What is an ovary cyst

An ovary cyst, also called an ovarian cyst, affects women only. In this condition, cysts may form on or in the ovaries, causing pain, nausea, and other symptoms. These cysts have many causes, and can be simple, meaning that they are simply a shell filled with fluid, or they can be complex, and contain blood and clots, walls, and solid matter and debris. The treatment options will depend on the ovary cyst size, type, and location, as well as your age, family and medical history, and the level of risk involved that the cyst may be cancerous. Many times cysts on the ovary are functional cysts and there is no risk of cancer or other problems. Many times if the cysts are simple, the doctor will simply monitor the cyst for any growth and may prescribe medication to keep you comfortable if the pain is severe. Women of all ages and races can develop ovarian cysts, and many times women do not even realize that they have cysts.

If an ovary cyst becomes large, causes extreme pain, or is suspected to be cancerous, it may need to be surgically removed and tested. These cysts can range in size to very small, like a pea, to very large, even as big as a cantaloupe, and if the cyst is pressing on your organs or is more than two and a half centimeters large it is normally removed. In rare cases, these cysts can be cancerous, and if this is the case you may end up having one or both ovaries removed, or even a total hysterectomy. Cancerous cysts only occur in approximately fifteen women out of every one hundred thousand women in the population each year, which is very small. If these cancers are caught early you have a much better chance of survival. If you have an ovary cyst, or have symptoms that mean you might, visit your doctor and discuss your symptoms and options. Most of these cysts are harmless, even though they can be very painful in some women.