ovarian cyst

fluid-filled sac in the ovary

Key facts

Specialty: Gynecology
Symptoms: None, bloating, lower abdominal pain, lower back pain
Complications: Rupture , twisting of the ovary
Types: Follicular cyst , corpus luteum cyst , cysts due to endometriosis , dermoid cyst , cystadenoma , ovarian cancer
Diagnostic method: Ultrasound
Prevention: Hormonal birth control
Treatment: Conservative management , pain medication, surgery
Prognosis: Usually good
Frequency: 8% symptomatic before menopause

via Wikipedia infobox

Research

37,039 papers

Diagnosis and management of ovarian cyst accidents.

Article

An ovarian cyst is a fluid-filled sac within the ovary. They usually cause no symptoms, but occasionally they may produce bloating, lower abdominal pain, or lower back pain. The majority of cysts are harmless. If the cyst either breaks open or causes twisting of the ovary, it may cause severe pain. This may result in vomiting or feeling faint, and even cause headaches.

Most ovarian cysts are related to ovulation, being either follicular cysts or corpus luteum cysts. Other types include cysts due to endometriosis, dermoid cysts, and cystadenomas. Many small cysts occur in both ovaries in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Pelvic inflammatory disease may also result in cysts. Rarely, cysts may be a form of ovarian cancer. Diagnosis is undertaken by pelvic examination with a pelvic ultrasound or other testing used to gather further details.