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About ovarian cysts

A cyst is a fluid-filled sac that develops in the ovary and usually dissolves after ovulation.

Cysts are typically sacs containing liquid or some debris, and are also usually benign (non-

cancerous).

It's normal for neborn baby girls to have cysts on their ovaries, hich may be seen on prenatal

ultrasounds.

!hese cysts may be as large as to inches in si"e after birth and still go aay on their on

ithout causing problems.

In adolescence, cysts may form in response to fluctuating hormone levels.

Complications from the cysts can include#

ovarian torsion

It bloc$s the blood from going to the ovary.

If this ere to happen, you ould have severe abdominal pain and you might feel li$e throing up

or even feel li$e passing out.

If you have any of these symptoms, you should see your doctor immediately or go to the closest

hospital emergency room.

rupture

%hen the cyst ruptures, it may cause severe pain and lead to internal bleeding. Internal bleeding

can be fatal, and requires immediate emergency room care.

!ypes of cysts

o functional cysts

most common type of cyst

normally occur as a result of ovulation

usually shrin$s ithin & days

to types of functional cysts follicular cyst

%hen the follicle fails to rupture and release an egg during the

midpoint of the menstrual cycle, it forms a cyst.

corpus luteum cyst

After the follicle releases the egg, the follicle closes bac$ up,

trapping fluid and forming a cyst.

After the follicle releases the egg, the follicle usually stays open.

In cases the follicle does not stay open and it closes bac$ up, this traps the fluid and forms a cyst.

o polycystic ovaries

egg follicles fail to form, and become cysts

in some cases, many cysts develop inside the ovary

harmless and painless

o endometriomas

uterus lining tissue in the ovaries

very painful and can affect a omans fertility

o cystadenomas

on the surface of ovaries

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filled ith atery liquid or a mucous material

o dermoid cysts

tissues such as s$in, hair and teeth gro in the ovary because they form cells

that produce human eggs

rarely cancerous

usually occur in omen from ages and *

+varian tumors#

+varian tumors are non-cancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant) lumps of cells on the

ovaries.

arly diagnosis of an ovarian tumor is important so that any (potential) cancer can be treated

early.

An ovarian mass that appears innocent and doesn't cause symptoms may be $ept under

observation.

!ypes of tumors

o epithelial cell tumors most common type

develop from the ovaries surface

o germ cell tumors

develop in the egg producing cells

most are benign, fe are cancerous

o stromal tumors

develop in the female hormone producing cells

Can a cyst become a tumor?

es. !here are different $inds of cysts# functional cysts and non-functional cysts. on-functional cysts do

not go aay and are not associated ith a oman producing egg an each month. !hey can either bebenign or develop to be malignant.

What are ovaries?

%omen have to, small, grape-shaped organs called ovaries inside of her abdomen (belly) on either side

of her uterus. %hen a girl is born, her ovaries are already filled ith millions of eggs. %hen she reaches

puberty, chemical signals from the pituitary gland in the brain /tells0 the ovaries to ripen an egg. 1sually

once a month, an egg is released from a fluid filled sac in the ovary so it can travel through the fallopian

tube to the uterus. !his is called ovulation hich is part of a omans monthly cycle.

Whats the difference between a tumor and a cyst? Cysts are more li$ely to be benign than tumors are.

!umors are a more solid mass of tissue, hile cysts are filled ith fluid, tissues, or other

materials.

Can ovarian cysts be prevented?

If a oman has a large ovarian cyst or a history of developing ovarian cysts, a health care provider may

prescribe birth control pills to prevent her body from ovulating. !his loers her chances of forming ne

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cysts in the future, but doesnt ma$e the cyst she already has go aay any faster. If you or your daughter

ants to learn more, tal$ to your health care provider about birth control pills.

Are they curable?

2enign ovarian cysts may be cured by surgically removing them, but ne cysts may form in the

future.3atients may need follo-up testing ith ultrasound due to the ris$ of additional cysts forming in the

future.

How serious are cysts if theyre non-cancerous?

A non-cancerous ovarian cyst usually doesnt cause any problems, but occasionally it may cause the

ovary to tist on its root. !his is called /torsion0 and it bloc$s the blood from going to the ovary.

How serious are they if theyre cancerous?

All cancer should be ta$en seriously, but in children and adolescents, ovarian cancer has a much higher

cure rate than adult forms of ovarian cancer.

Causes

What causes ovarian masses?

!he cause of ovarian tumors in infants and children is un$non. In adolescence, ovarian cysts

can develop in response to fluctuating levels of female se4 hormones during the menstrual cycle.

5or more information on ho ovarian tumors develop, see# 6erm cell tumors.

What are some risk factors for ovarian cancer?

inherited gene mutations

breast cancer gene 7 (28CA7)

breast cancer gene (28CA)

family history of ovarian cancer

previous cancer diagnosis

Symptoms

What are the symptoms of ovarian masses?

A girl ith an ovarian tumor may have no specific symptoms. 9oever, depending on the si"e, location

and type, it may cause some the folloing symptoms#

a feeling of pressure or fullness in the abdomen or pelvis

a firm, painless selling in the loer abdomen

frequent urination or retention of urine

persistent abdominal pain

o :ometimes ovarian cysts ill cause pain from bleeding or tisting.

nausea

vomiting

Among girls younger than ;, an ovarian tumor or cyst may cause secretions of estrogen, producing#

breast enlargement

pubic hair

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vaginal discharge or bleeding

abnormal menstrual bleeding

If you or your daughter has belly pain that doesnt go aay or irregular periods, tell your health care

professional.

FA

! "y child has a pain on her side every month or so# is this normal?

A! :ome omen e4perience pain on one side or the other belo their belly button about to ee$s

before they get their periods. +thers do not. !his is called /mittlesmirt",0 hich means pain or discomfort

ith ovulation. !his $ind of pain is mild to moderate and usually lasts anyhere from one hour to one to

to days. 2ut if you have severe pain, it could be caused from other problems so you should chec$ ith

your health care provider or go to an emergency room.

! Are ovarian cysts common?

A!+varian cysts can be common in girls and omen ho have started their periods.

! How likely is an ovarian tumor to be cancerous?

A!In girls younger than ;, one out of five ovarian tumors are cancerous.

! Can my dau$hter still have a child of her own if an ovary is removed?

A!es. In the rare case that an ovary has to be removed, your daughter can still have a child if one of her

ovaries is removed.

! %s my dau$hter $oin$ to be &' if she has a cyst?

A!An ovarian cyst usually doesnt cause any problems, but occasionally it may cause the ovary to tist

on its root. !his is called /torsion0. !orsion bloc$s the blood from going to the ovary. If this ere to happen

to your daughter, she ould have severe abdominal pain and you might feel li$e throing up or even feel

li$e passing out. If your daughter has any of these symptoms, she should see her doctor immediately or

go to the closest hospital emergency room.

! %s my dau$hter $oin$ to be &' if she has a tumor?A!In girls younger than ;, four out of five ovarian tumors are benign, but your daughter may need surgery,

radiation or chemotherapy if the mass is cancerous.

! Can my child still e(ercise if she has an ovarian cyst?

A!our health care provider might recommend your daughter not to e4ercise or participate in sports until

the cyst becomes small or goes aay completely. !his is because vigorous activity might cause her ovary

to tist on itself hich is a condition that requires emergency care.

! Can children have ovarian cancer?

A!es. Children, specifically girls, can have ovarian cancer.

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comes to removal of benign masses or tumors, almost 7 percent of ovaries are saved. In the rare case

in hich an ovary is permanently removed, a oman can still get pregnant ith one ovary.