Follicular Ovarian Cyst
Follicular Ovarian Cyst
If the doctor has diagnosed you with a follicular ovarian cyst, then don’t feel alone. Many women have these each month. 75% of women have this type of ovarian cyst at one time or another. The term “follicular” only refers to how the cyst develops. Follicular ovarian cysts are very common and usually dissolve on their own.
The ovaries are a part of a woman’s reproductive organs which also include the fallopian tubes and the uterus. These ovaries are located one on each side of the uterus. They are almond in shape and size. Ovaries produce eggs and hormones also regulating the menstrual cycle as well as pregnancy. The ovaries release one egg each month to be fertilized and when this does not happen, the menstrual cycle begins.
There are a lot of different reasons for ovarian cysts to form. The follicular ovarian cyst grows from a follicle which gives them their name. The follicle is the fluid filled sac on the ovary which contains the egg. A follicular ovarian cyst forms when the follicle fails to open to release the egg.
The follicle is filled with fluid, once it has grown into a cyst, it may contain blood or from leakage of the blood vessels. These are referred to as hemorrhagic cysts, or bleeding cysts. Sometimes these fill with blood and rupture. Most women never suspect that they have a cyst and these are only discovered during a pelvic exam or when they have other symptoms. But a ruptured cyst can cause sudden and severe pain that can be startling. These can also be a sign of a more serious condition. This is the main reason that you should report any symptoms to your doctor.
Another type of ovarian cyst is the corpus luteum. The follicular cyst forms when the egg is not released. But the corpus luteum forms after the egg is released. This is an area of tissue that occurs inside the ovary after the follicle has released the egg. When fertilization and pregnancy do not occur, the tissue usually breaks down and disappears. However, sometimes this doesn’t happen and the tissue fills with blood or fluid while still inside the ovary. This usually occurs on only one of the ovaries and does not produce any symptoms.
Cysts can form at any age and in any part of the body. Cysts do not discriminate in women. Follicular cysts and corpus luteum cysts are almost always benign. There are, however, other types of ovarian cysts which can become problematic or dangerous.
In endometriosis, tissue forms on the outside of the uterus that is usually found on the inside. This can be on either or both ovaries and can cause bleeding. This can result in a cyst forming which is brownish in color due to the presence of blood. These are known as chocolate cysts. Although benign, these are usually extremely painful. Laparoscopy surgery, which is simple and painless, is usually done to remove these although in extreme cases a hysterectomy is performed. If you suspect you have a follicular ovarian cyst, see your doctor right away.
