The menopausal phase tends to serve up all kinds of signs and symptoms. One rather common one is the formation of cysts or fibroids on the ovaries themselves. These generally non-cancerous growths can be a bit of a concern, but rest assured, they are not uncommon.
Many post menopausal cyst on ovary occurrences are brought on by the variety of hormonal changes that take place during menopause itself. As the body slowly changes, the way different women's bodies will react is hard to predict. Cysts and fibroids are rather common reactions.
There are a variety of different post menopausal cyst on ovary types. These range from very small, benign growths to those that continue growing at will. Some are precursors to cancer, but others are not. Most cysts are not painful and are virtually impossible to detect outside of gynecological examinations. A few types can produce pain, especially if they become large enough to push on internal organs.
Since some post menopausal cyst on ovary growths can be warning signs of cancer to come, it is not at all unlikely a doctor will want to explore a growth a little more closely. The things women can expect if a cyst is detected include:
· Testing. Many times doctors will test before they jump to conclusions. The tests involve can range from simple blood draws to ultra sounds and beyond. The idea is to find out what kind cyst is present before further decisions are made. There are some kinds of cysts that will cease growing and disappear all on their own if left to their own devices. This means surgery or other intervention isn't always necessary in these cases. Testing can be an important step in determining the nature of cysts and helping guide decision-making in their regard.
· Surgical draining. Some cysts might involve nothing more than the simple draining and even removal of the cyst itself. These procedures are generally fairly straightforward. They can remove all question about the nature of an individual cyst. It isn't out of the question that a biopsy will be done to make sure cancer isn't present.
· Full surgery. If it is suspected that a cyst might present a real problem, a doctor might decide to completely remove the ovary. This is often done in cases where the ovary is simply no longer needed or if a cyst has the potential to be cancerous. The idea will be to remove the ovary entirely to prevent the cyst from rupturing and releasing possible malignant cells into the body.
· Double ovarian removal. If cancer is strongly suspected or one ovary is being removed to prevent its formation, doctors will typically want to remove both at the same time. This is generally only recommended in the case of post-menopausal women or if cancer is actually present.
While post menopausal cyst on ovary issues do crop up, their arrival can be a cause for concern in some cases. Most times cysts are considered benign and they cause little or no problems for the women who have them. Sometimes, however, they can be a precursor to more serious conditions down the road.
Most ovarian cysts are present without any symptoms. These are generally found during routine pelvic exams. Some cysts, however, can present with pain or pressure in the abdomen, lower back aches, urinary issues, painful intercourse, weight gain and even breast tenderness. Pre-menopausal women might also notice painful periods and bleeding patterns that are out of the norm.
Since some post menopausal cyst on ovary incidents are warning signs of other conditions, it is generally a good idea to undergo testing to determine the root problem. Surgery may or may not be recommended.
