How Would I Know If I Have Ovarian Cysts?

Normally, every woman has 2 ovaries, each located on either side of the uterus. The ovaries produce an egg in a process known as ovulation which signals the start of a woman's menstrual cycle. An egg is enclosed in a follicle inside the ovary until the pituitary gland releases lutenizing hormone signaling the follicle to release the egg. After the egg is released, the empty follicle develops into corpus luteum, which then produces estrogen and progesterone in large quantities in preparation for pregnancy. Sometimes the egg is not released because the pituitary gland does not send the lutenizing hormone and at times it does send it and the egg is released but the follicle or corpus luteum, depending on the situation, develops into a cyst called an ovarian cyst. Most ovarian cysts in women in their childbearing years are functional and usually harmless. The fluid in functional cysts eventually drains off and the cyst disappears without treatment.

Often, ovarian cysts do not present any symptoms and are usually not discovered until an ultrasound is carried out for some reason or during a routine physical. The symptoms of ovarian cyst could be similar to that of diseases like pelvic inflammatory disease, appendicitis, or even endometriosis. However one, all or a combination of the following could be indicative symptoms of ovarian cyst:

• Dyspareunia, which is pain during sexual intercourse
• Abdominal pain and/or pressure
• Bloating or swelling in the abdomen
• Irregular or delayed menstrual periods
• Pelvic pain after hectic exercise
• Sudden, severe or sharp pain in the lower abdomen or pelvic region which could spread to the lower back
• Feeling of heaviness or fullness or a dull ache in the lower abdomen
• Pain or pressure during bowel movements
• Difficulty in fully emptying the bladder
• Pelvic pain just before or just after menstrual period
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Lasting or unusual pain in the pelvis during menstrual period
• Pain in the vagina
• Blood spotting from the vagina
• Infertility
• Breast tenderness like in pregnancy
• Discomfort in the pelvis
• Intermittent pelvic pain
• Tiredness
• Increased growth of hair on the body or the face
• Increase in weight

If you notice any of these symptoms of ovarian cyst, you should see a doctor who will then conduct a pelvic examination so you can be diagnosed. In the event that you experience pain with fever and vomiting you should see a doctor immediately.

Being told that you have an ovarian cyst can be scary to many women, but it is important to realize that in western civilizations, the occurrence of these cysts has become almost commonplace and some cysts are even considered a normal part of the ovulation process. There are however some parts of the world where ovarian cysts are virtually non-existent, this being vastly due to differences in diet and lifestyle.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christie_Hargrove