The misconception that women should see a gynecologist only when expecting a child restricts them from accessing healthcare for multiple other problems. Some serious health issues like ovarian cysts require a proper medical check-up and treatment procedure.
Even while ovarian cysts are relatively common, it’s fair to be concerned or question if you’re at risk for ovarian cancer if you find one. On the other hand, Ovarian cysts do not indicate ovarian cancer or an increased risk of cancer.
Following WHO guidelines, women should first consult a gynecologist during their teenage. It’s recommended that all women have yearly routine check-ups with their doctor, apart from more visits when trying for a baby or during pregnancy.
Reproductive Health of Women in Pakistan
The shyness to speak about our bodies may have a variety of justifications, but it becomes dangerous when it extends to healthcare and restricts access to it. Upon feeling that something is wrong with their reproductive system, many women ignore it and refuse to seek a doctor. The attitudes of families and elders compound it.
In developing countries like Pakistan, reproductive morbidity significantly impacts women’s quality of life. This kind of health problem has been overlooked by women, planners, and researchers until now. At the national, social, and individual levels, there is a lack of understanding of the scope and impact of reproductive morbidity on women’s health and quality of life in developing nations.
- Before marriage or pregnancy, multiple issues require medical attention:
- PCOS
- Ovarian cysts
- Pelvic pain disorder
- UTIs
- Adenomyosis
- Vulvodynia
- Meig’s Syndrome
- Vulvar vestibulitis syndrome,
- Yeast infections
- Vaginitis
- Papillary hidradenoma
- Cervicitis.
Although public awareness of ovarian cancer has improved, there is still a lack of understanding concerning ovarian cysts, whether simple or complicated. While there are significant differences between an ovarian cyst and ovarian cancer, there are also some disturbing similarities.
To understand the difference, let’s have a profound explanation of the anatomy of ovarian cyst.
Ovarian Cyst
A semisolid or liquid material is enclosed within an ovarian cyst, which has a sac-like form. Many cysts form due to the menstrual cycle and then dissolve without creating any symptoms, and treatment is seldom required. Certain forms of ovarian cysts can become cancerous, although it is unusual.
A cyst can occasionally get big or push on a surrounding structure, resulting in symptoms such as:
- Pain during sex
- excessive urination
- Irregular menstrual cycles
- Lower abdominal or pelvic pain that occurs intermittently or during menstruation
- Bloating and pressure in the abdomen
Although ovarian cysts are uncommon, they can burst and cause severe pain. Physical activity is the most common cause of a burst cyst.
Cancer and Cysts
It is less common for a woman to develop an ovarian cyst as she approaches menopause. When cysts form after menopause, they have a higher risk of developing ovarian cancer. Menstrual diseases, such as endometriosis, can also cause ovarian cysts. Ovarian cancer can develop when cells in the ovaries increase and expand uncontrolled, becoming a tumor.
Pathological Ovarian Cysts
Ovarian cysts can form due to abnormal and excessive cell growth in the ovary. These are known as pathological ovarian cysts.
Ovarian cysts that become pathological can occasionally be cancerous, meaning they can produce ovarian cancer. Pathological cysts are more likely to develop in women who have reached menopause.
Pathological ovarian cysts can also be caused by underlying diseases such as endometriosis. In endometriosis, the cells lining the womb appear elsewhere in the body, as we observe in the ovaries and fallopian tubes.
Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian cancer is caused by abnormal changes (mutations) in the DNA of the ovaries’ cells. While the actual source of these alterations is unknown, a woman’s chance of getting ovarian cancer might be increased by several variables. These are some of them:
- Being older than 50
- Having a family history of ovarian cancer
- Being overweight or obese
- Having certain inherited gene changes, such as BRCA1 or BRCA2
- Never becoming pregnant
Unlike an ovarian cyst, ovarian cancer requires prompt medical treatment. Cysts often present with symptoms similar to those of ovarian cancer, including:
- Abdominal bloating and pressure
- A frequent urge to urinate
- Lower abdominal or pelvic pain
- Lower back pain
- Fatigue
- Changes in bowel habits, which may include constipation
- Unexplained weight loss
It’s important to consult with a women’s health specialist if you are experiencing possible symptoms of ovarian cancer or a cyst.
Epithelial Ovarian Tumor
Several types of ovarian cancer can develop depending on where the disease originated from. The most typical kind of ovarian cancer is the ovarian epithelial tumor, which begins in the ovaries’ outer surface cells.
Diagnosis
When a mass is discovered, and a cyst is suspected, doctors could do additional tests to establish whether the mass is a cyst or a tumor and whether treatment is required in either situation.
- If a Pregnancy Test is Positive, but the patient isn’t pregnant, it might indicate the existence of a corpus luteum cyst.
- Transvaginal Ultrasound: It enables doctors to see the mass’s size, shape, location, and kind. If an ultrasound shows the lump is solid and complicated (rather than fluid-filled and simple) and there is increased blood supply going to it, a doctor may suspect an ovarian tumor and order more tests.
- Transabdominal Ultrasonography is preferable to endovaginal ultrasonography for assessing big masses and accompanying consequences, such as hydronephrosis or free fluid. It also facilitates the examination of other intra-abdominal organs, including the kidneys and liver, and the presence of ascites. Transabdominal ultrasonography is ideally conducted with a full bladder to serve as an acoustic window to visualize structures better.
- A CA125 Blood Test examines a significantly increased protein in ovarian cancer patients. If a patient is at high risk for ovarian cancer or an ultrasound reveals tumor features, a doctor may order a CA125 test. CA125 levels can also be high in noncancerous diseases such as endometriosis, uterine fibroids, and pelvic inflammatory disease.)
- Laparoscopy is a process in which a tiny device is inserted via an incision (cut) in the belly by a doctor in an operating room. Using the instrument, he may see the reproductive organs and the pelvic cavity. If a cyst is detected, it can be removed at this time.
Treatment
Ovarian cysts do not always require treatment. In premenopausal women, ovarian cysts often resolve on their own within one to two months, without treatment. In postmenopausal women, ovarian cysts are less likely to settle.
If a cyst is large, causing pain, or appears suspicious for cancer, treatment usually involves
The following options:
- Watchful Waiting. There is an option to wait and be re-examined in a few months to check if the cyst has gone away in several cases. If you have no evident symptoms and ultrasound reveals a basic, tiny, fluid-filled cyst, it’s typically doable — regardless of your age factor. Your doctor may recommend that you get periodic pelvic ultrasounds to determine if your cyst grows or shrinks.
- Surgery. Your doctor can decide to remove a large cyst that does not appear to be functioning, grows, continues for two or three menstrual cycles, or causes discomfort.
- Laparoscopy. Your doctor can suggest a laparoscopy to remove the cyst if it is tiny surgically. He decides after observing results from an imaging test to rule out malignancy. This doctor will make a small incision around your navel and then remove the cyst with a little device inserted into your belly. He will make a small incision around your navel and then remove the cyst with a bit of device inserted into your abdomen.
- Laparotomy. If you are diagnosed with a huge cyst, your doctor can surgically remove it from your belly through a significant incision. If the cyst is diagnosed as cancerous, they’ll remove your ovaries and uterus with a hysterectomy.
- Birth Control Pills. In the case of recurrent cysts, your doctor may prescribe oral contraceptives to suppress ovulation and prevent the formation of new cysts. It is possible to lessen your risk of developing ovarian cancer by using these oral contraceptives, and this kind of cancer is more common in postmenopausal women.
Ovarian Cyst Complications
Ovarian cysts might cause unexpected difficulties in certain women. It’s critical to get regular checks since your doctor can detect them during a pelvic exam.
Ovarian torsion. Cysts that develop large enough might cause the ovary to twist and shift. Torsion of the ovary (ovarian torsion) is extremely painful.
Cysts, especially big cysts, can break open, causing considerable discomfort and bleeding. A rupture can be worsened by vaginal intercourse and other activities. A burst cyst can heal on its own in some instances, but it’s more typically a medical emergency.
An ovarian cyst that has become infected. An ovarian cyst can produce an ulcer in reaction to a pelvic infection. If the abscess rupture, the germs can spread throughout your body, posing a serious health risk.
Ovarian Cyst Prevention
Ovarian cysts are unavoidable. Ovarian cysts are sometimes be detected early with regular gynecologic exams. Benign cysts won’t become cancerous. On the other hand, ovarian cancer symptoms can be mistaken for an ovarian cyst. Therefore, it’s crucial to see your doctor and get a proper diagnosis. Let your doctor know if you experience any of these symptoms:
- ongoing pelvic pain
- changes in your menstrual cycle
- loss of appetite
- unexplained weight loss
- abdominal fullness
Consult Dr. Asma Jabeen – Gynecologist
Dr. Asma Jabeen is one of the best gynecologists in Pakistan with over 26 years of experience. She is known to provide expert advice on all reproductive health issues and has received great reviews from patients on Marham. The good news is that you can consult with Dr. Asma Jabeen in just 500/- PKR from the comfort of your home online! Don’t miss this golden opportunity and book your appointment now! Call the Marham helpline: 0311-1222398
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FAQs
1. How can you tell if an ovarian cyst is cancerous?
Your doctor will conduct some tests like an ultrasound or an MRI in order to diagnose if your ovarian cyst is cancerous.
2. What are the symptoms of a cancerous ovarian cyst?
Some symptoms of cancerous ovarian cyst are pelvic pain, nausea, frequent urination, and pain during intercourse.
3. When should I be concerned about an ovarian cyst?
If you experience extreme pain it is a matter of concern and you must visit a doctor immediately.