Ovarian cysts are masses that appear at the level of the uterine adnexa. Its content must be liquid, since if it were solid, we would be talking about a tumor, and its benignity or malignancy will depend on its content, as well as the need for treatment. There are different types of tumors with very different causes and diagnoses.
Each month, during the period of functional activity, the woman forms a functional cyst, which are absolutely normal and should disappear after menstruation. However, some of these may persist and develop into cystadenomas, which have a certain potential for maignification. The so-called endometriotic cysts (chocolate cyst), or teratomas have other origins and in addition to compromising the fertility of women, can be malignant from the start or malignant with the passage of time, so they should always be treated or removed to avoid complications. Discomfort can be a symptom that can be used for diagnosis, although they are often localized during the course of a routine visit, when a transvaginal ultrasound is performed.
Symptoms and treatment
Cysts, depending on their size, nature and characteristics, may not cause any symptoms at all and may be detected during a check-up, as is the case in the vast majority of cases. Sometimes, they can generate a series of symptoms related to their size, nature and characteristics (nephritic cramps, swelling, ovulatory pain, etc.), and then they are the reason for consulting a specialist.
As for the treatment of cysts, except for those of functional origin and endometriotic cysts, which can be treated with medication, the rest must be operated on surgically. The technique of choice used today is laparoscopy, by means of mini-incisions, with the advantage of minimal hospital stay and minimal scarring.