"I have an Ovarian Cyst. What does this mean?"

It began for me with changes to my menstrual cycle.  I am always fairly regular give or take a few days in getting my period on time.  But this time two weeks went by with no visit from "aunt flow" and I was becoming worried.  The obvious thing which comes to mind when your period is late is to wonder if you are pregnant.  So I went off to the gynecologist where they promptly gave me a pregnancy test which turned out to be negative.

I was also experiencing some pressure in my abdomen especially on my bladder and so my doctor decided to do an ultrasound to see what was going on down there.  When the doctor looked at the results he told me that I had a cyst on my right ovary.  Of course the first words out of my mouth were, "Does this mean I have ovarian cancer?" and his reply was to re-assure me that this was a "simple cyst" and should go away within a couple of cycles at most.  I must have still looked worried as the nurse chimed in, "Oh yeah I get these kind of cysts all the time, nothing to worry about." 

I was asked to come back in four weeks for another ultrasound and by then the cyst had resolved.  I was relieved.  And on day 55 of my cycle my period did return.

I think a lot of women are like me and become anxious when they hear the words "ovarian cyst" but the reality is that the vast majority of ovarian cysts are benign and not cancerous. 

What exactly is an ovarian cyst?  A cyst is basically a fluid filled sac which forms on the ovary.  In most cases the cyst will be what is called a "functional" or "simple" cyst such as the one I had.  One type of functional cyst is called a follicular cyst.  Follicular cysts are created when the follicle which is supposed to release your egg during ovulation fails to do so.  Fluid then fills up the unruptured follicle until a cyst develops.  Follicular cysts usually resolve within several months.

Corpus Luteum cysts are another type of functional cyst which develops when the sac containing the egg does not dissolve after ovulation.  Instead it fills with blood..  Corpus Luteum cysts usually resolve in a few weeks.  Corpeus Luteum cysts do have the potential to grow to almost 4 inches in diameter, filling up with so much blood that it twists the ovary causing internal bleeding and sudden sharp pain. 

What are the symptoms of having an ovarian cyst?  Many ovarian cysts don't cause any symptoms at all.  You may have one and not even know it. The National Women's Health and Information Center   tells us that if there are symptoms they may include: 

• Pressure, pain, or swelling of the abdomen
• Pain during sex
• Abnormal bleeding
• Nausea or vomiting
• Pelvic Pain
• Weight gain
• Problems passing urine completely

The Mayo Clinic adds the following symptoms to this list: 

• Menstrual irregularities
• Breast tenderness
• A dull ache which radiates to your lower back and thighs
• Pressure on your rectum or bladder
• Pain before your period begins and right before it ends.

Warning signs that you should see a doctor immediately: