Endometriosis Blog

Ovarian cysts are sac that are filled with fluid that are located on or inside of an ovary. There are many women who will develop these around the reproductive years and it is likely that women will have at least one during her lifetime. These cysts are considered to be harmless the majority of the time even though they can cause a lot of discomfort. However, in certain women they can pose a problem and can be life threatening if they rupture.

What makes these so dangerous is that most women do not experience any symptoms cause by them. But when they do these symptoms will be similar to those felt when a woman has ovarian cancer, endometriosis, ectopic pregnancy, and appendicitis. There are three types of ovarian cysts which include; functional ovarian cysts, luteal ovarian cysts, and endometrioma cysts.

Symptoms of Endometriosis Cysts

• Pelvic pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Menstrual problems
• Breast tenderness
• Pressure on bladder
• Pressure on rectum

How Endometriosis Causes Cysts

It is possible that women who suffer from endometriosis will suffer from some of the more severe types of endometrioma ovarian cysts. These are filled with a thick, dark, chocolate colored substance and can be anywhere between 0.4 inches to 4 inches. Over half of women who are diagnosed with endometriosis will have small cysts that will form on the surface of the ovaries.

Over time they will multiply due to the hormone stimulation that occurs during the menstrual cycle. In some women these will rupture causing severe pelvic pain. These can be dangerous so you must speak with your doctor if you feel that you might have one or more cysts or are at risk for them.