Ovaries
The ovaries are the most important part of the female reproductive system. It is in the ovaries that eggs develop, which subsequently, after merging with spermatozoa, form a fetus. Ovarian cyst is perhaps the most common disease of the female genital area. The cyst is a thin-walled cavity, similar to a small pouch filled with liquid. It is customary to distinguish several types of cysts, depending on the cause of formation.
A yellow body cyst is a relatively rare type of cyst, which is a non–resolved cluster of cells. Cells are the so–called yellow body, which is formed at the exit of the egg from the follicle and secretes progesterone – the female sex hormone. Normally, the yellow body resolves over time, but a cyst forms when it fails.
Follicular cyst – is formed if the egg for some reason cannot go beyond the ovarian follicle into the abdominal cavity (ovulation disorders). The follicle eventually fills with cerebrospinal fluid – this is how a cyst is formed.
Other types are small tumors that are filled with mucus, fluid, sometimes fat and other formations (the so–called dermoid cyst). In some cases, these formations can cause a “false pregnancy”.
In general, the main cause of cyst formation is always a hormonal disorder or an inflammatory process.
CYST SYMPTOMS
A woman is not able to detect a cyst on her own – the disease is usually asymptomatic, except for mild periodic pain in the lower abdomen or a slight increase in the duration of menstruation. An exception may be a cyst with a twisted leg (with which the formation is attached to the wall of the ovary). In this case, the clinical picture may resemble appendicitis – the cyst manifests itself with acute pain, and the patient in this case will need urgent hospitalization.
diagnostics
A cyst without twisting the leg is detected only by a gynecologist. As research methods, ultrasound of the pelvis is most often used, and as a way to determine the cause of the cyst, an analysis of the hormonal background in the body is chosen. In difficult cases, the diagnosis of a cyst can only be made based on the results of diagnostic laparoscopy. For this purpose, a laparoscope (optical device) is inserted through the abdominal wall, in which a small puncture is previously created, giving a detailed image of the ovaries.
CYST TREATMENT
Treatment of ovarian cysts depends on the cause of the pathology. If it’s all about hormonal disorders, then the treatment plan is made by an endocrinologist who prescribes hormonal drugs. If the cyst was formed due to the presence of an inflammatory process in the ovaries, then it is first necessary to stop this process, and only then – to fight the cyst. In this case, anti-inflammatory drugs, vitamins, antibiotics, as well as physiotherapy are prescribed.
In some cases, it is necessary to get rid of the cyst urgently – laparoscopy comes to the rescue here, the cyst is removed through a small incision in the navel area. If the cyst has reached a large size or the result of an ultrasound examination is doubtful, then a cavity operation is performed.
PREVENTION OF OVARIAN CYSTS
Regardless of age, every woman is obliged from time to time to undergo an examination by a gynecologist. Only in this case it is possible to detect a cyst at an early stage of its formation. Otherwise, it will be possible to determine the presence of a cyst only when it has already reached a large size and will cause serious trouble.
