Saturday, October 31, 2009

What Are The Causes Of Cysts?

By Amanda Clark

Cysts are very common in women who are in their child bearing years. They are fluid filled sacs which resemble blisters and grow on the ovaries. The majority of cysts resolve without any treatment. Causes of cysts vary from a hormonal imbalance to the egg from the ovary not releasing every week.

Functional ovarian cysts occur when the empty follicle that produces an egg every month fails to dissolve and a cyst results from this. Dermoid cysts and polycystic ovarian cysts happen as a result of an imbalance between oestrogen and progesterone which are the two female hormones.

Other cysts will form due to a mixture of reasons. Dermoid cysts are filled with various types of tissue including skin and hair. Endometriosis cysts are blood cysts and occur when the tissue from the lining of the uterus attaches to the ovaries. This will bleed every month when a woman has her period, causing the cyst to swell.

Sometimes cells develop on the outer surface of the ovaries, these are adenoma cysts. In a condition called polycystic ovaries a hormonal imbalance and results in a follicle cysts building up and thickening. In turn the ovaries enlarge and the outer coating becomes very thick which can mean that ovulation cannot occur, leading to fertility problems.

A dull ache in the lower abdomen along with pain or bleeding may indicate a cyst. Although a large majority of cysts do not cause symptoms and therefore a women may not ever know that they have one.

Surgery is not usually required for asymptomatic cysts and the advice given may be to leave them alone to see if they go of their own accord. If, however, the cyst ruptures or is very painful or large, surgical intervention may be indicated.

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