Ovarian Cysts
An ovarian cyst is a sac or pouch filled with fluid or other tissue that forms in or on an ovary. Ovarian cysts are very common and can occur during the childbearing years or after menopause. Most ovarian cysts are benign (noncancerous) and go away on their own without treatment, but rarely they can be malignant. They may or may not be painful, but when they are, the expert gynecologists at Premier Women’s Care of Southwest Florida can treat ovarian cysts with medication or surgery. To learn more about ovarian cysts and the treatment options available, you can request a new patient appointment online. If you are already an established patient, you can book online through the patient portal. Or you can always call (239) 432-5858 to schedule a consultation with one of Premier Women’s Care of Southwest Florida’s women’s health-care providers in Fort Myers or Cape Coral.
Symptoms of an ovarian cyst
Usually, a woman won’t even know she has an ovarian cyst, but sometimes a cyst can be large enough to cause discomfort.
Symptoms may include:
- Painful intercourse
- Pain during menstruation
- General pelvic pain
- Bloating and swelling
- Increase in urination
- Unexplained weight gain
- Abnormal bleeding
When a cyst ruptures, it can cause sudden and severe pain in the pelvic area. If this occurs, seek immediate medical attention.
Diagnosis and treatment of ovarian cysts
Your doctor may detect an ovarian cyst during your annual Well-Woman Exam and order an ultrasound to confirm the diagnosis. Premier Women’s Care of Southwest Florida offers in-office ultrasounds for your convenience and so that the doctors can get results faster.
An ultrasound will show the size, location, and shape of your ovarian cyst, which will inform your treatment plan.
Your doctor may also run blood and hormone tests to determine if there are any underlying conditions that caused your cyst, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Ovarian cysts that aren’t causing symptoms usually don’t require treatment, but your gynecologist may want to monitor the cyst to make sure it doesn’t grow or fail to go away on its own.
When a cyst does cause problems, it can be surgically removed. At Premier Women’s Care of Southwest Florida, our skilled obstetrician-gynecologists perform minimally invasive surgeries that result in less post-operative pain, fewer complications and faster recovery than traditional open surgeries.
If you need evaluation or treatment for an ovarian cyst, you can request a new patient appointment online. If you are already an established patient, you can book online through the patient portal. Or you can always call (239) 432-5858 to schedule a consultation with one of Premier Women’s Care of Southwest Florida’s women’s health-care providers in Fort Myers or Cape Coral.
