How much do you know about complications of ovarian cysts?

Ovarian cyst is a common disease among women. Because the symptoms are not obvious in the early stages of the disease, many female friends tend to ignore it and fail to seek timely treatment, which leads to the occurrence of complications of ovarian cysts. So what are the specific complications of ovarian cysts?

1. Cause infertility

Ovarian cysts are extremely harmful to women's health. The ovaries are the place where eggs develop, mature, and are discharged. The follicles at different stages are in the ovarian cortex. If the ovaries are damaged, it will cause mechanical blockage of the fallopian tubes, thereby affecting the ovulation function of the ovaries and leading to infertility.

2. Ovarian cysts combined with pregnancy

For patients with early pregnancy complicated by ovarian cysts, it is advisable to wait until 3 to 4 months of pregnancy to perform surgery to avoid inducing miscarriage. If a cyst is discovered in late pregnancy, the doctor should wait until the pregnancy is full term. If the cyst blocks the birth canal after delivery, a cesarean section should be performed and the cyst should be removed at the same time. If diagnosed as a malignant ovarian cyst, surgery should be performed as soon as possible without regard for the fetus, and the treatment principles are the same as those during the non-pregnant period.

3. Malignant transformation of ovarian cysts

Malignant transformation of benign ovarian tumors often occurs in older women, especially after menopause. The tumor grows rapidly in a short period of time, and the patient feels abdominal distension and loss of appetite. Examination shows that the tumor volume has increased significantly, is fixed, and often has ascites. Those suspected of malignant transformation should be treated promptly.

4. Ovarian cyst pedicle torsion

This complication is relatively common and is one of the gynecological acute abdomen. It is more common in cystic tumors with long pedicles, medium size, high mobility, and center of gravity biased to one side. It often occurs during sudden changes in body position, early pregnancy, or after delivery. After the pedicle is twisted, the venous return of the tumor is blocked, causing congestion, purple-brown coloration, and even rupture of blood vessels and bleeding. Arterial obstruction may cause tumor necrosis and infection.

5. Infection

This situation is relatively rare and is usually secondary to tumor pedicle torsion or rupture. The main symptoms include fever, abdominal pain, increased white blood cell count and varying degrees of peritonitis. The infection should be actively controlled and surgical exploration should be performed at a later date.

6. Tumor rupture

It may cause spontaneous rupture due to ischemic necrosis of the cyst wall or erosion and penetration of the cyst wall by tumor; or it may cause traumatic rupture due to squeezing, delivery, gynecological examination and puncture. After rupture, the cyst fluid flows into the abdominal cavity and irritates the peritoneum, which can cause severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and even shock. During the examination, there are signs of abdominal irritation such as abdominal wall tension, tenderness, rebound pain, etc., and the original mass has shrunk or disappeared. After the diagnosis is confirmed, laparotomy should be performed immediately to remove the cyst and clean the peritoneum.