Ovarian cyst removal

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.

Before removing an ovarian cyst, a physician will typically conduct a comprehensive physical exam with the patient. Along with the exam, they will also review the medications a patient is taking and order urine and blood tests. A CT scan and abdominal x-ray may also be conducted to confirm the presence of an ovarian cyst before surgical removal.

In order to remove an ovarian cyst, a doctor may choose to perform either laparoscopic surgery or open surgery, depending on the type of ovarian cyst that is removed. It is common to perform open surgery on larger cysts.

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.

To excise a particularly large cyst, the physician may need to perform a surgical procedure for ovarian cyst removal using general anesthesia. The patient may suffer some discomfort after the operation. Complications such as infection and bleeding may occur as well. The patient must recognize that further cysts may develop in the future. And, while it is rare, the patient may also become infertile and/or suffer clotting.

If during the surgical operation to remove an ovarian cyst, no ovarian cancer is being detected, then it is highly unlikely that there will be any complications. The patient is expected fully recovered weeks after surgery. Once ovarian cancer is found, the patient may need surgery to remove either one or both of the ovaries. After surgery, a treatment program for the ovarian cancer would need to be implemented.

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.