What are ovarian cysts?

Ovarian cysts, also called ovarian masses or adnexal masses, are, much of the time, discovered unexpectedly in asymptomatic ladies. They can be physiologic (having to do with ovulation) or benign growths but sometimes with a cancerous potential.

Symptoms

Most ladies with ovarian cysts are asymptomatic and they are found to have one when they go for a screening ultrasound scan of the pelvis. However, some women experience symptoms such as pelvic pain, abdominal bloatedness or a feeling of fullness in the pelvis. This happens when the cysts grows large and can be felt in the lower abdomen. If there is sudden severe pelvic pain, the cyst may have ruptured, or bled or has undergone a torsion (twisting around its pedicle). In this situation, it is an emergency and medical treatment is advised.

Types of cysts

Benign

Physiological cysts e.g. follicular cysts or corpus luteal cysts

Dermoid cysts

Endometriotic cysts

Cystadenomas

Malignant

Ovarian cancer

Others

Paratubal and para ovarian cysts

Peritoneal incorporation cysts (otherwise called pseudocysts)

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