Ovarian Cyst And Pregnancy : The Facts

By Amanda Clark

An Ovarian Cyst and Pregnancy is not that strange of a combination. Ovarian cysts are a natural occurrence of the pregnancy cycle. A cyst is a closed sac that forms in the body. Ovarian cysts begin in the ovaries and can contain tissue, fluid, or blood. Cysts that form during pregnancy normally have fluid in them.

There are different types of ovarian cysts. Most cysts during a pregnancy are functional. This means that they occur because of normal functions in the ovaries. Luteum and follicular cysts are the two types of functional cysts. Some women choose to use birth control to prevent this normal function.

The corpus lutuem is a main function for pregnancy. It is released from the ovaries after the egg and distributes progesterone. The corpus luteum ranges from 2cm to 6cm and dissolves naturally. It can develop into a cyst, especially when it is larger. Any symptoms it causes normally diminish by the second trimester.

The follicular cyst is another type of functional cyst that can occur during pregnancy. This type of cyst occurs when the follicle holding the egg does not dissolve. The follicle then grows into a cyst. During pregnancy, a follicular cyst happens when a second egg is released but not fertilized. Similar to a luteum cyst, symptoms should disappear in a few months.

Although normal, functional cysts can cause pain. Larger cysts are at risk for rupture or twisting. A ruptured cyst can be painful and the pain can last for several hours. If a functional cyst attaches to the body and becomes twisted that is also painful. The twisting can reduce blood supply and cause nausea.

Some cysts develop into a serious disease called ovarian cancer. As ovarian cancer mostly affects women in menopause, it is rare in pregnancy. It should not be a worry, but many doctors will check for cancerous cysts. - 31802

About the Author:

Sign Up for our Free Newsletter

Enter email address here