Treatment for Ovarian Cysts
The good news is that around 95% of ovarian cysts are benign (which means that they are not cancerous).
Treatment for ovarian cysts depend, in a large part, on the size of the cyst and their accompanying symptoms. Essentially, your doctor will talk to you about 3 of the most common treatment options – wait and see, take birth control pills, or surgery.
For small, asymptomatic cysts, the wait and see approach, together with regular check-ups will probably be your best choice. Waiting patiently anywhere from 1 to 3 months to determine if the cyst has changed in size is not unusual. If your cyst is fluid-filled, you are in your child-bearing years, you do not display any initial symptoms, or if you are post-menopausal, chances are the cyst will disappear on its own. Make sure you explore this option first before looking into taking birth control pills or even contemplating surgery.
Birth control pills are a combination of estrogen and progestin (2 female hormones) that is taken to inhibit fertility by preventing ovulation. However, doctors and the medical industry may not tell you that giving estrogen to pre-menopausal women might actually result in the cyst growing. This is not a well-known fact, and it is not publicly discussed or challenged.
Surgery has also become a common way for doctors to remove cysts quickly. During the surgery, your doctor has the discretion to remove your ovary and your uterus as well if he/she believes that it is necessary to avoid future problems. Be aware that you will need to provide your doctor with consent for this before you are allowed to get the surgery, so the decision to lose an ovary or your uterus is out of your hands once the surgery starts. To get a better understanding of the types of surgery available and their associated risks and advantages, read Ovarian Cyst Surgery.
While you contemplate these treatment options, there are some ways to ease the pain caused by ovarian cysts:
- Pain relievers, including acetaminophen (found in Tylenol), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen (like Advil), or narcotic pain medicine (by prescription only) may help reduce pelvic pain.
- Take a warm bath, or apply a heating pad or hot water bottle to the lower abdomen near the ovaries to relax tense muscles and reduce discomfort.
- Use bags of ice covered with towels as a cold treatment to increase circulation in the affected area.
- Some women have turned to the healing power of chamomile herbal tea which is purported to soothe tense muscles.
- Eliminate caffeine and alcohol, reduce foods rich in sugars, and increase the consumption of foods rich in vitamin A and carotenoids (like carrots, tomatoes, and salad greens) and B vitamins (like whole grains).
