What Are Complex Ovarian Cysts?

Author: Jay Taylor

The chances that a woman will end up having a ovarian cyst during their lifetime is actually quite common and is generally no cause for concern. Complex ovarian cysts are a different story as they occur less often and can sometimes cause serious health problems. They are called complex ovarian cysts due to their makeup, usually containing both solid and liquid portions, having more substance then simple ovarian cysts and come in three different types: endometrioma, cystadenomas and dermoid.

A dermoid cyst develops from cells that produce human eggs, known as the ova. Since these are non-differentiated cells that can develop into any human tissue, dermoid cysts can contain a variety of tissue including hair, skin and teeth. Although dermoid cysts can be very painful as they grow larger and twist the ovaries, they are rarely cancerous.

Endometriosis can become a culprit in the growth of another type of complex ovarian cyst, Endometrioma. Uterian cells begin to grow on the outside of the uterus and attach to an ovary, producing a growth after a woman has gone through many menstrual cycles. Generally Endometrial cysts can continue to grow, sometimes becoming as large as grapefruit. Some information suggests that Endometriosis is actually partly due to genetics. Common symptoms include pain during urination and bowel movements, irregular menstrual cycles, fatigue, pain before and after menstrual cycles and during intercourse.

Developing from ovarian tissue, cystadenomas are complex ovarian cysts that can be filled mainly with liquid and have a tendency to twist in the ovary producing sever pain. There are two different types of cystadenomas, serous and mucinous. Serous are filled with a thin fluid and are know to grow between 2 and 6 inches in diameter. Mucinous on the other hand have a core of thick, gelatin like liquid and grow from 6 to 12 inches in diameter.

Though complex ovarian cysts often produce painful, noticeable symptoms as they become large, these symptoms can resemble the symptoms of endometriosis or ectopic pregnancy. However, individuals with complex ovarian cysts often experience pelvic pain, before and after their monthly period and during sexual intercourse. They may also have menstrual irregularities such as an absent period or abnormal bleeding. Other symptoms for complex ovarian cysts resemble symptoms of pregnancy, such as tenderness in the breasts, vomiting, and nausea. Severe abdominal and pelvic pain requires medical attention.

As a general rule, ovarian cysts can usually be diagnosed with a manual pelvic exam by your doctor. Once they have a basic idea of what they are looking for, doctors will ask for a pelvic ultrasound to be preformed to better understand the situation and double check their findings. Pregnancy tests are also common tests to be preformed due to many of the same symptoms of pregnancy and ovarian cysts being similar. Once a diagnosis of complex ovarian cysts has been made it is very important that any time you experience severe pain in the pelvic or abdominal area you contact your doctor right away.

A woman\'s age and symptoms are sometimes considered in making a diagnosis of complex ovarian cysts. Although not all ovarian cysts are cancerous, complex ovarian cysts must be tested to rule out cancer and to determine an appropriate course of treatment.

Complex ovarian cysts are different and rarer then other types of ovarian cysts and can be considered a greater concern for you and your health. You can find more free informative articles about ovarian cysts at ovariancystfacts.com