Ovarian cysts affect about 10% of reproductive-aged women at any given time, though not all know it. For many women, these ovarian growths don’t cause symptoms. For others, they cause sharp pain or abdominal discomfort.
You may not realize you have an ovarian cyst until Asia Mohsin, MD, discovers one during a routine women’s health exam at Progressive Women’s Health OB/GYN in Friendswood, Texas. She can tell you whether your cyst needs treatment right away or later.
You might wonder if you can forgo treatment for an ovarian cyst altogether and whether it might eventually go away on its own. In this article, we discuss whether cysts can resolve on their own and how to treat them when they require treatment.
A cyst’s life cycle starts with ovulation, the phase of the menstrual cycle when your ovary releases a mature egg. During ovulation, a fluid-filled sac can form on the ovary because of the hormone changes during this phase. That’s an ovarian cyst, and multiple cysts are possible.
Some people get ovarian cysts often because of a hormonal condition called polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Other conditions, like pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), can also contribute.
Most ovarian cysts are noncancerous and won’t cause any significant medical complications if you don’t treat them. And, yes, many go away on their own.
Still, Dr. Mohsin wants to monitor ovarian cysts if she knows you have them. She might tell you to visit the office for exams or ultrasounds to make sure your cyst or cysts don’t become cancerous and that they go away entirely.
An ovarian cyst may resolve on its own after a couple of menstrual cycles.
While most cysts only need monitoring before they eventually go away, some may require cyst removal treatment with laparoscopy, a minimally invasive technique.
After evaluating your cyst with an ultrasound, Dr. Mohsin might recommend treatment if it:
If that’s the case for you, Dr. Mohsin tells you more about your treatment options.
If you get ovarian cysts often, Dr. Mohsin might recommend hormonal birth control. Hormonal contraception won’t make an existing cyst go away, but it can stop new cysts from growing by preventing you from ovulating.
If you have symptoms that may point to an ovarian cyst, or if it’s time for your next routine women’s health exam, get in touch with Progressive Women’s Health OB/GYN. Schedule an appointment online or over the phone today.
