Most women will experience an ovarian cyst at some point in their lives. These cysts are generally harmless and painless — they heal on their own and do not tend to affect fertility. However, there are some cysts that may lead to discomfort, impact the menstrual cycle, and cause women to have difficulties becoming pregnant. I bet you want to know how you can get pregnant with ovarian cysts.
The symptoms you experience depend on the type of ovarian cysts you have. In order to determine how this condition could be impacting your fertility, it’s first important to understand the different types of cysts, how they form, and how they can be treated.
If you have been diagnosed with an ovarian cyst and also have plans to conceive, you might get worried about the same.
What are Ovarian Cysts?
Ovarian cysts are some fluid-filled sacs present inside the ovary. Most of these cysts are due to your hormonal changes and they usually settle within weeks without medications. To know more about its symptom and causes, read the pointers below:
Symptoms
In most cases, Ovarian Cysts have no symptoms. However, if you experience a large ovarian cyst, you may have some symptoms, such as:
- Swelling
- Heaviness In the Lower Abdomen
- Pelvic Pain (Including Dull or Severe Pain in The Lower Abdomen)
- Nausea Or Vomiting
- Pain During Sexual Activity
Causes of ovarian cysts
- Hormonal imbalance. Functional cysts can be a result of a hormonal imbalance. A common cause of hormonal imbalances are the drugs used to help women ovulate.
- Ovarian cysts can develop due to endometriosis when tissue attaches to an ovary and forms a growth.
- Abnormal cell growth. As in any organ, cells should alternately grow and then undergo cell death and resolve. Sometimes, cell growth becomes abnormal and can cause some cells to grow too much and either develop a cyst, or can cause cells to grow abnormally and develop into cancer.
- Pelvic infections. Ovarian cysts can form due to pelvic infections that spread to the ovaries and fallopian tubes.
- Ovarian cysts can develop during the early stages of pregnancy to help support the pregnancy until the placenta forms. Rarely the cyst does not go away on its own and remains on the ovary through later stages of pregnancy, and if it becomes large and painful it may need to be surgically removed.
Symptoms of ovarian cysts
In most cases, ovarian cysts do not cause symptoms. In the occasion that symptoms occur, a woman may experience lower abdominal pain, pressure, swelling or bloating where the cyst is located. She may also experience pain during sex caused by an ovarian cyst.
Pain may be sharp or dull and can be intermittent or constant, depending on the type and condition of the cyst. Since ovarian cysts often do not show symptoms, sometimes women do not realize they have one until visiting their healthcare provider for a routine pelvic exam. As a woman ages, it is especially important to have regular pelvic exams to check for cysts. Pelvic masses diagnosed in menopause can indicate more dangerous pathology, as cancerous (malignant) cystic ovarian masses are more common in the menopausal years.
Though most cysts are symptom-free they may cause problems if they twist, bleed or rupture. A cyst that becomes large can cause the ovaries to shift from their usual position in the abdomen. This shift can increase the chance of ovarian torsion (the twisting of an ovary), which can cause severe pain and vomiting. A cyst that has ruptured causes severe pain and can lead to internal bleeding.
Ovarian cysts are often diagnosed in a pelvic exam. Physicians also may use ultrasound tests to reveal the location and size of ovarian cysts. Hormone levels may also be checked to evaluate for hormone-related causes. A pregnancy test may be done to rule out pregnancy as the cause of symptoms.
Treating Ovarian Cysts
Catching a cyst early can help ensure that it does not cause problems in the future. That’s why it’s important to keep up with your regular pelvic examinations. If you think you may have a cyst, here are the tips to help you and pay attention to any changes in your menstrual cycle.
Fortunately, many women who have been diagnosed with a cyst are able to have a healthy pregnancy. If you’re concerned about ovarian cysts impacting your fertility, learn how to increase your chances of becoming pregnant.
Which Fertility Treatment Options Work Best on Women With One Fallopian Tube or One Ovary?
Uterus is connected to two ovaries by a pair of muscular tubes called fallopian tubes. Every month during ovulation an egg is released from one of the ovaries which is collected by the fallopian tube. The egg in fallopian tube is fertilized by a sperm( if available) to form embryo, which in next 3-4 days travels to the uterus for pregnancy to continue. For natural pregnancy to occur ovulation from an ovary, patency and funtioning of fallopian tube, healthy uterus and normal sperm is a pre-requisite.
Also learn how to get pregnant fast with one fallopian tube. Are you wondering can I get pregnant with one fallopian tube? Yes, you can. Here is how to get pregnant with blocked fallopian tubes.
How to get pregnant with one ovary
Women with one ovary have chance of getting pregnant similar to one having two ovaries provided it is healthy and normal functioning and learn here how you can improve your ovarian health. The most important thing for pregnancy with one ovary and one fallopian tube is if the presence of that single ovary in same side that of single fallopian tube because tubal end hangs near ovary to catch egg released during ovulation. If a healthy egg released from ovary is taken up by fallopian tube and fertilized there is no significant change in fertility rate.