I've recently undergone an ultrasound and discovered that I have an ovarian cyst. Could you give me some information on this condition?

Clarice

Cysts are fluid-filled masses. Ovarian cysts are fairly common -- on one hand, you could say every women who ovulates gets a small cyst every month, just before the egg is released. Often cysts have no symptoms and are only discovered as an aside on a routine exam. Sometimes cysts cause pain, pelvic pressure or even nausea.

One type of ovarian cyst is a called a functional cyst. This occurs when the egg is not released and the follicular fluid that surrounds the egg remains. Functional cysts range in size, most commonly being only a centimeter or so in diameter but occasionally as large as 8-10 centimeters (grapefruit-sized). These usually disappear by themselves within a few cycles, although the larger ones may cause enough pain to warrant removal.

Another common benign cyst is a hemorrhagic cyst; this is one that fills with blood in the process of ovulation and, again, will most often go away without any intervention. If a hemorrhagic cyst leaks, it may cause significant pain, requiring a laparoscopy ("belly-button surgery" that uses small tools inserted through one or more tiny slits in the abdomen).

Sometimes cysts are complex, either containing partly fluid elements and partly solid elements or having septations (walls) within a fluid-filled cyst. In general, complex cysts are evaluated further, as some complex cysts may be cancerous. Your age and symptoms must be taken into account. Depending on exactly how the cyst looks on ultrasound, your doctor may recommend blood work, a CT or MRI scan to get a better look at the cyst, or even surgery to remove the cyst. Many times a complex cyst can be evaluated via laparoscopy, but sometimes a large abdominal incision is required.

You will to talk to your doctor for specifics about your cyst -- Is it simple or complex? How big is it? Do you have any symptoms related to it? What kind of follow-up will you need? If it is a simple cyst less than six centimeters or so, and not causing any problems, your doctor may just want to do a pelvic exam or ultrasound in several weeks).