Ovary Pain - Why Various Types of Ovarian Cysts Develop Within Your Body

Have you just been told that you may have an ovarian cyst?

Are you worried about how the cyst may affect your overall health?

I would like to help relieve some of your anxiety by sharing the information in this article with you.

First, let me start out by letting you know that, if you have just received this diagnosis, there's no need to panic.

Having an ovarian cyst is one of the most common health problems experienced by women of child-bearing age. Nearly all pre-menopausal women and up to 15% of postmenopausal women will experience at least one cyst in their lifetime.

Ovarian cysts are actually small fluid filled sacs that typically develop in or on the ovaries because there is something wrong with the chemistry of your body.

Different factors such as a hormonal imbalance or improper insulin level can be responsible for many of the cysts that women have on a recurring basis.

Even though ovarian cysts may develop in many different ways... due to various factors and causes... they can be classified into two major distinctive groups - Functional and Complex.

Types of Ovarian Cysts

The most common type of ovarian cyst is a simple or functional cyst. Functional cysts are appropriately named because they develop as a normal function of a woman's menstrual cycle while the ovaries are preparing an egg for release into the fallopian tubes.

Structures called follicles store the eggs until they reach maturity and, then, release one normally around day 14 of your cycle.

The hormones, estrogen and progesterone, are also produced by the follicles. By working together, these two hormones are responsible for your ovaries releasing an egg at the proper time in the ovulation cycle.

Sometimes, there may be a hormonal imbalance and the follicle fails to release its egg. When this happens, the follicle may grow abnormally large and develop into a follicular cyst.

At other times, the egg is successfully released but, instead of being absorbed back into the ovary, the empty follicle sac becomes sealed off and filled with fluid. This causes the follicle to enlarge and form a corpus luteum cyst.

While functional cysts can disappear on their own within a few menstrual cycles, some can grow as large as 3-4 inches in diameter.

There is also the possibility that the cyst can bleed into itself forming a hemorrhagic cyst.

Hemorrhagic cysts can be painful and, if they should burst, they can cause both internal bleeding and a great deal of pain.

Complex Ovarian Cysts

In addition to functional cysts, there are also non-functional or complex ovarian cysts which are usually abnormal growths that develop for reasons not associated with the menstrual cycle.

As an example, dermoid cysts develop from germ cells (found in mature ovarian tissue) that have the ability to grow into a number of different body tissue types.

Because of this, a dermoid cyst can contain a variety of solid physical tissues such as fat, hair, skin, and teeth.

Other examples of non-functional or complex ovarian cysts are cystadenomas (large cysts that are actually abnormal formations and new growth of ovarian tissue), endometrionemas (caused by endometriosis, where endometrial tissue begins to grow on the surface of an ovary), and polycystic ovaries (a medical condition in which multiple cysts develop due to the ovaries not releasing any eggs).

Each type of ovarian cyst has its own distinctive traits, and you need to pay attention to any symptoms that suggest your condition may be getting worse.