Ovarian cysts affect women of all ages. They occur most often, however, during a woman’s childbearing years.Some ovarian cysts cause problems, such as bleeding and pain. Surgery may be required to remove cysts larger than 5 centimeters in diameter.
Cysts are rarely cancerous in women under 50. In most cases, these cysts are harmless and go away on their own. In other cases, cysts may cause problems and may need treatment.

1.Functional cysts
functional cysts, or simple cysts, are part of the normal process of menstruation. They have nothing to do with disease, and can be treated. There are 3 types, Graafian, Luteal, and Hemorrhagic. These types of cysts occur during ovulation. If the egg is not released, the ovary can fill up with fluid. Usually these types of cysts will go away after a few period cycles.

*Graafian follicle cyst : One type of simple cyst, which is the most common type of ovarian cyst, is the graafian follicle cyst, or follicular cyst.

*Corpus luteum cyst: Another is a corpus luteum cyst (which may rupture about the time of menstruation, and take up to three months to disappear entirely).

* Hemorrhagic cyst: A third type of functional cyst, which is common, is a Hemorrhagic cyst, which is also called a blood cyst, hematocele, and hematocyst.

It occurs when a very small blood vessel in the wall of the cyst breaks, and the blood enters the cyst. Abdominal pain on one side of the body, often the right side, may be present. The bleeding may occur quickly, and rapidly stretch the covering of the ovary, causing pain.

As the blood collects within the ovary, clots form which can be seen on a sonogram.Occasionally hemorrhagic cysts can rupture, with blood entering the abdominal cavity. No blood is seen out of the vagina. If a cyst ruptures, it is usually very painful. Hemorrhagic cysts that rupture are less common. Most hemorrhagic cysts are self-limiting; some need surgical intervention. Even if a hemorrhagic cyst ruptures, in many cases it resolves without surgery. Patients who don’t require surgery will experience pain for 4 – 10 days after, and may require several days rest. Studies have found that women on tetracycline antibiotics recover 25% earlier than the majority of patients, a surprising correlation found in 2004. Sometimes surgery is necessary, such as a laparoscopy (”belly-button surgery” that uses small tools inserted through one or more tiny slits in the abdomen).

2. Dermoid cyst : Dermoid cysts are made up of different kinds of tissue from other parts of the body, such as skin, hair, fat, and teeth. They may be found on both ovaries. Dermoid cysts often are small and may not cause symptoms unless they become large.

3. Endometrioid cyst or Chocolate cyst of ovary Endometriomas are cysts that form when endometrial tissue grows in the ovaries. This tissue then responds to monthly changes in hormones. The tissue bleeds monthly, which may cause it to form a cyst that slowly grows on the ovary. An endometrioma also is known as a “chocolate cyst” because it is filled with dark, reddish-brown blood.An endometrioma often is linked to a condition known as endometriosis. It can be painful, especially during a woman’s menstrual period or during sexual intercourse.

4.Pathological cysts :The incidence of ovarian carcinoma (malignant cancer) is approximately 15 cases per 100,000 women per year. Other cysts are pathological, such as those found in polycystic ovary syndrome, or those associated with tumors. A polycystic-appearing ovary is diagnosed based on its enlarged size — usually twice normal —with small cysts present around the outside of the ovary. It can be found in “normal” women, and in women with endocrine disorders. An ultrasound is used to view the ovary in diagnosing the condition. Polycystic-appearing ovary is different from the polycystic ovarian syndrome, which includes other symptoms in addition to the presence of ovarian cysts, and involves metabolic and cardiovascular risks linked to insulin resistance.

These risks include increased glucose intolerance, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure. Polycystic ovarian syndrome is associated with infertility, abnormal bleeding, increased incidences of pregnancy loss, and pregnancy-related complications. Polycystic ovarian syndrome is extremely common, is thought to occur in 4-7% of women of reproductive age, and is associated with an increased risk for endometrial cancer. More tests than an ultrasound alone are required to diagnose polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Symptoms

Some or all of the following symptoms may be present, though it is possible not to experience any symptoms:

* Dull aching, or severe, sudden, and sharp pain or discomfort in the lower abdomen (one or both sides), pelvis, vagina, lower back, or thighs; pain may be constant or intermittent — this is the most common symptom.

* Fullness, heaviness, pressure, swelling, or bloating in the abdomen.

* Breast tenderness.

* Pain during or shortly after beginning or end of menstrual period.

* Irregular periods, or abnormal uterine bleeding or spotting.

* Change in frequency or ease of urination (such as inability to fully empty the bladder), or difficulty with bowel movements due to pressure on adjacent pelvic anatomy.

* Weight gain.

* Nausea or vomiting.

* Fatigue.

* Infertility.

* Increased level of hair growth.

* Increased facial hair or body hair.

* Headaches.

* Strange pains in ribs, which feel muscular.

* Bloating.

* Strange nodules that feel like bruises under the layer of skin.

Diagnosis

An ovarian cyst often is found during a routine pelvic exam. When your doctor detects an enlarged ovary, he or she may do other tests.

Some of these tests provide further information that is helpful in planning treatment.

* Ultrasound: A procedure that uses sound waves to create pictures of the internal organs that can be viewed on a screen.

* Laparoscopy: A surgical procedure that allows a doctor to look directly inside the body. The lap-aroscope—a thin light-transmitting device—is inserted into the abdomen to view the pelvic organs. Laparoscopy also can be used to treat your cyst.

* Blood tests: Tests to measure substances in the blood and help confirm the diagnosis.

Treatment

About 95% of ovarian cysts are benign, meaning they are not cancerous.Treatment for cysts depends on the size of the cyst and symptoms. For small, asymptomatic cysts, the wait and see approach with regular check-ups will most likely be recommended.

Pain caused by ovarian cysts may be treated with:

* pain relievers, including acetaminophen (Tylenol), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), or narcotic pain medicine (by prescription) may help reduce pelvic pain. NSAIDs usually work best when taken at the first signs of the pain.

* a warm bath, or heating pad, or hot water bottle applied to the lower abdomen near the ovaries can relax tense muscles and relieve cramping, lessen discomfort, and stimulate circulation and healing in the ovaries. Bags of ice covered with towels can be used alternately as cold treatments to increase local circulation.

* combined methods of hormonal contraception such as the combined oral contraceptive pill — the hormones in the pills may regulate the menstrual cycle, prevent the formation of follicles that can turn into cysts, and possibly shrink an existing cyst.

Also, limiting strenuous activity may reduce the risk of cyst rupture or torsion. Cysts that persist beyond two or three menstrual cycles, or occur in post-menopausal women, may indicate more serious disease and should be investigated through ultrasonography and laparoscopy, especially in cases where family members have had ovarian cancer.For more serious cases where cysts are large and persisting, doctors may suggest surgery. Some surgeries can be performed to successfully remove the cyst(s) without hurting the ovaries, while others may require removal of one or both ovaries. Such cysts may require surgical biopsy. Additionally, a blood test may be taken before surgery to check for elevated CA-125, a tumor marker, which is often found in increased levels in ovarian cancer, although it can also be elevated by other conditions resulting in a large number of false positives.

Ovarian cysts are common in women during their childbearing years. Although most cysts are harmless and go away on their own, your doctor will want to keep track of any cyst to be sure that it does not grow and cause problems.If you have ovarian cysts, you probably have some concerns. Share your concerns with your doctor. You can work together to reduce your risk of further problems.