Situated in the pelvis, one on each side of the uterus, the ovaries belong to the female reproductive system. Having the aspect of an almond, the ovaries are responsible with the production of female hormones and eggs.

The female experiences every month during the menstrual cycle a process called ovulation. In this process, the egg is traveling from the ovary to the uterus, through the fallopian tube. It is also known that the ovaries produce progesterone and estrogen. These are hormones that have a role in regulating the menstrual cycle and pregnancy and also influence woman’s development of breasts, body hair and body shape.

On the ovary can appear a lot of types of cysts. During the menstrual cycle, there can appear cysts, that are called functional cysts. Woman’s ovaries grow each month little cysts, that have the role of holding the eggs, and when the egg is mature, it will be released from the fluid-filled sac that forms the cyst. Then, the egg travels for fertilization through the fallopian tube and the sac dissolves.

A follicular cyst is a type of a functional cyst, and it appears when the sac continues to grow and doesn’t break open to release the egg. Frequently, this cyst goes away in one up to three months.

If, after revealing the egg the cyst doesn’t dissolve and seals off, fluid will build up inside of it. That is called a corpus luteum cyst, and usually disappears after a few weeks without any treatment. It is possible that this cyst will cause pain and will bleed, and it can grow up to four inches. There are some known drugs such as Clomid or Serophene that can raise the risk of developing this type of cysts.

Other types of cysts are endometriomas, which appear when tissue from the lining of the uterus grows outside of the uterus. These cysts can be painful during menstruation or sex, and they look like a form of growth, attached to the ovary.

Cystadenomas are cysts that develop from the cells situated on the outer surface of the ovary. They can cause pain, become large, and are often filled with a sticky gel or a watery fluid.

Dermoid cysts can form from the cells situated in the ovary that are able to make teeth, hair and other growing tissues, are large and painful.

Cysts can form also where there are polycystic ovaries .There, the sac doesn’t break open to release the egg, follicles are growing continuously inside the ovary when the cycle repeats, determining the apparition of cysts.

Very often, women do not know they have a cyst, because they have no symptoms, but sometimes, a cyst may cause weight gain, abnormal bleeding and painful menstrual periods, pain or pressure in the abdomen or during sex, breast tenderness or vomitation.

Other symptoms are also sudden severe abdominal pain, faintness, dizziness or rapid breathing. It is very important to go to the doctor as soon as you discover any of these symptoms.

Because there are not always symptoms, cysts are discovered by chance, usually during a routine pelvic exam. The doctor will perform an ultrasound control, and so, he will find information about the shape, size and composition of the cyst. The doctor might want to check the hormones level as well, or to take more tests.

By taking a blood test, the doctor will measure the substance called CA-125, because high level of that protein may indicate ovarian cancer. The CA-125 test is usually recommended for women aged over 35, who have a cyst partially solid. It is also known that non-cancerous diseases, such as uterine fibroids and endometriosis can cause an increased level of CA-125 protein.

If there is found a cyst, there are a few steps that must be made. Sometimes, you don’t need to do anything than wait and get more examinations, because it is possible the cyst to disappear. This happens especially at young women, who have no symptoms, and have a fluid filled-cyst.

If the cyst doesn’t go away in a few months, causes pain, got larger or looks unusual at ultrasonic examinations, the doctor may need to take it off.

A surgery procedure is laparoscopy. This is suitable for small and benign cysts. The doctor is making a small incision above or below the navel, and a small instrument, like a telescope and which has some tiny tools is inserted into the abdomen, and the cyst can be taken off.

Laparotomy is used when the cyst is larger and suspicious. The doctor is making bigger incisions in the stomach, so he will be able to remove the cyst. If the analyses will show that the cyst is cancerous, the doctor might need to remove the ovaries and other affected tissues too.

Birth control pills are a solution that the doctor may prescribe if a woman frequently develops cysts, to prevent her ovulating and developing new ones.

It is very important for women to take periodically medical exams, because often cysts produce no symptoms, and are found only by chance.