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Ovarian cysts, in most cases are benign and resolve on their own. If they are persistent, they may need investigation or medical intervention, to rule out the possibility that they are cancerous.
Whilst most ovarian cyst do not need treatment, their presence can cause concern and anxiety. Understanding their causes and treatment can help with early diagnosis and lead to effective management if they need treatment.
Ovarian cysts have no symptoms in most cases but can sometimes cause variable abdominal or pelvic pain, or pain during intercourse. If a cyst is large, it may cause twisting of the ovary that leads to pain, and occasionally loss of the ovary.
Dianosis of ovarian cysts can be made base on presenting symptoms or found incidentally when there were not symptoms. A pelvic ultrasound is often the first investigation to confirm and elicit the characteristics of the ovarian cyst.
A repeat ultrasound is often required 6 weeks after the first scan to see if the cyst has resolved by itself with time. Sometimes additional tests such as blood tests of tumour markers (blood substances produced by certain ovarian tumours), CT or MRI scan.
Most surgical treatments for ovarian cysts are performed during a laparoscopy. This is minimally invasive endoscopic surgery where two to four small incisions are made on the abdomen, where a thin long camera is inserted through one of the incisions and instruments for excision of the cysts are inserted through the other incisions. Carbon dioxide gas is then introduced into the abdominal cavity to create space for surgical excision of the cyst. Laparoscopies are day procedures under general anaesthesia.
Some larger or more complicated ovarian cysts may require an open surgery approach. This involves a larger incision on the abdomen and will require one to two days overnight stay in hospital after the operation.
The aim of either surgical approach when treating ovarian cysts is to only remove the cyst, leaving the ovaries intact. However, if the cyst is too large or connected to ovarian tissue, part or all of the ovary may need to be removed.
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