The ovaries, the female reproductive organs, are responsible for storing eggs and secreting sex hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. An ovarian cyst is a benign tumor that occurs in the ovary. Ovarian cysts are broadly classified into functional cysts and benign ovarian cysts. And the water in the nodules can be mucous and serous fluids, and it can be fat, blood, or abscesses.
There are two main causes of ovarian cysts. Functional cysts can be caused by problems during ovulation, such as the follicle not maturing properly and not being released. In addition, the exact cause of benign ovarian cyst, which refers to endometriosis, teratoma, and mucinous or serous ovarian cyst, is not known, but it is assumed that it occurs when the follicle remains like a lump after ovulation.
Most of these ovarian cysts are functional cysts, and because they occur a lot during the ovulation process, they are known to occur well in women of childbearing age in their 20s and 40s who undergo periodic ovulation. Now, let’s learn about various symptoms that can appear when an ovarian cyst occurs, and various information about treatment and management.
Main symptoms of ovarian cyst
It is known that ovarian cysts do not cause any symptoms unless the cyst is large. However, as the size of the cyst grows, symptoms such as bloating and discomfort, abdominal pain, abdominal pressure, indigestion, urination, and diuresis may appear. And when a hormone-secreting tumor develops, vaginal bleeding may occur, and if the tumor is twisted or ruptured in the abdominal cavity, symptoms such as acute abdominal pain and intra-abdominal bleeding may occur.
These ovarian cysts usually disappear spontaneously within 1 to 3 months if they are smaller than 3 cm. However, if the cyst does not disappear and the size of the tumor grows to more than 8 cm, the risk of developing symptoms such as intra-abdominal rupture increases. Therefore, it is important to detect the cyst early before it grows beyond a certain size. Although ovarian cyst has the characteristic that it does not feel any symptoms when it is not large in size, if any of the above-mentioned symptoms appear even a little and you feel abnormal body changes, do not neglect it and proceed with examination and treatment through a quick visit it is important to do
Ovarian cyst treatment and management
1. Diagnosis and treatment
Because ovarian cysts are often asymptomatic, they can be palpable during pelvic examination or confirmed through pelvic ultrasound, and additional tests such as CT or MRI are sometimes performed if necessary. And when the ovarian lump discovered by the diagnosis result through these tests is suspected to be a physiological cyst, it disappears spontaneously within a period of about 1 to 3 months, so the process of observing the progress is carried out. Afterwards, if the cyst enlarges, rupture or twist of the cyst is suspected, or if malignancy is suspected, surgical treatment is performed. In particular, surgery is considered even if you or a family member has a history of ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, or breast cancer. Also, in postmenopausal women, if an ovarian cyst develops, surgical treatment is performed in principle, and regular pelvic ultrasound examination is important.
2. Stress Control
Excessive mental stress can cause problems in the normal ovulation process, so it is important to relieve and control stress with an appropriate stress management method. In addition, excessive drinking habits and excessive consumption of caffeine are also factors that cause problems, so controlling intake as much as possible is an important management habit in alleviating symptoms.
3. Maintain a healthy diet
Maintaining a healthy diet is also an important habit in the treatment and management of ovarian cyst. In particular, it is important to consistently consume foods rich in zinc and folic acid, which are involved in normal cell division, and it is recommended to consume various foods such as blue-green fish, nuts, and mugwort rich in omega-3 fatty acids that warm the uterus. do.
On the other hand, excessive consumption of foods containing a lot of cholesterol, fatty foods, various processed foods, and instant foods can cause abnormal growth of the ovaries, which can worsen the symptoms of ovarian cyst, so it is recommended to limit intake during treatment.
