An ovarian
cyst is a tiny capsule within the ovary which encloses a
blend of fluids and is surrounded by a thin wall. Any
follicle which is about two centimeters larger than the
normal size is specified as an ovarian cyst. Most
ovarian cysts are benign and even functional in nature.
However, some of them like the hemorrhagic type tend to
be extremely painful ovarian cysts. A
hemorrhagic cyst is also known as a blood cyst,
haematocyst and haemotocele.
It occurs when a tiny blood vessel within the cyst ruptures causing the blood to leak into the cyst. A classic sign of hemorrhagic cyst is pain on the right side of the abdomen. The bleeding may be profuse and can be pretty rapid, thus covering
the entire ovary in a matter of minutes causing intense
pain. As the blood starts collecting in the ovary, it
starts to form clots and these are usually visible on a
sonogram. In certain cases, the hemorrhagic cyst can
burst and can result in the flooding of the abdominal
cavity with blood.
However,
it is quite rare for the blood to be discharged from the
vagina. It is when the cyst ruptures that the pain
becomes quite unbearable. Thankfully, these are
self-limiting and usually don’t require surgical
intervention. Even if the cyst breaks, it resolves on
its own provided the patient takes adequate rest.
Tetracycline has been known to be an effective
medication in the treatment of hemorrhagic cysts but
should never be taken without a physician's consent.
Another type of painful ovarian cyst occurs when
torsion occurs. Torsion of the
ovary is also referred to as adnexal torsion and is a
critical and very painful condition which requires
emergency treatment.
An
endometroid cyst is caused by endometriosis and is
formed when a tiny patch of the endometrial tissue
bleeds and sloughs off. The tissue is then transplanted
someplace else where it grows and enlarges. As the blood
build up goes on increasing the tissue turns a dark
brownish shade and often referred to as chocolate cyst.
When the
cyst finally ruptures, the materials contained within
spills over into the utereus, bowels and the pelvis. A
major symptom associated with endometriosis is severe
incessant pain. The pain peaks
when the cyst ruptures.
Dermoid
Cysts are formed of ovarian cells which contribute to
the formation of teeth and hair. This type of cyst is
quite rare but when it occurs they can grow to a large
size and become quite painful. Polycystic ovaries are
known to develop when multiple follicular cysts gets
created within the ovaries. This specific
type of cyst formation is referred to as polycystic
ovarian syndrome and these are known to interfere with
menstruation. PCOS cause clear fluid-filled cysts to
develop all around the ovaries and stems the ovulation
process. The cause of PCOS still remains a mystery even
to health care professionals. However, the causes are
thought to include everything from faulty genetics to
hormonal deficiency. Research suggests that women with
Insulin resistance are more prone to PCOS. Women with
ovarian cysts tend to confuse the symptoms with that
caused by pelvic inflammatory disease and
endometriosis.
Ovarian
cyst torsion is usually detected late into the diagnosis
and often causes the necrosis or infarction of the cyst.
Although no cases of death has been reported due to
ovarian torsion, the pain it brings can literally drive
someone to insanity. The factors responsible for causing
ovarian cyst torsion are many; it is commonly caused by
one of the many anatomic changes. Torsion of the cyst is
usually common in young teens who have developmental
abnormalities like long fallopian tubes or the absence
of mesosalpinx. During pregnancy, the presence of a
large corpus luteum is a risk factor for the patient to
suffer from torsion of the ovary.
Women who
are undergoing infertility treatment like induction of
ovulation are at even greater risks. This is because the
theca luteum cysts tend to expand the ovarian volume by
a significant amount. Both malignant and benign ovarian
cysts are at risk for torsion. Although prescription
medicines can help relieve the pain temporarily, they
cannot provide a long term solution to painful
ovarian cysts.
A holistic approach works by dealing with
the problem at the root level and thus guarantees long
lasting effect. Conventional medicines only target the
localized area of infliction. This means the results you
get will be temporary and is likely to come with its
share of side-effects. Holistic approach is a
multi-pronged treatment which targets all of the
underlying factors that contribute to the development of
ovarian cysts. There are a plethora of factors which
contribute to formation of painful ovarian cysts. Some
factors don’t necessarily initiate the formation of the
cysts it might aggravate the already formed cysts.
