The ovarian cyst is a sac containing liquid, solid material or both, that has attached on the surface of the ovary or has developed inside of it. The ovarian cyst is not a rare disease and seems to affect women aged from 30 to 60. Both ovaries get be affected at the same time or at a distance of years one from another and they can have one or more cysts attached. These cysts are mostly non cancerous but 15 % of them transform into cancerous ones.



Once a month, in the process of ovulation, the women's body produces hormones which help the follicles grow. These follicles are shaped as a sac and contain the eggs and fluid. After the egg has grown the follicle normally ruptures in order to set the egg free. After that the follicle will become a smaller sac known as luteum. The ovarian cysts are forming due to the failure of the follicles rupturing or due to not releasing the egg. Scientists have classified the cysts into five: functional cysts, endometrial cysts, polycystic ovaries, cystadenomas and dermoid cysts. The functional cysts contain the follicle cyst and corpus luteum cyst which are a part of the normal process that is performed in the ovary.

The follicle cyst measures 2 inches and forms when the egg is sent to the fallopian tube or if the follicle fails to rupture. Most of them disappear in one to three months.

Generally after the egg is removed from the follicle and if the woman is not pregnant the follicle has to transform into luteum, a smaller sac and then disintegrate. If this small sac gets filled with liquid it will form the corpus luteum cyst which will remain inside the ovary.

The polycystic ovarian syndrome is another disease I which the ovaries get filled with intact follicles. It seems that normally the pituitary hormones like progesterone are controlling the egg production process. In some women the pituitary gland does not work properly and so, a lot of follicles are being produced and then stockpiled under the ovaries' surface. This way the ovaries grow in size, become enlarged and are filled with tiny cysts.

The endometrial cysts refer to the cysts that are formed out of endometrial tissue and blood. The endometrial tissue normally is found in the uterus but in this case it grows in other places too and bleeds, forming the cysts. These cysts can grow for a long time until they reach the size of a grapefruit.

The cystadenomas are neoplasms which appear from the tissue of the ovary and are classified in two: the serous cystadenoma and the mucous cystadenoma. The first one contains liquid and can reach the diameter of 6 inches. The second one contains a gelatinous substance and can get to 12 inches in diameter.

Generally cysts are 'silent' and they do not give any symptoms until the get ruptured during sexual intercourse or childbirth. When this happens, the woman will complain of intense abdominal pain, problems with menstruation like bleeding between periods or heavy menstrual flow and infertility which happens in polycystic ovaries. In endometrial cysts, internal bleeding can occur, menstrual cramps, painful sexual intercourse, and weight gain.

If the woman senses a sharp pain it means that the cyst had ruptured or twisted. It is important to go to the hospital as soon as possible as an infection can be produced and the woman's life can be in danger.

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