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Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Types Of Ovarian Cysts - Just The Facts For All Women

By Rebecca Wincup

Functional ovarian cysts are not uncommon for many women and in most cases do not warrant much cause for concern. Indeed, most ovarian cysts do not lead to or indicate cancer. Though some cysts may cause discomfort and others may require some treatment, the majority of functional ovarian cysts are asymptomatic and do not require treatment.

When ovulation does not take place, or when a mature follicle breaks down, a simple form of ovarian cyst may form, called a follicular cyst. This cyst can become as large as 2 or more inches in diameter, but will usually disappear by itself after only a few months, and will usually show no symptoms.

The corpus luteum cyst can develop when an ovarian gland produces progesterone as an egg is released during the ovulation phase of the monthly menstrual cycle. A healthy corpus luteum is a round gland filled with fluid and roughly an inch in diameter. It is important to note that cysts on the corpus luteum are known to be asymptomatic. They appear without the presence of noticeable symptoms and develop at the end of the monthly menstrual cycle, as well during the early stages of a pregnancy. Luckily, most corpus luteum cysts disappear without treatment.

A functional cyst on the ovaries that is filled with blood that is released from time to time is known as a hemorrhagic ovarian cyst. Although this type of cyst won't always burst, if it does it will cause a burning feeling in the pelvic area from leaking blood. Hemorrhagic cysts are common, however, and most of the time nothing needs to be done to treat them. If a doctor thinks the cyst is an indicator of endometriosis, they may perform surgery to remove it.

Women can develop dermoid cysts at any time and age, but they are more common during the childbearing years. A dermoid cyst is one type of an ovarian cyst that grows from the totipotential germ cell in the ovaries. Tissues such as bone, teeth and hair can form from this ovarian cell. Dermoid cysts may contain solid physical tissue. Indded, in some cases doctors have found hair and teeth forming in these cysts. Treatment for these types of cysts is to remove them as they can block the flow of blood to the ovaries.

Included in a pathological ovarian cyst are endometriosis and tumors. These rare cysts can only be diagnosed by a doctor after a thorough examination. A pathological ovarian cyst is a type of tumor that can be either cancerous or non-cancerous and malignant or benign. Tumors must be treated soon after discovery. Tumors generally have thick walls are greater than 6cm in diameter and can be persistent unless treated. An endometrioid cyst, which is different than a tumor, occurs when a section of endometrial tissue becomes transfered into the ovaries after being dislodged. The peak reproductive years are when endometrioid cysts most often occur in women.

There are many different types of ovarian cysts and each type should be diagnosed and treated properly. Pathological ovarian cysts are less common but potentially more serious than functional cysts. Women should speak to doctors about any cyst they have, especially if they are experiencing pain in the pelvic region.

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