Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled sacs that develop on one or both ovaries. More commonly known as tumors, these sacs may vary in size and shape, and they can be harmless or malignant. Oftentimes, ovarian cysts are confused with other conditions that cause similar symptoms.
symptoms of ovarian cyst:
The most common symptoms include abdominal pain, bloating, nausea and vomiting. If a cyst ruptures, it can cause severe fluid accumulation in the abdomen and fever. Pain may result from the rupture but this is unusual if detected early.
When to see a doctor?
If you have persistent pain on one or both sides of your lower abdomen, see your doctor.
one of the surest way to tell whether you have ovarian cysts is when you can feel a slight or sharp pain in one side of your lower abdominal. You may also experience frequent urination, bloating and swelling of the abdominal area.
you should also seek medical advice if you notice: extreme vomiting, sudden weight loss and constant fatigue. It is also important to see a health care provider if you notice vaginal bleeding or discharge that smells like urine.
When not to worry?
You may want to consult with a health care provider if your pelvic area hurts for more than 3 days in 6 months. Usually, cysts are harmless and they disappear on their own.
Causes:
although the exact cause of ovarian cysts is not known, it is believed that these are caused when a tumor grows inside the ovary. Such tumors are mostly benign and may be due to genetic factors or hormonal imbalance that occur during the reproductive years. In some cases, cysts may be caused by infections or other underlying health conditions.
How to diagnose pelvic pain:
Your doctor will carry out a physical examination and ask you several questions related to your symptoms. During the examination, your doctor will palpate the abdominal area and try to determine if there is a fluctuation in the size of your ovaries and whether you have any tenderness on one side of your pelvis.
It is important to mention to your doctor that you have been suffering from abdominal pain, nausea and other symptoms. It is also necessary to inform your provider that you have noticed blood in your urine, a sudden change in bowel movements or an unusual discharge. Furthermore, it is important to disclose any unusual vaginal bleeding or any discharge that smells like urine.
Diagnosis:
After getting a thorough medical history and performing an examination, your doctor may order a complete blood count (CBC) test. A pelvic ultrasound scan (also called endoscopy) may be carried out if either of the two aforementioned tests does not provide enough information about the condition in question.
Diagnosing an ovarian cyst is not very difficult, since they are mostly harmless. However, your doctor may order tests to rule out cancer if the tumor is large enough to be visible on the ultrasound scan. These include:
A biopsy is the only way to determine whether the mass is benign or malignant. During this procedure, a sample of cells will be taken from inside your ovary and sent to a pathologist for further examination. It is important to note that most ovarian cysts will be discovered during routine pelvic examinations, which are usually done as part of a woman's annual check-up.
Other tests:
Depending on the severity and duration of your symptoms, your doctor may also order blood tests and imaging tests, such as a colonoscopy or a CT scan. In some cases, these may be carried out to rule out other conditions that cause similar symptoms.
Treatment:
In most cases, ovarian cysts are harmless and they disappear on their own. When this occurs you will not need any treatment. However, if the tumor is large and causes pain or grief, it will be necessary to remove it via surgery to avoid ruptures and further complications.
When the ovary is removed surgically, it usually results in menopause (which means the termination of menstrual periods).
Most ovarian cysts disappear on their own and do not require surgery. However, if they are large or they cause you ongoing pain, your doctor may suggest surgery to remove them. It is important to note that it is not uncommon for women to keep having ovarian cysts once they reach menopause.
ovarian cysts treatment:
Surgery is one of the surest way to tell whether you have ovarian cysts is when you can feel a slight or sharp pain in one side of your lower abdominal. You may also experience frequent urination, bloating and swelling of the abdominal area.
you should also seek medical advice if you notice: extreme vomiting, sudden weight loss and constant fatigue. It is also important to see a health care provider if you notice vaginal bleeding or discharge that smells like urine.
prevention:
Because there is no definitive cause for ovarian cysts, it is difficult to prevent them. However, certain lifestyle changes and certain medical conditions can raise your risk of developing ovarian cysts. For example, you should avoid hormonal birth control pills, which may increase the chances of developing these sacs.
stress is also believed to be a causative factor since it can trigger an increase in ovarian hormones that create the cysts. If you feel overwhelmed by daily stress or experience high levels of anxiety at work or home, you may want to seek professional help.
prevention methods:
Certain lifestyle changes are thought to help prevent the occurrence of ovarian cysts. Although ovarian cysts are very common in women, by age 40, most of them have disappeared. Menopause, which means the termination of menstrual periods, occurs when you reach the age of 51. It is believed that ovarian cysts may increase your chances of developing this condition so it is important to incorporate certain lifestyle changes as soon as possible.
The first step is to go on a low-fat diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables. There is no such thing as a good diet that excludes fruits and vegetables but they are an important part of your overall health and should be part of any healthy lifestyle plan.
Avoid dairy products, animal fats and processed meats in your diet since they are very high in hormones that may trigger the creation of ovarian cysts. Eating a lot of red meat or fatty foods can also lead to ovarian cysts. You should limit fat intake to less than 30% of your daily calories.
Avoid all caffeine-containing drinks since it disrupts your sleep cycle and increases stress levels, which may cause you to develop stress incontinence and other conditions associated with the pelvic floor. Another way to help avoid developing ovarian cysts is by maintaining a balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat proteins.
Drinking alcohol is also known to increase your risk of developing ovarian cysts. Alcohol consumption has a variety of estrogenic effects that can trigger the formation of this type of sac.
The following precautions are recommended:
When it comes to the consumption of alcohol, it is possible that some people may choose to quit drinking alcohol if they want to avoid ovarian cysts. If you do decide to stop drinking, limit yourself to one drink per day and then slowly cut out the quantity consumed. Your best bet is quitting using alcohol if you want to avoid ovarian cysts since there are other consequences that may result from overdrinking such as liver damage, brain damage or even an accident.
It is no secret that smoking is an unhealthy activity that may lead to other serious health problems over time. The bottom line is that women who smoke are more likely to develop ovarian cysts due to the hormones in tobacco.
If you decide that you want to stop smoking, you may find it easier if you do it gradually. Try cutting out one cigarette at a time until you are able to quit completely. You can also try switching from regular cigarettes to light cigarettes or even trying a nicotine patch or inhaler.
Many women have experienced an improvement in ovarian cysts after quitting smoking so give this natural method a try if you believe it will help get rid of these sacs in your body and help make your body healthier overall.
