Causes of ovarian cysts in pregnancy
Pregnancy is a hormonal state of emergency for the woman. In principle, however, ovarian cysts can also occur during pregnancy without this being the direct cause of the cysts. However, hormonal changes during pregnancy can also be the direct cause of the development of certain ovarian cysts.
A cyst that occurs almost exclusively during pregnancy is the corpus luteum cyst. This cyst is also called corpus luteum cyst. The corpus luteum develops after ovulation and mainly produces estrogen.
During the first three months of pregnancy, the corpus luteum is responsible for the production of progesterone and for maintaining the pregnancy. If the egg cell is not fertilized, it recedes after menstruation. During pregnancy, the corpus luteum can grow cystically and can reach a size of up to 8cm.
However, it recedes again without any consequences. Furthermore, so-called lutein cysts can also develop in multiple pregnancies. The much more common cause, however, is an artificial triggering of ovulation through hormonal pre-treatment.
Lutein cysts form when the concentration of the pregnancy hormone HCG is greatly increased. The cysts can grow up to 20 cm in size. They recede after the hormone supply is terminated, i.e. after birth, and do not need to be surgically removed. This could also be of interest to you: Ovarian cyst
Diagnosis of ovarian cysts in pregnancy
Ovarian cysts in pregnancy are mainly detected and diagnosed by ultrasound examination. Both the vaginal and abdominal (via the abdomen) ultrasound examination can make ovarian cysts visible and thus allow an assessment of the type of cyst. Cysts differ from malignant tumors by their appearance in the ultrasound.
They have smooth boundaries and a regular structure. Furthermore, they are referred to as echo-free contents, which appear uniformly black in the ultrasound. Experienced gynecologists can also distinguish the type of cyst on the basis of its appearance.
Associated symptoms of ovarian cysts during pregnancy
Functional ovarian cysts that occur during pregnancy do not usually cause symptoms. They do not cause symptoms and are only detected by ultrasound examination. In some cases, however, they can also lead to complaints during pregnancy.
Very large ovarian cysts can put pressure on neighbouring organs due to their growth and thus lead to abdominal pain and colicky pain. Back pain can also occur. Increased pressure on the bladder can lead to an increased urge to urinate.
Pressure on the bowel can lead to constipation. In rare cases, ovarian cysts can also lead to complications that require immediate medical treatment. A possible complication is a pedicle rotation of a pedunculated cyst. This leads to sudden onset of severe colic, nausea and vomiting. A ruptured ovarian cyst leads to blood and fluid loss into the abdomen and can cause life-threatening shock.
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