Are You Wondering What Causes Cysts?

By Amanda Clark

If you have ever been told that you or a family memer have a cyst, your next question may have been what causes cysts? In order to understand the answer to that question, you need to first know what a cyst is, then you can know what causes it.

Cysts are sac like structures that are somewhat like a blister, but are formed inside the body. They may cither contain a gas, liquid or even semi-solid type substance. They form inside a tissue and may be found anywhere in your body. Cysts may be of various sizes, from microscopic to large enough to displace the organs of the body.

While technically, a cyst can refer to normal sacs found within the body, like the bladder, this article will use the term to refer to the abnormal growths found in the body.

Cysts are not normal parts of the tissues where they are found. They have a distinct skin like membrane called a cyst wall. If this sac has been filled with pus, it is not technically a cyst but it is an abscess.

Cysts can be caused by tumors, wear and tear, genetic conditions or many other conditions. Ask your doctor why your cyst formed.

While most cysts are benign, and simply caused by a duct or body outlet being plugged, others may be tumors or formed inside of a tumor. These cysts may be malignant.

According to its depth beneath the skin, you can be keenly aware of a cyst or not even know it is there until it is discovered by a CAT scan or MRI. You may find an abnormal lump if the cyst is in or just underneath the skin.

Women may find cysts in the mammary glands when doing a self exam. These cysts can often be painful.

Cysts that are located in the brain can cause headaches as well as other symptoms. - 29962

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Getting Pregnant After 35

By Michelle Rudge

Now that you are over 35, are you faced with the decisions about trying to get pregnant? My husband and I are at that stage now. It's a scary time for us. We have only been married for two years so we would like to have waited a little longer before starting a family, but I'm now 36 and we don't know what our fertility chances are. So in order to become just a little less ignorant about our fertility chances, I started doing some research on the internet.

First off, it's us women that seem to have the most fertility issues. Here are just two of the main factors affecting fertility that are pertinent to most women I think. 1. Body Weight - often we think that just being overweight can affect our fertility. Overweight or obese women may not be able to conceive due to hormone issues brought on by obesity. But underweight women can problems too; if they are able to conceive some are not able to provide the fetus/baby with the nutrients they need.

2. The other major issue is with the ovaries and uterus. In the ovaries you can have problems like Poly Cystic Ovaries (PCO), twisted ovaries or fibroids. And then in the uterus, one of the most common causes of fertility issues is with endometriosis. This can cause further complications such as low progesterone count, diminished ovarian reserve and other ovulation disorders. It's just my luck that I have both these issues to deal with, I'm overweight and have a long history of endometriosis.

Men are not off the hook though. They too can suffer from infertility issues such as low sperm count and sperm motility, an STD, sperm blockages or an injury or disease. Also there are factors that affect both men and women. Factors like too much caffeine or alcohol, smoking, stress or not enough vitamins in the diet.

So that's quite a few factors affecting our fertility. Rather than just trying to deal with one issue after another, my husband and I have decided to take a holistic approach to trying to get pregnant. We will look after our whole body and get it as healthy as we can to give ourselves the best chances of getting pregnant after 35. - 29962

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Dealing With A Cyst Endometriosis

By Amanda Clark

Many women suffer from very painful Ovarian Cysts and Endometriosis. Some fluid filled cysts are normal, but others are caused from the disease itself. The uterus lining develops scar tissue and this causes excessive bleeding. If you have developed a cyst endometriosis consult your physician. Endometriosis symptoms can be alleviated.

Cysts form when a woman menstruates, but will usually go away. Sometimes the cyst will not go away and if all other treatments fail; it must be removed surgically. I opted for a complete hysterectomy after years of coping with both of these conditions.

Doctors will usually treat this condition with Progestin. This drug can decrease bleeding and scar tissue. Birth Control pills can also relieve some of the pain associated with this disease. If the symptoms are left untreated, scar tissue can adhere to other organs in the body.

Doctors are now trying the oral injection of Depo Provera as an effective treatment. Results will last for nine months and this method also haults ovarian functions. Much success has resulted from this treatment. Women enjoy the long term decrease of symptoms and the shots are given only once a month.

After all methods of treatments are exhausted, doctors will perform a hysterectomy. This involves removing the entire uteus and sometimes the fallopian tubes. This treatment will remove all evidence of the disease, but will also sterilize the patient. Many women like the fact that it will also hault their monthly cycle. This procedure is only used if all else fails.

Experts recommend that women receive a gynecological examination yearly to detect early symptoms of this condition. There is ample research being done and hopefully scientists will find a cure for this disease very soon. It is imperative that you visit your doctor to discuss treatment and symptoms. It is important to understand that this condition is often hereditary. It is a condition that can be dealt with effectively and kept under control. - 29962

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Removing Cysts - Simple And Easy Procedures

By Amanda Clark

A cyst, regardless of where it is located, is simply a sac of fluid. Cysts can range in size, occur almost anywhere, and may cause no problem, or lots of problems. Some doctors just prefer removing cysts to be safe. Depending on the location of the cyst, or the pain and discomfort it causes, your doctor may also prescribe painkillers and/or in the case of ovarian cysts, hormonal therapy which includes certain types of birth control pills used to shrink the mass of tissue.

The removal of a cyst is more often than not, very simple. It's more often than not an outpatient procedure, performed under a local anesthetic, and post op recovery is fast.

There are very few complications to worry about other than the usual: post op infection or bleeding. Most doctors will run a routine biopsy of the tissue.

If an internal organ is involved, surgical removal can be more complicated whether it's planned or it's on an emergency basis. Cysts commonly form on organs such as the Fallopian tubes or even the colon or intestines. Doctors usually prefer to drain the cyst prior to surgery in order to avoid its bursting and causing peritonitis.

The scalp is another area where cysts commonly form. Between all the hair products we use, and our normal scalp oils, hair follicles can easily fill up with these substances and turn into cysts. These cysts typically can exist without causing any kind of discomfort or other problems, however, they can get irritated if they are in an area that is combed or brushed all the time.

For those that do need removal, it's done in a doctor's office using a simple procedure called a needle extraction. For cysts whose contents are less fluid, total removal is probably necessary. These both can be done under a topical anesthetic such as Novocain. Depending on the size you may need one stitch - 29962

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What Should You Know About Ovarian Cyst Symptoms?

By Amanda Clark

An ovarian cyst is a small fluid-filled sac that develops in a woman's ovaries. Many cysts are completely normal. These are called functional cysts. They occur as a result of ovulation. Any ovarian follicle larger than 2 cm is considered an ovarian cyst. Almost all women have ovarian cysts at some point in life. What are the most common ovarian cyst symptoms?

Functional ovarian cysts are usually harmless, producing no symptoms and disappear without treatment. In most cases, the patient feels pain, which is caused by the cyst size, type and degree of evolution. If the cyst is larger, it can cause pressure on the bladder, producing pain during intercourse. This type of cyst is caused by various diseases that affect other organs and occur during pregnancy.

If you have a functional ovarian cyst, you may present lower abdominal pain, irregular menstrual periods, and sharp pain after intercourse or exhausting exercise, long-term pelvic pain during menstrual period, vaginal bleeding, dizziness, nausea and vomiting. In some cases, ovarian cysts can cause infertility. Also, it's possible to gain weight because of this problem.

Signs and symptoms that require urgent medical attention include severe pelvic pain that occurs suddenly, pain accompanied by fever, wet and cold skin, rapid breathing, fainting, dizziness and weakness (signs that indicate a shock).

Usually, ovarian cysts are asymptomatic. Or, when symptoms are present, they are similar to those of other diseases such as endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy and ovarian cancer. Even appendicitis and diverticulitis can cause symptoms similar to those produced by an ovarian cyst rupture.

Some women are diagnosed with less common ovarian cysts that don't produce any symptoms and are discovered during pelvic examination (Dermoid cysts, Endometrioid cysts and Hemorrhagic cysts).

Although there is no method to prevent this problem, pelvic exams are required in order to make sure that ovarian cyst symptoms are diagnosed at the right time. Also, women must pay attention to any changes affecting the menstrual cycle, including unusual symptoms that persist for a longer time. - 29962

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Pain, Bleeding Could Be Signs Of Burst Ovarian Cysts

By Amanda Clark

Ovarian cysts are a cause of concern for many women, especially the possibility that the cyst might burst. Burst ovarian cysts are a condition that needs immediate attention.

Cysts on the ovaries can be common among women of childbearing age, but rarely are they life-threatening. During normal monthly menstruation, a follicle in the ovary releases an egg, or ovum, in the menstrual cycle. Sometimes, however, the follicle fails to break open, causing the formation of a cyst. This type of cyst is called a "functional cyst."

A cyst will form if the sac doesn't break open to release the ovum (egg). This is called a "functional cyst." The other cause of ovarian cyst is when the sac seals itself off after the egg is released instead of dissolving as normal. This type of cyst, called a "corpus luteum cyst, " fills with fluid.

Most ovarian cysts go away naturally within four to 12 weeks. Sometimes, however, an ovarian cyst can burst, causing a woman severe pain and needing emergency attention.

A burst ovarian cyst causes a woman pain that typically radiates throughout the pelvic region into the lower abdomen. How severe the pain gets depends on whether the cyst is infected or bleeding, and of what the cyst is composed, such as fluid or blood. The contents can irritate the peritoneal lining, which increase the pain. An ovarian cyst also can give a woman discomfort by influencing the ovary to produce more prostaglandins.

Typically ovarian cysts measure between 5cm and 10 cm, making them large enough to cause intense pain. A burst ovarian cyst results in extreme pain for a woman, the kind of pain that makes a person double up in agony.

Any time a woman finds herself in this type of pelvic pain, particularly when bleeding or spotting is also present, she should seek emergency treatment. In all likelihood the cause is a burst ovarian cyst and should be seen to immediately by a physician. - 29962

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Everything You Need To Know About Endometriosis And Infertility

By Karol Cardinson

Depending on which reference source one reads, women with endometriosis have a fertility rate of 50 to 65 percent, whereas the general population of women has a fertility rate of 88 percent. Among women with endometriosis, it is believed that 30 to 50 percent are infertile, although the true incidence of infertility is unknown, For that matter, no one knows the true incidence of infertility in the general population.

The paradox of infertility in endometriosis is that most of the standard medical treatments for the disease are contraceptive. Endometriosis is essentially an estrogen-dependent disease; the drugs used to treat it deplete the body of estrogen and therefore shrink the endometriomata. But pregnancy also is estrogen dependent. So it's unlikely that you will become pregnant while you are receiving treatment, and when you go off the drugs in an effort to have a baby, your endometriosis will probably get worse again.

To add to the irony, drugs that increase the chance of conception also tend to exacerbate endometriosis. They have other serious side effects as well, so if you feel as though you are between a rock and a hard place, you are.

What's more, if endometriosis does indeed cause infertility, then eradication of the disease should render a woman fertile. Unfortunately, it doesn't always work that way. Treatment of mild to moderate disease does not necessarily improve the rate of fertility over doing nothing. You may become pregnant after treatment but according to statistics, the general incidence does not increase. Women who undergo various treatments for endometriosis, and who also are being evaluated for fertility, have variable outcomes in the success of the treatment on fertility. This suggests that endometriosis affects individual women's ability to become pregnant in different ways.

If the disease is caused by an anatomical abnormality, surgery to correct it may or may not be effective-depending on the skill of your surgeon and whether you develop serious adhesions. If you have the predisposition to endometriosis since you were in your mother's uterus, chances are the longer you wait, the less likely you are to get pregnant.

If you decide to have surgery (the less invasive the procedure, the greater the chance of preserving whatever fertility you have), timing becomes even trickier. Most physicians believe that there is a postoperative "window of opportunity" that lasts about six to nine months. This is when you luck is at its peak. After about nine months of menstrual periods after surgery, if there are still some endometriomata left in your abdomen, the buildup of scar tissue, cysts, and adhesions will once again impair fertility.

One extremely frustrating thing about endometriosis and infertility is that the disease appears to increase the chance of natural abortion (miscarriage). So there are women who can become pregnant but cannot carry to term. Surgery and medication may help correct this problem, but so far no scientific data exists. - 29962

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