Ovarian Cysts

What are Ovarian Cysts?

Ovaries are a part of every woman’s reproductive system. There are two ovaries on either side of the womb (the uterus). The ovaries are small, bean-shaped organs.

Ovarian cysts develop on the ovaries as fluid-filled sacs. They are common and often cause no symptoms, are mostly harmless, and often disappear with no treatment being required.

Your IPSA Clinic Ovarian Cyst Consultation

At your IPSA clinic, you will always be seen by an IPSA female physician for ovarian cyst consultations, which are carried out in a confidential, calm and clean setting. With IPSA’s immediate appointments, you can be seen at once, and if you are experiencing acute pain from an ovarian cyst, you might then be referred directly to our gynaecology team. Your IPSA practitioner will always treat you holistically, as our service is person-centred, and she will, during you ovarian cyst consultation, discuss your family history and lifestyle to assess your risk of ovarian cancer.

Ovarian Cysts: What are the Symptoms?

Ovarian cysts mostly cause no symptoms and there is no pain with most cysts.

Symptoms usually only appear:

If a cyst splits (ruptures)
If the blood supply to the ovaries is blocked by the cyst (torsion)
If the cyst is particularly large

This may then produce the following symptoms:

Feeling extremely full or bloated, even after only a light meal
Indigestion
Heavier, lighter or irregular periods when compared to your normal menstruation
Pain in the pelvic region ranging from a dull and heavy feeling (due to large cysts) to sudden and sharp pain (due to ruptured cysts or torsion)
Pain in the pelvic region when having sex
Problems emptying your bowels
Unusual fatigue (extreme tiredness)
Felling dizzy or light-headed
Feeling an urge to urinate more often than you usually do

Diagnosing Ovarian Cysts

Ovarian cysts often remain undiagnosed because they produce no symptoms. Sometimes the cysts are diagnosed when an unrelated procedure is being carried out such as when you are having an ultrasound scan (USS) or a pelvic examination.

At your IPSA clinic, you will be fully examined by a female physician during the consultation and offered further investigations, including blood tests for ovarian cancer and/or a USS, depending on your history.

Treatment for Ovarian Cysts

Treatment is provided for ovarian cysts depending on:

Whether you are experiencing any of the listed symptoms
The size of your cyst and its appearance
Whether you have entered the menopause (because women who are post-menopausal, have a slightly increased risk for ovarian cancer)

At your IPSA ovarian cyst consultation, you may be offered hormonal treatment to help control the pain and minimise the size of the ovarian cyst.

Are Ovarian Cysts Dangerous?

Most ovarian cysts are benign and disappear of their own accord in a matter of weeks. Some are linked to cancer of the ovaries. In a small percentage of women, there are many small cysts on the ovaries, and for women with these polycystic ovaries (PCO), there is a slightly increased risk of developing ovarian cancer.

Do Ovarian Cysts Go Away?

The cysts will often disappear in a couple of weeks without treatment. Sometimes, as a follow-up procedure, an ultrasound scan (USS) for your ovaries may be carried out to confirm that your cyst has gone.