Know the Signs of Cysts on Ovaries

An ovarian cyst is a collection of fluids within the ovary. Most ovarian cysts are harmless, which means that they are benign, or are not cancerous. This is definitely good news, but it still isn’t something that should be taken lightly. Signs of cysts on ovaries may be present, but it’s highly possible not to experience any of its symptoms, as well. Ovarian cysts are most likely found on premenopausal women, ages 18-40.

Common Signs and Symptoms

The most common among the many signs of cysts on ovaries is pain. It is usually dull, severe, or sharp, but it may usually just be a mild discomfort in the abdomen, which most women would just take for granted after relief.

Another of the signs of cysts on ovaries are breast tenderness, urine incontinence and difficulty in bowel movement, irregular periods, abnormal bleeding or spotting, and occasionally strange lumps or nodules that feel like bruises on the skin in the lower abdomen.

A Real Story

Trying to get the real picture of how an ovarian cyst affects a person’s life, Marissa, age 24, tells her story. She is a teacher and a typical woman who manages a career and a social life. According to her, she experienced the signs of cysts on ovaries with what started as abdominal pains since she was 15 years old. Her pains started out mild, which are relieved after taking analgesics.

As the years passed, it became a bit more intense, but she still continued to manage her discomfort with pain relievers. She has heard of ovarian cysts since her mom had it before, but she never expected that what she was experiencing then was already indicative of the signs of cysts on ovaries.

When she started to experience unusual bleeding and spotting couple with pains that increased in frequency, that’s when she started becoming alarmed. She immediately set an appointment with her gynecologist. She was then scheduled to undergo an ultrasound to further assess her condition. It was then diagnosed that the pains and the unusual bleeding were signs of cysts on ovaries.

More tests were conducted to determine the specific treatment that she would need. Marissa underwent a surgical biopsy to remove the cysts. Luckily, the cysts were benign, but she is still being monitored to hinder any re-growth and to make sure that her condition does not progress to cancer.

Relieve the Symptoms

After further research, it has been found that there are certain measures women could do to alleviate the signs of cysts on ovaries. The most common is by taking pain relievers, including acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and others.

A warm bath, or a heating pad or bottle could relieve the presenting symptoms or signs of cysts on ovaries by relieving the cramping and by promoting circulation and healing on the ovaries. It is also recommended to avoid caffeine in the diet and that chamomile herbal tea could relieve the signs of cysts on ovaries.

And most importantly, it is best not ignore any discomfort like abdominal pains, which is the most common among the signs of cysts on ovaries, most especially if one has a history of ovarian cancer in the family.