An ovarian cyst certainly isn’t a something you’d want to hear. I mean, the implication of cysts on your ovaries conjures up unpleasant images. The fear of it leading to infertility can lead to nightmarish images. But don’t let your mind get the best of you! Most of our fears about ovarian cysts are simply not true. To put your mind at ease, here are some facts about these cysts and how they affect your fertility.

First things first, ovarian cysts do not equate to infertility! Most of our fears about these things come from the fact that we believe that they somehow cause infertility. But having cysts is very common in women and not every one of them is infertile. Some actually live their lives with their cysts with no real problems.

Cysts come in many forms. Your ovaries are actually responsible for some of them. Through the course of your natural reproductive cycle, cysts form and disappear with regularity. For example, a certain cyst commonly found on the ovary is a follicular cyst. This cyst was a follicle before it became a cyst. Follicles play an important part in reproduction as it forms the sacs that hold your eggs as they develop to maturity. When the eggs are fully matured, the follicles break open and release the egg. However, sometimes not everything goes smoothly and the follicles don’t release their eggs and become cysts. Other cysts come from naturally occurring tissues in your body. A corpus luteum cyst comes from a corpus luteum, another essential role-player in the process of reproduction. Corpus luteum glands produce much needed progesterone during pregnancy. They form when a follicle releases an egg in anticipation of a pregnancy. But not every ovulation cycle will result in pregnancy so sometimes the gland becomes useless and becomes a cyst. These naturally occurring cysts are usually removed by the body in a couple of months or so and will often go unnoticed.

Some other forms of cyst are not so natural. A dermoid cyst is one of the strangest. It is a cyst that has living and functional tissues. Some have been found to have complete sweat glands, hair, and even eyes! Talk about nightmarish images! However, they rarely cause any problems with infertility and the fact that the tissue is alive and functional often means they aren’t cancerous. Another type of cyst is the endometrioma. This cyst is formed by endometrial lining (the lining inside your uterus) that somehow found their way to the ovaries. These cysts do not interfere with ovarian function unless they grow in places that block the ovaries from the fallopian tubes, thereby preventing any eggs from the ovaries to reach the uterus.

Though most are harmless some of these cysts can cause problems or are signs of other problems. Most of the problems they cause on their own aren’t too serious and hardly affect fertility. These would include abdominal pains, painful urination, heavier than normal periods, and painful sexual intercourse. In the case of endometrioma, having these cysts could be a sign of endometriosis, the condition that is usually responsible for endometrial lining growing outside of the uterus. This condition can be a cause of infertility.

Cysts are usually very easy to find. A routine pelvic examination will probably reveal them although in some cases some extra tests and examinations may be run (like ultrasounds and blood tests). In the event that one is found, a wait and see policy is sometimes the first course of action for doctors. Unless they present severe symptoms, most cysts can be left alone and will disappear in time. Should symptoms start to interfere with your life, you may be prescribed medications like contraceptives and hormones to shrink the cysts. If the cyst is not responding or is found to be causing real problems, you might need some surgery. But don’t worry, this isn’t too common. To make sure your ovaries are healthy, regularly visit your gynecologist. Early detection of the cysts will lead to easier treatment.