Definition
A cyst is a fluid-filled cavity that is lined with epithelium (tissue) and can occur in various parts of the human body, including the ovaries. Ovarian cysts are found practically only in sexually mature women, and they occur particularly frequently shortly after puberty and during the climacteric (menopause).
Symptoms
Whether clinical symptoms occur in the context of an ovarian cyst depends primarily on its size. Ovarian cysts that are only a few centimeters in size usually do not cause any symptoms. They are usually palpated by chance during an examination or discovered during an ultrasound scan.
If the ovarian cyst reaches a certain size, pressure on the organs in the neighbourhood can cause dull lower abdominal pain, back pain and intestinal and/or bladder voiding disorders. If there is a sudden worsening of the symptoms with severe pain, this may indicate a potentially threatening complication such as twisting of the ovary and fallopian tube. In such a case, immediate action is required.
Other diseases can also cause pain in the ovaries, especially during pregnancy: you can read more about this topic in the article Pain in the ovaries during pregnancy. In most cases, a cyst in the ovaries causes no symptoms and should be checked regularly if the findings are otherwise unremarkable. In other cases, it is accompanied by diffuse, dull or sometimes severe lower abdominal pain.
Pain in the lower abdomen is observed as a result of size growth, irritation of the peritoneum and increasing pressure on the adjacent organs. This is accompanied by nausea, vomiting, digestive problems, bladder voiding problems and in some cases even an increase in the circumference of the abdomen. Cycle disorders in the form of irregular or heavy bleeding are also common in cysts of hormonal origin.
Rare events with pronounced pain symptoms indicate complications. For example, a rupture (bursting) of a cyst or a so-called torsion (torsion of the stem) may be involved. A torsion of the cyst including the ovary often occurs during sports activities.
It is an emergency and must be treated immediately. There is a risk of irreversible loss of function of the organ. A cyst rupture also manifests itself with sudden pain. There is a risk of bleeding into the abdominal cavity if a blood vessel ruptures simultaneously.
