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Ovarian cysts are a common occurance in women, but can often bring with them many questions and much concern. A cyst is a bubble of fluid in the body. They can be located anywhere. There are different types of ovarian cysts. Like the name suggests, ovarian cysts are located on the ovaries. Some cysts are harmless and necessary, while other types are dangerous and harmful.

The most common type of ovarian cyst is called a functional cyst. These cysts are a normal part of ovulation. They form during the menstrual cycle and hold an egg. The cyst bursts during ovulation when the egg is mature. Once released, the egg travels through the fallopian tube in hopes of being fertilized. A follicular cyst is a type of functional cyst in which the sac doesn't burst, but instead grows, sometimes for as long as 3 months, before disappearing. Most ovarian cysts arise during the reproductive years and are perfectly harmless. Ovarian cysts, however, often distract doctors from more dangerous conditions, such as ectopic pregnancies, ovarian torsion, and appendicitis.

There are four types of cysts, however, that may be dangerous or painful.

Endometriomas are cysts that develop in women who have endometriosis, a condition in which the tissue lining the uterus may grow outside of the uterus. When an endometrioma occurs, that tissue attaches to an ovary and forms a growth. This type of cyst causes pain during menstration and intercourse.

A cystadenoma develops on the outer surface of the ovary. They are similar to a blister filled with a watery or gel-like fluid. They can also cause pain and become large.

A dermoid cyst is a very unusual type of cyst, that develops from the same type of cell that the egg is made of. This type of cyst often causes many different types of tissues to form, from hair and tooth material, to bone and neural tissue to form inside it. They can cause ovarian torsion, or twisting of the ovary, and often require immediate surgery. Even though 98% of dermoid cysts are harmless, up to 2% of them can develop into malignant cancer.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a disorder in which multiple follicular cysts form, but do not burst to release their contents. This disorder starts when one follicle does not release the egg it carries. Since the woman did not ovulate, the horomone progesterone is not released, which keeps women's periods irregular or absent. The cysts also produce male horomones, which, in addition to continuing the cycle of no ovulation, increase acne, weight gain, and excessive hair growth in women with PCOS. PCOS has also been linked to insulin problems as well, which further worsens the weight problems that women with PCOS experience.

Women with PCOS may also experience the following symptoms: infrequent, irregular, or absent menstrual periods, infertility, absense of ovulation, increased hair growth on the face, chest, stomach, back, fingers, and toes, acne, oily skin, dandruff, pelvic pain, weight gain or obesity, usually carried around the waist, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, male-pattern baldness or thinning hair, patches of discolored skin, sleep apnea, and snoring.

Ovarian cysts can be diagnosed in several ways. Many cysts do not produce symptoms, in which case they are usually found during a routine pelvic exam. Upon finding a cyst, your doctor may recommend a pregnancy test to rule out an ectopic pregnancy, or any of a few other diagnostic tests. First, a laparoscopy can be performed by making a small incision in the abdomen and inserting a high-intensity camera. The doctor will use this instrument to view the outside of your organs. There are also several blood tests that can give clues as to the existance and type of certain cysts. Doctors will also go by symptoms you have experienced. Finally, they may perform an ultrasound to help in the location and diagnosis of disorders relating to the reproductive organs.

Cysts can be treated in a number of ways. Because most cysts are benign and temporary, the main method of treatment is waiting. Your doctor will reexamine you at a later date to see if your cysts have changed in size or location. In the case that a cyst does not go away or become smaller after several examinations, your doctor may perform a laparotomy, in which a cyst or cysts are removed through a tiny slit in your abdomen. Laparotomies are performed under general anesthesia. This also allows your doctor to test fo cancerous material and have the option of performing surgery to remove other tissues or organs, depending on the severity of the problem. Birth control pills are also often prescribed to prevent ovulation, thus lowering the chances of new cysts forming.

Generally, cysts cannot be prevented. If a woman is at a known risk for developing ovarian cysts, many horomonal forms of birth control that halt ovulation can be used to lower the risk of the formation of cysts. Post-menopausal women and women with a family history of ovarian cysts are most at risk for developing them. If you know you are at risk, and develop any of the symptoms listed above, talk to your doctor about your concerns and the chances that you might have an ovarian cyst.

Resources

General Fertility

Fertility LifeLines (http://www.fertilitylifelines.com/)
Fertility News (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/sections/fertility/)
Tracking You Fertility (http://www.fertilityfriend.com/)
Fertility UK (http://www.fertilityuk.org/)
Fertility Plus (http://www.fertilityplus.org/)
Fertility.com (http://www.fertility.com/international/index.jsp)
Male Infertility (http://www.ivf.com/shaban.html)
Male Infertility Specialists (http://www.maleinfertilityspecialists.com/indexNS.htm)
Female Infertility (http://www.pregnancy-info.net/female_infertility_intro.html)
Female Infertility at IntegraMed (http://www.integramed.com/inmdweb/content/cons/main.jsp)

Causes

Blocked Fallopian Tubes (http://www.advancedfertility.com/tubal.htm)
Uterine Fibroids (http://www.4woman.gov/faq/fibroids.htm)
Dilation and Curettage (http://health.yahoo.com/ency/healthwise/tw1469)
Cervical Biopsy (http://www.wdxcyber.com/mcervix.htm)
Polycycstic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) (http://www.4woman.gov/faq/pcos.htm)
Hormone Imbalance (http://www.fertilityjourney.com/aboutFertility/femaleInfertility/hormonalImbalance/index.asp)
Ovarian Cysts (http://womenshealth.about.com/cs/ovariancysts/a/ovariancysts.htm)

Medications

Clomid (Clomiphene Citrate, Serophene) (http://infertility.about.com/cs/clomi1/a/Clomid.htm)
Follistim (http://www.follistim.com/consumer/index.asp)
Crinone (Progesterone Vaginal Gel) (http://www.medicinenet.com/progesterone_gel-vaginal/article.htm)
Gonal-F (Fallitropin alfa injections) (http://www.fertilitylifelines.com/serono/products/gonalf/pen/)
Heparin (http://www.sharedjourney.com/articles/hep.html)
Pergonal, Humegon, and Menopur (http://www.druginfonet.com/humegon.htm)
Metrodin (FSH) (http://www.infertilityphysician.com/ovulation/metrodin.html)
Mucus Problems (http://infertility.about.com/od/femalefactors/a/cervicalmucous.htm)

Conception Methods

In Vitro Fertilization at Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_vitro_fertilization)
IVF Connections (http://www.ivfconnections.com/)
Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) (http://www.fertilityplus.org/faq/iui.html)
Surrogacy (http://www.everythingsurrogacy.com/)