Index
‘Did you know that not every cyst is a sign of bad news? In fact, a large part of the cases in which they appear on exams can be a sign of good news. It can be said that in 70% of cases someone is concerned about cysts is when an ultrasound (routine or not) is written on the report:
Presence of an ovarian cyst (left or right) with dimensions… And an anechoic aspect.
Most of the time these cysts are perfectly normal! The vast majority of them are actually the follicles maturing during ovulation . They are called functional cysts or common cysts, which appear in all ovulatory cycles.
But there are also worrisome cysts, such as hemorrhagic cysts. Others scare simply by name, such as the septate cyst.
Let’s look at the cases in which the normal benign cyst happens:
Benign Cyst
Follicular cyst
The follicular cyst is one that appears in every cycle due to the development of the follicles. Mature follicular cysts are between 21 and 25 millimeters. That is, if the exam shows that it is 10mm, it means that it still needs to grow a little more. The follicles can also cause the ovaries to increase in size, this is perfectly normal.
Functional Cyst
The functional cyst can be follicular, but it can also be due to the corpus luteum . This denomination is a way of indicating on ultrasound that that cyst is normal and part of the menstrual cycle and that the woman is healthy. In a single ultrasound, up to five functional cysts distributed in both ovaries may appear. This may indicate that the woman had multiple ovulation or had enough follicular stimulation to form five functional cysts.
Troubled Cysts and Treatments
Multiple cysts or multifollicular ovaries
This result may indicate that the woman has several micro cysts and that she is suffering from some type of polycystic ovaries. This type of cyst may indicate that the woman is not developing enough hormones to mature the follicles that were initially stimulated. But it can also indicate the presence of PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome).
Not every polycystic ovary means PCOS. For this it is necessary to do ultrasound several times to diagnose it, in addition to analyzing the other symptoms . The most common symptoms of PCOS are changes in the menstrual cycle , (such as irregular cycles and the absence of menstruation for long periods. Treatment is based on hormones ( contraceptives ) or with drugs that control glycemic levels.
Another possible treatment for patients with PCOS is myo-inositol. This B-complex vitamin is very important for metabolic processes, especially in relation to insulin. This type of imbalance can cause PCOS, and in many cases the use of myo-inositol is sufficient to greatly relieve the symptoms of the syndrome. Myo-inositol is the main ingredient of FamiSop , a practical way of ingesting this vitamin every day. You can purchase your FamiSop here in our online store.
There are also septate cysts , which are cysts that have more than one cavity. Due to a bad formation, it has a subdivided appearance, so it gets the name of septado.
Hemorrhagic Cyst
These cysts can be common as well as follicular cysts. The big difference is that the follicular cyst is filled with water and the hemorrhagic cyst is filled with blood. They also continue to grow even after ovulation.
The blood in the hemorrhagic cyst comes from the ovarian wall. These cysts can spill blood in the pelvic cavity or grow, if swollen with blood and at the risk of rupture . In such cases, surgery is indicated to remove the fluid. The hemorrhagic cyst is treatable or can disappear on its own, depending on its size and condition.
Cisto dermoide
They are formed by skin cells , fat and other tissues that accumulate in the ovary region. These cysts can grow over the years without showing any symptoms: they are painless and do not hinder ovulation. However, these cysts can become villains over time, as they can exceed the size of the ovaries and end up causing pain with their weight. The treatment for this cyst is surgical, but only indicated if it reaches a considerable size.
Cystoadenoma
They are of organic origin as well as the dermoid, however, formed by the tissue of the ovaries. They do not present any major problems, just like the dermoid.
Pure endometrioma
They are common in women with endometriosis . Just like endometriosis they can arise outside the uterus, in other places where the endometrial tissue can lodge. Common places where they appear are in the bladder, abdomen and uterus. Treatment is usually hormonal or surgical.
Ovarian cysts can be from disease or even a simple ovulation cyst.
Cysts may or may not bring pain , and most of them show symptoms such as swelling, pain during intercourse, pain in the lower abdomen, pain, sudden or continuous navel ambulation and, in some cases, severe stitches that come and go throughout the day . The cysts can be present on both sides or only on one side.
There is a type of cyst that can eventually secrete HCG, the hormone unique to pregnancy . Although it is very rare, it does happen and can show small amounts up to 15mUI in the blood. This is one of the rare cases where a pharmacy pregnancy test can give a false positive. In such cases, it is recommended to make a quantitative beta-hCG.
A big problem is when the cyst is more than 10 cm in diameter. In these cases the doctor may suspect ovarian cancer and recommend treatment with an oncologist.
How is Ovarian Cyst Surgery?
Ovarian cyst surgery is done through laparoscopy. The prognosis is 100% cure in cases of common and benign cysts. Some cases require treatment after surgery. This is the case of endometriosis or polycystic cysts.
Cysts are common ! However, it is up to the doctor to indicate the best treatment for them, depending on the type. Some are surgically treatable, others are treated with contraceptives. However, everyone has a solution and the vast majority does not prevent pregnancy from happening.
Questions from Readers:
What does anechoic image on the ovary mean?
Many women are surprised by this information in the report and are startled by an unknown word. But the word “anechoic” or “anechoic content” is nothing more than the presence of a mass. This means that there is a cyst in the ovary that must be monitored by the GO through imaging tests to monitor its size or if it disappears with the help of medication.
See also: What is the corpus luteum and what is its importance in early pregnancy?
My name is Dr. Alexis Hart I am 38 years old, I am the mother of 3 beautiful children! Different ages, different phases 16 years, 12 years and 7 years. In love with motherhood since always, I found it difficult to make my dreams come true, and also some more after I was already a mother.
Since I imagined myself as a mother, in my thoughts everything seemed to be much easier and simpler than it really was, I expected to get pregnant as soon as I wished, but it wasn’t that simple. The first pregnancy was smooth, but my daughter’s birth was very troubled. Joana was born in 2002 with a weight of 2930kg and 45cm, from a very peaceful cesarean delivery but she had already been born with congenital pneumonia due to a broken bag not treated with antibiotics even before delivery.
