How to Recognize the Symptoms of Ovarian Cyst

Cysts are blister-looking, liquid-filled sacs on or in any part of the body--such as with ovarian cysts. A functional cyst (from a normal body process) usually goes away with menstruation or over 2-3 months. The types of cysts are follicular, corpus luteum, dermoid, endometrioma, cystadenoma and Polycystic Ovarian--normally due to hormone imbalances and able to cause serious problems. Symptoms may not show, but following are some common ones.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Check out for abnormalities in menstruation; see if there are painful premenstrual days and periods, irregularity or absence of periods. At times, the blood loss during periods may become severe or hardly occur.
2. Make sure if there's a steady or periodic, moderate ache or uneasiness around the pelvic area. This pain may gradually move to the lower back and thighs.
3. Check out if there's pain during or after sexual intercourse.
4. Look for symptoms such as a little inflammation on the lower abdomen and heaviness in the stomach or pelvis. There may be irregularities in bowel or bladder movements, depending on the size and location of the cyst and the amount of pressure that it causes. Sometimes, it may feel that you cannot urinate completely.
5. Check out for abnormal growth or hair on the body, problems of acne or pain in the breasts and nausea (like during pregnancy).
6. See if there's abnormal weight gain over a short period of time.
7. Check out for symptoms such as deepening of the voice, baldness, facial hair growth and other male characteristics.
8. See if there's fever, vomiting, severe and sudden abdominal pain or bleeding, accelerated breathing, giddiness or significant weakness. If so, get care from a hospital.

Tips & Warnings

• Consult a doctor for any problems related to pelvic discomfort, pain, abnormalities in menstruation or infertility, and get regular pelvic checkups done. Be aware of all changes that are totally new to you.
• Understand that functional cysts occur only during the reproductive period of a woman and not after menopause.
• Know that any cyst occurring at any age or location needs medical examination; they may be the beginning stage of cancer.