Are You Experiencing Ovarian Cyst Pain During Menstruation
Both simple and complex ovarian cysts, cause pain shortly before, during or after menstruation. If your ovarian cyst is functional, there will be peri- menstrual pain since your cyst is responding to the higher concentrations of blood-borne hormones occurring during the phase of the menstrual cycle. Another reason for the pain during menstruation is because you have a certain type of cyst which is known as an endometrioma.
Development of an endometrioma, is also known as endometriod cyst or chocolate cyst. It is related to the medical condition endometriosis. This condition occurs when the tissues that normally grow inside the uterus grow outside it, in the peritoneal cavity. The uterine tissues tend to grow on the surfaces of other organs in the pelvis or the abdomen.
Endometrioma occurs when the uterine tissue grows on the surface of the ovary.
Endometriosis is found to be existing between one and ten percent. Endometrial tissue can stick to any organs in the peritoneal cavity. It has to be noted that more than 80% of pelvic endometriosis is found in one or both ovaries. Dark, reddish brown blood is filled in endometriomas and may be as large as 8 inches in diameter. They can finally occlude most of the ovary thereby causing infertility.
Some women experience no symptoms even though they have endometrioma. Yet some others suffer severe menstrual cramps, pain during intercourse and pain during a bowel movement. Complications from endometriomas occur very rarely. But if a sizeable endometrial cyst ruptures, its contents will leak into the pelvic cavity. This may lead to internal bleeding. These contents of the cyst may also spill onto the surface of other pelvic organs also. The organs include uterus, fallopian tubes, bladder and intestines. This may cause the formation of adhesions or scar tissue on the other organs. This may in turn cause fertility problems and pain.
Endometrioma can be diagnosed in the same way other cysts are diagnosed. After taking a full medical history, your doctor may perform a manual pelvic examination. Then he will go for an ultrasound and a blood test. Through the blood test, pregnancy and cancer can be ruled out. If there is the presence of the antigen, CA 125, it shows malignancy. It can also point out to endometriosis and pelvic inflammatory disease.
Non surgical options are available for the initial treatment for endometriosis and associated endometriomas. Your doctor will prescribe non- steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Next an anovulatory state will be induced by the doctor to stop ovulating. A birth control pill will be used to achieve this physiological state. If the combination of NSAIDs and oral contraceptives do not work, the doctor may treat you with a progestational agent such as medroprogesterone, danazol or gestrinone. Apart from this you may also be given a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist. This can also be combined with estrogen or progestogen to improve efficacy and protect you from symptoms like those of in a menopause. Ultimately your doctor will be the best judge in selecting the treatment.
Endometrimas usually affect women in their child bearing years. A solution can be reached with the help of your doctor. Your pain can be reduced along with decreasing the risk of infertility if you wish to have children. If medical treatment has not resolved the problem, then surgery is the only solution. Otherwise also due to the potential of these cysts to grow quite large, surgery is the option preferred by many doctors.
Surgery is possible using a laparoscopy, which is relatively a simple procedure. You can quickly recover from this surgery with minimal scarring. Traditional open-abdomen surgery may be necessary depending on the extent of endometriosis and the size of endometrioma. Here the disadvantage is that it will take longer duration for recovery and is more traumatic. You have to discuss with your doctor regarding the damage due to your endometriosis and endometrioma, if they are extensive. The doctor may advise you to remove your ovaries or uterus in some situations. You have to weigh all options, especially if you want to have children.