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Ovarian Cysts Health Centre
Medical Description |
The ovaries are two almond-shaped organs in a woman's pelvis. At the beginning of a woman's life, the ovaries contain millions of eggs (called ova).
During a woman’s reproductive years, an egg matures each month and travels down through one of the fallopian tubes to the uterus. If it unites with a man's sperm and becomes fertilized, the woman becomes pregnant; otherwise, the unfertilized egg is discarded during a woman's period.
Types
of Cysts
Functional ovarian
cysts
Functional ovarian cysts are the most common kind of ovarian cyst. These occur when there is a disruption in the normal monthly development and release of an egg. Normally, an egg matures in a fluid-filled sac (a follicle) in the ovary. If the egg is not released properly or if this sac fills with fluid after the egg is released, a functional cyst forms. Most women have a functional cyst occasionally, but are rarely aware of them. Our bodies usually reabsorb these cysts within a few months, but a small proportion of cysts will cause pelvic pain and may require treatment.
Hemorrhagic cysts
If a tiny tear occurs in the ovary, the egg sac or surrounding tissues may fill with blood. This is called a hemorrhagic cyst and is also usually reabsorbed within a few months.
If tiny multiple functional cysts appear in the ovaries, this may be a sign of polycystic ovary syndrome.
Dermoid cysts
Dermoid cysts form from the egg cells within the ovary. Because eggs have the potential to form all kinds of human cells, a dermoid cyst can contain a bizarre combination of different kinds of tissue, including skin, bone and hair cells. Dermoid cysts are more likely to cause complications than functional cysts, and often need to be removed. However, fewer than 2 percent are malignant (cancerous).
Cystadenomas
A cystadenoma is a cyst formed from the cells of the outer lining of the ovary. A cystadenoma has some characteristics of a cyst and some of a tumour. Approximately one cystadenoma in eight is cancerous. Malignant cystadenomas are uncommon in pre-menopausal women.
Endometriomas
Endometriomas are cysts in the ovaries, which are made up of endometrial tissue (cells from the lining of the uterus). This is a form of endometriosis.
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