Although ovarian cysts may disappear naturally without treatment, ovarian cyst removal is recommended when cysts are large, solid, irregularly shaped, suspected of being cancerous, twisted, ruptured, and or causing severe pain. Development of a cancerous ovarian cyst increases with the woman’s age, thus, it is more likely to be recommended for older patients to have cysts removed immediately.
Prior to the removal of the ovarian cyst, a doctor will usually perform a physical exam on the patient. They will also conduct a review of medications, a urine test, and a blood test. They may do a CT scan and X-ray of the abdomen to confirm their diagnosis before considering ovarian cyst removal.
The two common methods to remove ovarian cysts are laparoscopic surgery and open surgery. These options depend on the type of ovarian cyst. Larger cysts are usually removed through an open surgery.
In laparoscopic surgery, the surgeon makes a small incision in which to insert a thin tube called a laparoscope. The tube is used to find the cyst and from there, the surgeon is able to remove the cyst.
Large ovarian cysts are usually removed through surgery under general anesthesia. Post-operative experience usually includes some abdominal pain. Other complications like bleeeding and infection may also be experienced. In a few rare cases, removal may cause infertility and blood clots. There is also a chance that a new cyst will still develop after ovarian cyst removal surgery.
Where a surgeon finds no sign of ovarian cancer during the procedure, it is not anticipated that the patient will experience complications. The patient should be fully recovered within several weeks. That said, if the doctors do find ovarian cancer, it may be necessary to remove either one or both ovaries while the surgery is going on or in a later surgical procedure. This would need to be combined with a treatment for ovarian cancer.
After an ovarian cyst has been removed, inform your doctor of any conditions such as excessive pain or bleeding, fever or chills, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, abdominal swelling, or any other unusual symptoms. Like any other surgery, ovarian cyst removal requires recovery time and monitoring for any complications.
