This article takes a look the options available for treatment of ovarian cysts.

Do Your Ovarian Cysts Really Need Treatment?

First of all, many ovarian cysts will disappear naturally within a few months without treatment. This is especially true of functional cysts, the most common type, and your doctor might recommend a watchful waiting’ strategy to see how things progress. So if your cysts are small and don’t pose any threat to your health, you might not want to treat them at all.

However, if your cysts are causing pain or discomfort, you’ll probably want to take steps to get rid of them. Many abnormal or very large ovarian cysts should also be treated if they’re causing other problems. Your doctor may wish to monitor the cysts, and will discuss specific treatment options with you, but most will recommend drugs or surgery.

Ovarian Cyst Pain Relief

If your cysts are causing pain, this may be kept under control by over the counter painkillers, or your doctor may prescribe something stronger. You can also try natural pain relief strategies, such as using a hot pack or hot water bottle, or acupuncture. Although ovarian cysts often cause some intermittent pain, if the pain is especially severe or persistent, you should seek medical advice.

Hormonal Treatment For Ovarian Cysts

Combined birth control pills are commonly prescribed as a remedy for ovarian cysts. They work by preventing an egg from being released by the ovary – which prevents the development of functional ovarian cysts. They can sometimes also help to shrink existing cysts. However they don’t help with all types of cysts, and are often a temporary measure; the problem may recur when the woman stops taking the pills (which is sensible – there is much evidence to suggest that extended use of birth control pills can have negative consequences for health).

Ovarian Cyst Surgery

The other main treatment for ovarian cysts is surgery, which is most often recommended for suspicious looking, larger or more persistent cysts, as well as those that cause a lot of pain and those found in postmenopausal women. In some cases just the cyst is removed, whereas in others, it may be deemed necessary to remove the entire ovary.

Laproscopy is a common method, which involves making small incisions in the abdomen, rather than cutting it open. The surgeon passes a thin laparoscope into the abdomen via the incision, and uses this to investigate the cyst. The cyst may be removed completely, or a tissue sample taken for biopsy. Laparoscopy is less traumatic than traditional methods, although it still requires a general anaesthetic, and involves some element of pain, risk and expense.

Laparotomy is a more traditional procedure and involves making a large incision to cut open the abdominal wall. The cyst may then be removed or a sample taken. Laparotomy is more often used for very large cysts or those suspected of being malignant. In the latter case, a biopsy will often be performed while the patient is still unconscious, and if the cyst proves to be cancerous, the ovary and other affected tissues or organs may be removed at the same time.

Ovarian torsion surgery is a type of emergency surgery that is performed when a cyst has twisted and is causing severe pain and nausea or vomiting.

So, the usual ovarian cyst treatment typically involves surgery and/or hormonal drugs. Women looking for a cure for their ovarian cysts need to consider all of the available options carefully. In many cases, pills or surgery will provide relief, and in some cases they are certainly the best option (for example, if you have a life-threatening malignant cyst, it should certainly be removed). Unfortunately though, many women find drugs or surgery to provide a temporary fix at best, since they may not address the underlying imbalances that cause the cysts to develop in the first place. As a result, women suffering from recurring ovarian cysts can find that they keep coming back, with all their attendant suffering, until steps are taken to treat the underlying dysfunction.

Women with benign cysts who wish to take full control of their health may also want to look into the steps they can take to maximise their health, and to address the reasons why the cysts may be forming to begin with. Natural remedies for ovarian cysts are based on making lifestyle changes that get to the root of the problem, and are well worth considering if you want to be free of ovarian cysts for good. They can be used alone if your cysts aren’t of the type to require medical intervention, or in conjunction with traditional treatments if your doctor agrees.

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