Myth - Cysts in Ovaries Are Cancerous & Cause Various Health Problems
Fact – Not necessarily. They are nothing but fluid-filled sacs which arise from the ovaries. Most of the time, they don’t pose any health problems. They may be detected accidentally during a routine ultrasound of the pelvis. Many women have ovarian cysts at some time during their lives. Most ovarian cysts present little or no discomfort and are harmless. The majority of ovarian cysts disappear without treatment within a few months. A very small percentage are cancerous.
Myth - Ovarian Cysts Almost Always Cause Abdominal Pain, Menstrual Irregularities or Painful Cycles
Fact – On many occasions, they are asymptomatic (without any symptoms). If they are large they may cause abdominal distension & fullness, abdominal discomfort, & pain during intercourse. Only when they undergo complications like torsion (twist), bleeding into the cyst or infection in the cysts may cause severe acute lower abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, giddiness etc.
Only polycystic ovaries with hormonal imbalance may cause menstrual irregularities & not all ovarian cysts may manifest so. Endometriotic cysts are the most important cause of painful cycles. The pain can be there before, during & after menstrual cycles.
Myth - Cysts Are Seen Only in Older Age Groups
Fact – They are seen across all age groups from a day old newborn child to women in their 80s. In the older age group whenever it's detected it’s very important to rule out cancer. It’s important to do imaging studies like MRI & blood tests such as tumour marker profiles which give some information on whether they are cancerous are not.
Myth - All Ovarian Cysts Cause Infertility
Fact - Not true. Only severe endometriotic cysts, polycystic ovaries with hormonal imbalance & very large cysts by preventing egg release may cause infertility. But they are all treatable causes & pregnancy is achievable after treatment.
Myth – All Cysts Require Surgery
Fact – Not at all. Small functional cysts less than 5 cm disappear on their own without any treatment. Only persistent cysts, large cysts with pressure symptoms, large endometriotic cysts causing infertility, huge borderline tumours, and suspicious cysts need to be treated.
Myth – Large Cysts Need to be Removed With Bigger Cuts
Fact – Not required at all. Cysts as big as 20 -25 cm can be removed by keyhole surgery with small cuts. Keyhole or Laparoscopic or Minimally Invasive Surgery is a boon to the patient where even football-sized cysts can be removed by pen-sized cuts. As there is very less pain & minimal handling of the internal organs during the operation, the patient can go back home & resume their routine as early as 24 hours. Gone are the days when they do undergo conventional open surgeries for ovarian cysts. Only suspicious masses or cancerous tumours need to be removed by open surgery.
Myth - Large Cysts Are Incompletely Removed by Laparoscopic Surgery
Fact – The manifold magnification in Laparoscopic surgery helps in good precision & accuracy in detecting the pathology compared to that in the open surgery. The entire cyst is placed inside a bag & removed safely without any spillage. In addition, it has so many advantages like small cuts, less pain, shorter hospital stay, significantly faster recovery time, quicker resumption of work, etc.
Our team at Practo Care Surgeries (PCS) are experts in end-to-end surgical care for over 50+ ailments. Connect with a Practo Care Surgeon, to find out the best treatment option for PCOS. Book an appointment today.
Disclaimer: This article is written by the Practitioner for informational and educational purposes only. The content presented on this page should not be considered a substitute for medical expertise. Please "DO NOT SELF-MEDICATE" and seek professional help regarding any health conditions or concerns. Practo will not be responsible for any act or omission arising from the interpretation of the content present on this page.