Women have two ovaries that produce eggs as well as the hormones oestrogen and progesterone which are an important part of the female reproductive system and fertility in general.

An ovarian cyst forms when fluid accumulates in a membrane of an ovary. They often occur during reproductive years.

Ovarian cysts usually disappear on their own but can cause complications if they don't. Many cysts go away on their own. If not, treatments to get rid of them are going to be required.

Most ovarian cysts are usually small and don't cause symptoms. In some cases, pressure, bloating, swelling, or pain in the lower abdomen on the side of the cyst, menstrual irregularities, pain during intercourse or irregular bowel movements can occur. This pain may be sharp or dull and may come and go.

A ruptured cyst can cause more sudden severe symptoms and pain. These can include severe pain in the lower belly and bleeding. Fluids or blood may need to be replaced due to internal bleeding. In rare cases, a ruptured ovarian cyst may require surgery.

The ruptured tissues can increase risk for infection if left untreated. Even if the cyst doesn't rupture, it can sometimes cause the ovary to twist and cut off the blood supply. This is a serious condition called ovarian torsion in which the decreased circulation can cause ovarian tissues to die.

An ovarian cyst may need to be removed if it is suspected of being Cancerous (the chances are more likely in older women), Large (more than 2.5 inches in diameter) and Solid (rather than containing just fluid).

Causes of Ovarian Cysts

The most common causes of ovarian cysts include:

Hormonal problems: Functional cysts usually go away on their own without treatment. They may be caused by hormonal problems or by drugs used to help you ovulate.

Endometriosis: Women with endometriosis can develop a type of ovarian cyst called an endometrioma. The endometriosis tissue may attach to the ovary and form a growth. These cysts can be painful during sex and during your period.

Pregnancy: An ovarian cyst normally develops in early pregnancy to help support the pregnancy until the placenta forms. Sometimes, the cyst stays on the ovary until later in the pregnancy and may need to be removed.

Severe pelvic infections: Infections can spread to the ovaries and Fallopian tubes and cause cysts to form.

Types of Ovarian Cyst

Functional cysts are the most common types of ovarian cysts and they include follicle cysts and corpus luteum cysts;

Follicle cysts: During a woman’s menstrual cycle, an egg grows in a sac called a follicle. This sac is located inside the ovaries. In most cases, this follicle or sac breaks open and releases an egg. But if the follicle doesn’t break open, the fluid inside the follicle can form a cyst on the ovary.

Corpus luteum cysts: Follicle sacs typically dissolve after releasing an egg. But if the sac doesn’t dissolve and the opening of the follicle seals, additional fluid can develop inside the sac, and this accumulation of fluid causes a corpus luteum cyst.

Other types of ovarian cysts include:

Dermoid cysts: Sac-like growths on the ovaries that can contain hair, fat, and other tissue.

Cystadenomas: Noncancerous growths that can develop on the outer surface of the ovaries

Endometriomas: Tissues that normally grow inside the uterus can develop outside the uterus and attach to the ovaries, resulting in a cyst.

Some ovarian cysts are associated with decreased fertility while others are...read more on https://www.planbwellness.com/what-are-ovarian-cysts/