Ovarian cysts are small sacs filled with fluid which are located in the ovaries. Most don't cause any distress but some grows and causes health dilemmas such as rupture, hemorrhage and pelvic discomforts. Cysts are normal in women as long as they don't cause any problem. Most of them are nonmalignant and may disappear over time without treating them. Ovarian cysts and pregnancy should be discuss to expecting mothers since one risk of ovarian cysts is when a woman becomes pregnant and complications occur.
Effect in pregnancy
There are several types of cysts but two types pose a risk in pregnancy. They are the cystadenoma and endometrioma. Cystadenoma is filled with mucus and causes agonizing pain when a woman becomes pregnant because it gets larger and larger that could interfere with the growing fetus. The endometrioma grows on the lining of the uterus. It also causes pain and even hemorrhage during labor or circumstances that affect the endometrium, such as stress, contractions and hormones. Rupture of cysts could cause internal bleeding which is detrimental to both baby and mother. Any danger to the mother could affect the baby and vice versa.
During pregnancy, hormones are actively increasing to support the development of fetus. Estrogen promotes the thickening of the uterine wall, thus making endometriomas bigger. On childbirth, contractions occur to expel the baby, endometriomas could be sloughed off and cause hemorrhage. Blood loss could kill the mother in no time.
Detection
Early detection is extremely important to have a safe pregnancy. Treatment of cysts during pregnancy can already be dangerous since any maneuver to remove the cyst could affect the baby in the womb. While still not pregnant, it is better to have cysts treated. Regular visits your doctor is necessary to all women of childbearing age even with no signs and symptoms of disease. They can be diagnosed through hormonal level tests of Luteinizng hormone, Follicle-stimulating hormone and Estradiol; imaging studies such as ultrasound, MRI and CT scan; and laparoscopy.
Treatment
Before proceeding to invasive procedures, most women with ovarian cysts start with medications. Usually, doctors prescribe oral contraceptives to help normalize the menstrual cycle. Regulation of cycle inhibits follicle formation and development. These follicles become cysts when affected by hormones. Formed cysts are shrunk.
When cysts aren't controlled by medications, the last resort is surgery. It may either be laparascopic surgery or laparotomy. In laparoscopic surgery, two small incisions are made in to the abdomen. A laparoscope is used which is a device with camera. When it is inserted through the abdomen, it shows the image on the screen of the inside of the abdomen into the ovary. The doctor does the incision using other instruments on the other incision. In laparotomy, one long incision is done by cutting through the abdominal layers until the ovary is reached. Both procedures are done to remove the cysts.
Medications and surgery when done during pregnancy could be harmful to the baby. Any stress felt by the mother could affect the baby. Most medications ingested by the mother will cross the placenta and will have adverse effect to the baby. Surgery entails blood loss that could deplete the blood going to the baby affecting its growth and development.
Ovarian cysts and pregnancy when occurring together can be detrimental to both mother and baby. It is necessary for all women in childbearing, especially those who are planning to conceive to get checked. Prevention is better than cure. It's better to seek treatment while still not pregnant to avoid complications.
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