary syndrome.

What causes ovarian cysts?

Ovarian cysts form due to four main causes, including:

  • Hormonal problems
  • Endometriosis
  • Pregnancy
  • Severe pelvic infection

While some cysts go away on their own, other cysts may become very large and require treatment. In most cases, cysts have no symptoms, but if they continue to grow, cysts can cause:

  • Pressure, bloating, and pain in the lower abdomen
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Dull ache in the lower back and thighs
  • Unexplained weight gain
  • Pain during sex
  • Unusual vaginal bleeding
  • Breast tenderness

If a cyst ruptures, you can experience bleeding and severe, debilitating pain. This can become an emergency situation if you lose too much blood or the pain is unbearable.

How is an ovarian cyst found?

If you have symptoms of an ovarian cyst, OBGYN Centers of Memphis will perform a pelvic exam to feel for tenderness or swelling that might indicate a cyst. If we suspects a cyst, we’ll then perform a diagnostic ultrasound.

Other tests may include pregnancy testing, blood work, and hormone level testing to check for other causes of your symptoms.

How is an ovarian cyst treated?

In most cases, ovarian cysts go away on their own. If an ovarian cyst is causing symptoms, OBGYN Centers of Memphis may recommend pain medications or hormonal birth control to relieve your symptoms and to stop your cyst from growing. In severe cases, we may recommend surgical removal.