Ovarian Cysts Specialist

Pacifica Health

OBGYNs & Primary Care Practice located in East Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA, Chinatown, Los Angeles, CA & Monterey Park, CA

Ovarian cysts are common and often go away without treatment, but in about 8% of cases, women develop large cysts that require medical intervention. If you have symptomatic or worrisome ovarian cysts, explore your options for treatment with the experienced team at Pacifica Health, with offices in the East Hollywood and Chinatown neighborhoods of Los Angeles and in Monterey Park, California. Call today or book an appointment online.

Ovarian Cysts Q & A

What is an ovarian cyst?

Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled sacs that form on the ovaries. The most common types of ovarian cysts are known as functional cysts, and they develop during the menstrual cycle. These include follicular cysts and corpus luteum cysts.

Follicular cysts

Your ovaries release an egg every month. This egg develops in a follicle that bursts open to release the egg for possible fertilization. If this follicle fails to break open, it develops into a cyst that usually goes away within about three months.

Corpus luteum cysts

If the follicle breaks open and the egg releases, a mass of cells remains. This corpus luteum usually shrinks down to prepare for the next egg, but sometimes, it reseals and fluid accumulates inside, creating a cyst. Usually, corpus luteum cysts go away on their own within a few weeks.

Less common cysts include those caused by endometriosis, dermoid cysts that are present from birth, and cystadenomas that can grow quite large.

Another condition characterized by ovarian cysts is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). In women with PCOS, their ovaries make multiple mini cysts due to hormonal irregularities.

What are the symptoms of an ovarian cyst?

Usually, you won’t even know you have an ovarian cyst. They cause no symptoms and go away on their own.

Certain cysts do become noticeable with:

General pelvic pain
Pain during intercourse
Pain during menstruation
Bloating and swelling
Increase in urination
Unexplained weight gain
Abnormal bleeding

In the unlikely case that a cyst ruptures, you’ll have a sudden and severe onset of pelvic pain. This is a medical emergency, so seek care right away.

What is the treatment for ovarian cysts?

If your ovarian cysts are identified during a routine exam or when you have an ultrasound for another reason but aren’t causing symptoms, they don’t require specific treatment.

The team at Pacifica Health may want to schedule regular ultrasounds to monitor the cysts just to make sure they don’t grow or persist for longer than normal.

Surgery may be required for a symptomatic, persistent, or especially large cyst. At Pacifica Health, the doctors recommend minimally invasive surgery so you experience little scarring and a quick recovery.

To learn more about the evaluation and treatment of ovarian cysts, call Pacifica Health for an appointment or request an appointment online.

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