An ovarian cyst is a fluid-filled sac in the ovary. It is known there are a lot of types of cysts, and they appear very often. Most of the ovarian cysts are non cancerous, but there are also cysts that can be cancerous. There are a lot of cysts that will disappear by themselves, without any treatment.

The functional cysts are the most common type of ovarian cysts, and they develop from a collection of fluid that is forming around a developing egg. When a woman is ovulating, she will form around the developing egg a small quantity of fluid. The follicle, which usually has the size of a pea is the combination of the egg, the special fluid-producing cells, and the fluid. Sometimes, the cells that surround the egg produce too much fluid, and this fluid expands the ovary from within. If this collection of fluid gets bigger than a normal follicle, we say we are dealing with a follicular cyst. In rare situations follicular cysts can become as large as 3 or 4 inches. Usually, these cysts disappear on their own in about 1-2 months, as the extra fluid dissolves back into the blood stream.

The corpus luteum, a structure formed by the cells in the ovary produces progesterone. This hormone has the role to prepare the uterine lining cells for the arrival of the fertilized egg. It is known that every menstruating woman forms a corpus luteum every month, but cells can produce fluid within the corpus luteum and a cyst is formed. This cyst can sometimes have the dimension of a few inches. All corpus luteum cysts will go away by themselves in a few weeks, and that's why these cysts and the follicular cysts are called functional cysts.

Usually, to get a picture of the ovary and cyst, the doctor may perform a vaginal sonogram. This is a harmless operation, a small instrument is passed into the vagina, and it bounces sound waves off the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. In this way, on a monitor there forms a picture. This is an accurate method, and the doctor can determine the size of the cyst and also if it is filled with fluid or with solid areas.

It is important to know that a sonogram will not make a definite diagnosis if the cyst is benign or malignant, so if the sonogram shows solid areas within a cyst, surgery is needed to remove it.

Laparoscopic surgery can be used to treat an ovarian cyst. Small incisions are made in the abdomen, and using a telescope placed through the navel and small instruments placed near the pubic bone, the doctor can remove the cyst, or, if necessary, the entire ovary.

It was seen that an ovarian cyst, which looks like a small balloon filled with water grows from within the ovary, and as a result, the normal ovarian tissue is stretched over it. The cystectomy, which means removing the cyst, consists in cutting open the thinned out ovarian tissue and then peeling away from inside the ovary the cyst. The cyst fluid is removed with a suction device, and then, the cyst can be easily removed through the small laparoscopy incision. There were discovered ways that make possible the removal of the entire ovary with the laparoscope, and usually laparoscopic surgery takes no longer than standard surgery. An advantage is the quick recovery, the patient can leave the hospital in the same day, and in about a week or two, can return to the normal activities.

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