Monday, October 13, 2008

Reviewing Complex Ovarian Cysts

By Jay Taylor

Many women experience ovarian cysts. They usually do not need to be treated because they are usually harmless. However, complex ovarian cysts are less common and more cause for concern. Complex ovarian cysts are different than simple ones in that they can consist of both solid and liquid matter. The three common types of complex ovarian cysts are dermoid cysts, endometiomas, and cystdenomas.

A dermoid cyst develops from cells that produce human eggs, known as the ova. Since these are non-differentiated cells that can develop into any human tissue, dermoid cysts can contain a variety of tissue including hair, skin and teeth. Although dermoid cysts can be very painful as they grow larger and twist the ovaries, they are rarely cancerous.

A type of complex ovarian cyst which occurs when a woman has endometriosis is called an "endometrioma". Women with endometriomas suffer from uterine cells that grow outside the uterus and become attached to their ovaries, creating a growth after several periods. An endometrial cyst could become very large, reaching the size of a tennis ball or even bigger. This disease may be partially blamed on genetics. The symptoms of endometriosis include painful periods, pain before or after one's period or during intercourse, painful urination or bowel movements, general tiredness and erratic menstrual cycles.

Cystadenomas are a complex ovarian cyst affecting ovarian tissue. . Liquid-filled cystadenomas can cause pain if the ovaries become twisted from their development. There are two types of cystadenomas. Serous cystadenomas contain a thin liquid and can grow to 2-6 inches in diameter. In comparison, the liquid in a mucinous cystadenoma is sticky and gelatinous. Mucinous cystadenomas may grow as large as 6-12 inches in diameter.

Complex ovarian cysts may also manifest symptoms that mimic those of pregnancy: tender breasts, nausea and vomiting. If one experiences severe pain in the abdomen or pelvis, medical attention should be sought. Endometriosis or ectopic pregnancies can produce painful and noticeable symptoms similar to those of complex ovarian cysts. The symptoms are differentiated through pelvic pain, pain before or after menstrual periods, and pain during intercourse. They might also experience the absence of menstrual periods or unusual bleeding patterns.

As a general rule, ovarian cysts can usually be diagnosed with a manual pelvic exam by your doctor. Once they have a basic idea of what they are looking for, doctors will ask for a pelvic ultrasound to be preformed to better understand the situation and double check their findings. Pregnancy tests are also common tests to be preformed due to many of the same symptoms of pregnancy and ovarian cysts being similar. Once a diagnosis of complex ovarian cysts has been made it is very important that any time you experience severe pain in the pelvic or abdominal area you contact your doctor right away.

A woman's age and symptoms are sometimes considered in making a diagnosis of complex ovarian cysts. Although not all ovarian cysts are cancerous, complex ovarian cysts must be tested to rule out cancer and to determine an appropriate course of treatment. - 14130

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