Types of Ovarian Cysts: Revealed

One of the most common conditions occurring in women is the formation of ovarian cysts. However, in spite of their frequent occurrence, very little is known about the condition. Before understanding ovarian cysts, one must know what are ovaries. Ovaries come in pairs and resemble two almond-shaped organs, situated on either side of the pelvis. These organs produce the female egg that is released during every monthly menstrual cycle.

Ovarian cysts are small fluid-filled sacs or cysts that are found to occur either on the walls of the ovary or inside them. It is comforting to learn that ovarian cysts generally pose no grave threat to one’s health and rarely lead to any serious problem. They usually disappear on their own without any treatment. In fact, due to their unobtrusive nature, many women remain completely ignorant of their presence.

Ovarian cysts may pose some difficulty in being detected because of the lack of prominent symptoms. However, if a woman is diagnosed with these cysts, they should be monitored diligently and if possible, a course of treatment should be started without delay. Ovarian cysts may not remain completely harmless and there have been many cases where these cysts have led to more serious and dangerous complications. Some ovarian cysts can be stubborn and continue to persist in the body instead of disappearing on their own. They can grow in size, rupture, get more complex in nature and lead to very serious disorders, including cancer.

It is not very clearly known what causes ovarian cysts. There are many factors that contribute to their growth. However, the most common cause is a disruption in the normal menstrual cycle. The monthly menstrual cycle is the regular physiological process in which an egg forms, develops and is finally released. During this complicated process, certain cyst-like structures or follicles may be grown by the ovaries to aid the process. These follicles are responsible for producing the hormones estrogen and progesterone that are essential for controlling the process and also bringing about a successful release of the unfertilized egg. Owing to a variety of reasons such as a sudden hormonal imbalance, prolonged sickness, side-effects of certain drugs, etc. there could be disruption in this natural process. This causes the follicle to start behaving abnormally and before long, it turns into a functional ovarian cyst.

Functional ovarian cysts are of two main kinds. First, let us look at what is known as a follicular cyst. At the time of menstruation, there is an increased activity and production of the luteinizing hormone (LH). This is the hormone that provides a critical stimulus to the egg causing it to be released. Sometimes, the production of LH could be less than sufficient and this affects the normal operations of the ovarian follicles. They do not rupture and form follicular cysts. These cysts are very common in women but thankfully, are not very serious. They usually cause little pain or discomfort, and left on their own, often disappear by themselves.

Secondly, some ovarian cysts may develop even after the luteinizing hormone is produced and an egg is released. This is the more serious kind of functional ovarian cysts. After the egg is released, the ruptured follicle may start producing abnormal quantities of the hormones estrogen and progesterone, and it turns into what is known as a corpus luteum or ‘white body’. Often the mouth of the opening that is left behind by the released egg becomes sealed off, causing fluids to collect inside the ‘white body’ and eventually becoming a cyst. This kind of ovarian cysts usually disappears by themselves and most often, requires little or no medical attention. However, they can sometimes persist and grow larger, even causing the ovary to twist in some extreme cases, thereby causing strong pain in and around the pelvis and the abdomen.

Another type of ovarian cysts, called complex ovarian cysts, can be potentially more dangerous. Fortunately, they are rarer in occurrence. These cysts carry both solid and liquid components, and are of the following three kinds:

Dermoid cysts, made of the same cells as human eggs
Endometrioma, resulting from endometriosis and made of uterine tissue
Cystadenomas, filled with mucous and made of ovarian tissue

Self-diagnosis and regular testing are the two keys of detecting ovarian cysts. Talk to your doctor if any of its symptoms are noticed.

Most women complain that ovarian cysts are difficult to get rid off because they keep coming back. This happens because they turn to conventional medications that just treat the symptoms without really trying to find out why the cysts are being caused. Holistic remedies on the other hand treat the body as a whole and first identify the root causes and then treat the causes, and not the symptoms. Thus, the cyst problem can permanently solved only with this approach.

Mary Parker is a medical researcher, certified nutritionist, health consultant and author of the #1 best-selling e-book, "Ovarian Cysts No More- The Secrets Of Curing Ovarian Cysts Holistically". Mary has written dozens of holistic health articles and has been featured in ezines and print magazines, as well as on hundreds of websites worldwide.

To learn more about Mary Parker´s Unique 3-Step Holistic Ovarian Cysts Cure System, visit: Ovarian Cysts Types