Ovarian Cyst Type Overview
Women should not be alarmed by the relatively common problem of functional ovarian cysts. These cysts do not predict or develop into cancer. Most of them will not cause any noticeable symptoms or require treatment, although some will cause enough pain to warrant treatment of some kind.
A follicular cyst is a simple type of ovarian cyst that can form when ovulation does not occur or when a mature follicle collapses on itself. It can grow to about 2.3 inches in diameter but usually produces no symptoms and disappears by itself after a few months.
An ovarian gland will produce progesterone during the ovulation portion of the monthly cycle of menstruation when the egg is released, and this is when a corpus luteum cyst could potentially develop. When a corpus luteum is healthy, it is approximately one inch in diameter, round in shape, and fluid filled. Corpus luteum cysts do not usually have noticeable symptoms. They can develop at the end of a menstrual cycle or early on during a pregnancy. Many of them do not require treatment, and, fortunately, disappear on their own.
A functional cyst on the ovaries that releases or contains blood is referred to as a hemorrhagic ovarian cyst. This type of cyst won’t always burst, however when they do, 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.
The type of ovarian cysts that grows out of the ovaries’ totipotential germ cells is called a Dermoid cysts. Teeth, bones, hair and other similar types of tissue grow from a totipotential germ cell. Women of any age can have Dermoid cysts develop and when examined by doctors sometimes they even find a small piece of hair or tooth still present. Dermoid cysts are usually removed with surgery due to their ability to prevent blood flow.
Endometriosis and tumors are covered under pathological ovarian cysts. While rare, this type of ovarian cyst can only be properly diagnosed after a thorough exam by a doctor. Pathological ovarian cysts can be found in both their benign, non-cancerous form and malignant, cancerous forms. Quick treatment is the best solution once a tumor has been found being that they can be rather persistent, swollen and have a thick exterior’s. The other end of the spectrum is the endometrioid cyst caused by endometriosis. Endometriosis is when a small piece of endometrial tissue bleeds, falls off and moves to the inside of the ovaries where it reattaches itself. The prime reproductive years in a womans life is when this generally happens, but pathological cysts are still much less common then functional cysts.
Ovarian cysts may differ in type; each type must be diagnosed properly and treated accordingly. Functional cysts are more common than pathological cysts. All women should safeguard their health by learning about ovarian cysts and discussing the possibility of cysts with their physicians.
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Tags: Medical
