Ovarian cysts can be common in women of all ages. Some women have symptoms, others don’t. Some cysts resolve on their own, while others require further treatment. Your OB/GYN has many years of experience in treatment for ovarian cysts in women of all ages. We can often accommodate urgent appointment requests and have on-site sonographers who specialize in OB/GYN imaging to help make your visit seamless.
A cyst is a fluid-filled sac or pocket on or in the ovary. Most ovarian cysts present little to no symptoms or discomfort and can resolve on their own within a matter of weeks.
Other cysts can cause serious symptoms, especially if the cyst ruptures or you experience ovarian torsion. Symptoms of cyst rupture or ovarian torsion can include:
Since many women don’t experience symptoms until there is a serious problem, we highly recommend regular pelvic exams. Visiting your Plano OB/GYN on a regular basis allows them to identify issues – like ovarian cysts – and monitor them to determine whether there’s an issue that requires a surgical procedure or if we can observe with serial sonograms.
Most cysts don’t cause any symptoms. In some cases, though, women with ovarian cysts can experience pelvic pain and/or irregular bleeding.
Our Plano OB/GYN will evaluate the appearance of your cyst on imaging to help determine if there is a concern for malignancy. A blood test may also be done to help determine this. In the end only surgical removal can definitively tell us whether a cyst is cancerous.
For cysts that are relatively small and appear “simple” on an ultrasound, observation with repeated ultrasounds may be the best option since many cysts resolve with time. However, if cysts continue to recur or cause symptoms, birth control pills or surgery may be potential treatment options.
Most surgical treatments for cysts in Plano are performed with a minimally invasive laparoscopy or robotic surgery. For most patients, particularly those under the age of 50, cystectomy (removal of the cyst, not the whole ovary) is recommended.
Most women start to feel better within the first week post-surgery. However, we recommend that you do not push, pull, or lift any heavy objects for a few weeks after your procedure. Sexual intercourse should be avoided until cleared by your Plano OB/GYN.
Removing a cyst will not cause you to go into menopause. In fact, even having an ovary completely removed will not cause menopause or infertility as long as your other ovary is functioning normally.
Experiencing any of the signs of an ovarian cyst can be worrisome, especially if they’re impacting your quality of your life. You don’t need to suffer in pain or discomfort. Contact our team for a consultation so we can discuss your symptoms and determine the cause. We’ll create a custom treatment plan that will finally give you some relief!