How can an ovarian cyst be treated? What forms of treatment are available? And how may the treatment differ from one case to another? The following article contains the solution:
Ovarian cysts are masses that may grow on the ovary, and although they may be transient in certain cases, in other cases they may require medical intervention to get rid of them or to remedy their complications, so how can the cyst on the ovary be treated? In the lines that follow, we will learn the following:
Treatment of the cyst on the ovary: factors that determine the extent of its need
in many cases; Ovarian cysts disappear automatically without the patient undergoing any treatment. Due to the following factors, doctors frequently decide whether a patient needs treatment or not:
- the condition is accompanied by visible symptoms.
- the age stage, particularly because ovarian cancer risk rises as women age and enter menopause.
- the size of the cyst and its general body.
Methods of treating the cyst on the ovary medical
The doctor may suggest any of the following, but these are the most common ones:
1. Watch and wait
The method of observation and waiting, in which the doctor starts periodically monitoring the patient's condition without prescribing any treatment, is used in the majority of cases. It is possible that this follow-up period includes subjecting the patient to ultrasound imaging from time to time to investigate the status of the cyst and the changes that occurred in it.
If the woman has reached the menopause stage, the follow-up period may involve a few different steps, like routine blood tests to rule out ovarian cancer.
If the cysts do not disappear automatically, or if the tests show that there is an abnormality, it may be necessary to undergo medical treatments among the options that we will present below.
2. Oral medications
The most popular types of medications that doctors frequently recommend as part of the routine for treating ovarian cysts are as follows:
- Oral hormonal contraceptives
The uterine lining is regularly shed in response to the hormones in hormonal birth control pills, which suppress ovulation and hormone production from the ovaries.
Since hormonal birth control pills can prevent some types of cysts from forming, they can help reduce a woman's risk of developing ovarian cysts in the future.
- pain killers
Taking painkillers can help with pain from women's ovarian cysts, but the kind of painkillers a doctor will recommend to a patient will depend on the type and intensity of the patient's pain.
Note that until the doctor decides on the best course of action for the condition, this kind of medication should only be used as a temporary means of pain relief.
- Metformin
Metformin is one of the drugs that the doctor might recommend as part of the regimen for treating ovarian cysts because it may help to increase the body's level of insulin sensitivity, which may benefit women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
3. Surgery
Some cases may require the patient to undergo surgery to treat the cyst on the ovary , but the type of surgery required may vary from one case to another depending on many factors. The most obvious warning signs that the condition might require surgical treatment are as follows:
- the cyst's size gradually growing larger or the emergence of a sizable cyst that originated on the ovary.
- the patient begins to experience some unsettling symptoms, like a persistent feeling of pressure in the abdomen.
- the emergence of symptoms suggesting cancerous tumours.
If surgery is required, here are the types of surgery available:
- laparoscopy
Through a tiny abdominal incision, a precise instrument is inserted during the medical procedure. This tool is used to either remove the cyst or to collect a sample from the cyst for laboratory analysis.
- Abdominal surgery
A relatively large surgical incision is made in the abdomen during the procedure. The surgeon can directly access the cyst through it for removal. This surgical procedure may only be recommended in certain cases, such as those with large ovarian cysts.
In the event that the removed cyst is found to be cancerous, the patient may undergo surgery to remove some parts of the female reproductive system, such as: the ovaries and the uterus.
- Other surgical procedures
Like the following procedures:
- Ovarian or fallopian tube removal if ovarian cysts cause certain damage to the tissues of the aforementioned organs.
- Urgent surgery to treat ovarian torsion, which may be associated with ovarian cysts.
4. Other treatment options
Ovarian cysts can occasionally be caused by specific illnesses or health issues, such as endometriosis. In these situations, the patient receiving specialised treatment for these illnesses can support the effort to treat the cyst on the ovary.
For instance, surgery to remove extraneous tissue and destroy it may help manage ovarian cysts in endometriosis.
Ways to treat the cyst on the ovary home
These at-home treatments for ovarian cysts can aid in their recovery and management:
- Massage: Receiving muscle massage treatments can ease any associated muscle tension, which is likely to get worse, especially during the menstrual cycle.
- Compresses: Several times a day, applying a hot compress for a third of an hour to the areas of your chest that hurt can help with some of the symptoms of the condition.
- Sports: Regular exercise can help to relieve the symptoms of ovarian cysts, but the types of sports that are best for each patient will vary.
- Other suggestions and home remedies include eating less and practising relaxation techniques.
When is it preferable to consult a doctor about ovarian cysts?
It is preferable to contact a doctor to treat the cyst on the ovary in the following cases:
- Continuous abdominal pain, and feeling pain during intercourse.
- Swelling of the abdomen, feeling a kind of fullness or bloating in the abdomen.
- Menstrual disorders, such as irregular menstruation .
- Difficulty emptying the bladder completely when urinating.