Prompt diagnosis and treatment of ovarian cysts can minimize complications, such as severe pain, infertility, ovarian rupture, bleeding and shock.
No treatment is often needed for many ovarian cysts that are not cancerous and do not cause symptoms, such as severe pain, infertility, or bleeding. However, women with these mild types of ovarian cysts still need regular follow-up care, including pelvic examinations with a licensed health care clinician and ultrasounds to watch progress of the ovarian cyst and ensure it goes away by itself.
Ovarian cysts that cause symptoms or do not go away can often be successfully treated. Treatment options vary depending on the type of cyst, the kinds of problems it creates, and a woman's age and plans to have children. Options may include hormone or oral contraceptive therapy, and surgical removal.
Some cysts may be removed during a minimally invasive procedure called a laparoscopy. In this surgery a special lighted instrument, called a laparoscope, is inserted through a small incision in the abdomen and moved into place to view and remove the ovarian cyst. This procedure is often performed on an outpatient basis.
Sometimes an ovarian cyst can be removed without affecting the ovary, but complete removal of the entire ovary may be necessary, especially if it is large or potentially cancerous. If only one ovary is affected and removed, women can generally still get pregnant naturally by the fertilization of eggs produced by the remaining ovary.
The list of treatments mentioned in various sources for Ovarian cysts includes the following list. Always seek professional medical advice about any treatment or change in treatment plans.
The first step in getting correct treatment is to get a correct diagnosis. Differential diagnosis list for Ovarian cysts may include:
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The doctor may decide to "wait and see" if the cyst will shrink on its own in a few months. If you frequently develop cysts, your doctor may prescribe birth control pills to prevent you from ovulating. This will prevent follicles from developing and new cysts from forming. Your doctor might talk with you about birth control pills, and if they are right for you. (Source: excerpt from Ovarian Cysts: NWHIC)
If the cyst is small and looks benign on the ultrasound, your doctor may perform a laparoscopy. This procedure is done under general anesthesia on an outpatient basis and allows the doctor to closely examine all of your reproductive organs. A very small incision is made above or below the navel, and a small instrument that acts like a telescope is inserted into the abdomen. If the cyst is small and looks benign, it can be removed after the doctor makes very small incisions in the pubic hairline.
If the cyst is too large to remove this way, the doctor may perform a procedure called a laparotomy. This procedure involves making bigger incisions in the stomach to remove the cyst. While you are under general anesthesia, the doctor is able to have the cyst tested to find out if the tissue is cancerous. If it is cancerous, the doctor will then be able to remove other tissue that could be affected, like the ovary, fallopian tubes, uterus, or lymph nodes. Before any surgery, your doctor will talk to you about what will happen during the surgery, the risks, and how long it will take you to recover. It is important to remember that most cysts are not cancerous and relatively harmless if treated properly. (Source: excerpt from Ovarian Cysts: NWHIC)
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