Ovarian Cyst Symptoms After Menopause

Ovarian Cyst Symptoms After Menopause

Ovarian Cyst  is a fluid collection that occurs in the ovary. The fluid is wrapped by a membrane that is formed by the outermost layer of the ovary.

Ovarian Cyst in after menopausal women are quite common.

After menopause, ovarian cysts are contracted . No optimal management for cysts exists. Many cysts will be naturally absorbed  without any problems. Ovarian cysts and malignancy do not appear to have a close correlation, but we are already know that ovarian cancer is showing a disturbing rise in older women. Most of ovarian cysts are not dangerous; not cancerous. The diagnosis is made by ultrasonography (USG), although sometimes the cysts are palpable (can be touched) enough. It was highly recommended to remove the cysts seriously, but now, as rapid advance in imaging technology, clinicians have developed a criteria for how to manage an ovarian cyst especially for post menopausal women. In general, not all cysts should be removed; cysts that do not grow may just be observed.

Ovarian Cyst Causes

Ovarian cysts are formed by a variety of reasons. The cause will determine the type of cyst. Among all types of ovarian cysts, follicular type is the most common one. This follicular cysts are formed because the growth not controlled.

The follicle is a fluid cavity that normally found in the ovary. In normal circumstances, follicle containing eggs will open during the menstrual cycle to release an egg. However, in some cases, these follicles do not open, and this fluid retention will later become cysts.

Fluid inside the cysts mostly are blood which comes as a result of the injury of the small blood vessels around the ovary. But in rare cases, cysts may also contain abnormal body tissues such as: hair and teeth. This is called dermoid cysts.

Ovarian Cyst Symptoms

Most women do not realize that she is suffering from a ovarian cyst. The most ovarian cyst symptom is pain felt in the hips and lower abdomen. This pain is caused by ruptured cyst wall, cyst enlargement that rapidly grow, or bleeding inside the cyst, and torsion cyst. The pain will be severe when the cysts twist. 

When you experience the symptoms like above, better you come to an expert in pelvic sonography and also a gynecologyst. They will perform a blood test called CA-125. If there is an elevated CA-125, the cysts are potentially malignant/cancerous.If the CA-125 is within normal limits, it may be sign of simple cyst, which only contain liquid and should be followed by serial USG until a period of time. But elevated CA-125 with pain are suspected to be dangerous; so removal is considered. Gynecologyst will also perform a new blood test called OVA1 if your CA-125 is high. The result  of high OVA1 will confirm that the cyst is malignant.

Ovarian Cysts Treatments

If the cysts are confirmed malignant, they should be removed. Removal process is not always an open procedure (called laparotomy), now clinicians perform a laparoscopy technique (make a belly button or keyhole surgery). Better for you to do the procedure under the supervision of a gynecologic oncologyst.

Summary

• Most ovarian cysts in after menopausal women are benign.
• When the cyst is small (by USG), the CA-125 is normal, and painless, she should have a serial USG and CA-125 testing.
• If USG shows a growing significantly cyst, it means the cyst has potentially malignant characteristic. It usually followed by elevated CA-125 and pelvic pain.
• The approach of managing ovarian cyst in post menopausal women is now minimally invasive surgery, because older women tend to have underlying disease.