Ovarian Cyst And Pregnancy : The Facts

By Amanda Clark

Did you that it is common for an ovarian cyst and pregnancy to coexist? Cysts, although technically abnormal, are relatively normal during pregnancy. An ovarian cyst is a closed sac that develops in the ovary. These sacs can be filled with fluid, blood or tissue. During pregnancy, they are normally filled with fluid.

There are different types of ovarian cysts. Most cysts during a pregnancy are functional. This means that they occur because of normal functions in the ovaries. Luteum and follicular cysts are the two types of functional cysts. Some women choose to use birth control to prevent this normal function.

The corpus luteum is responsible for making progesterone and helps begin pregnancy. It is a small sac that ranges in size from 2 cm to 6cm. It leaves the ovaries following the egg and remains in the body for early pregnancy. When it remains longer than it should it can form a luteum cyst. Most of the time there are no symptoms, but if there are they typically go away by the second trimester.

The follicle holding the unfertilized egg can also develop into a cyst. This type of functional cyst is called follicular. During a pregnancy, the follicle dissolves and the egg is released and fertilized. When there are more than one egg, the extra eggs are not always released. This follicle may not dissolve and rather form into a cyst and grow. Most follicular cysts also go away by the second trimester.

Even though these functional cysts are rather normal, they can case pain. Cysts that grow to large are able to rupture. Ruptured cysts can cause several hours of pain. Cysts can also attach to other surfaces and twist. Twisting cuts of blood supply causing nausea and pain.

Many women worry about developing ovarian cancer from ovarian cyst. This is very rare. Ovarian cancer typically affects menopausal women. Any ovarian cyst can become cancerous; the cysts that occur during pregnancy typically do not. Having an ovarian cyst during your pregnancy is nothing to fear. A doctor is able to diagnose and remove them if they become a serious concern. However, many will just go away on their own - 29962

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