Ovarian cysts are sacs filled with liquid that develop on the ovary. They are pretty common among women of childbearing age. For women with ovarian cysts, the major concern is how they can impact fertility or the healthiness of any pregnancy.
Most, however, are benign and even do not affect their fertility. This article will help clarify the relationship of ovarian cysts with pregnancy, the symptoms during pregnancy, and possible risks, including if a cyst can cause a miscarriage.
What Are Ovarian Cysts?
There are basically two classes into which ovarian cysts fall:
1. Functional Cysts: These are very common and are pertinent to the menstrual cycle.
Follicular Cysts: These occur when a follicle that holds an egg fails to release the egg during ovulation and continues to expand.
Corpus Luteum Cysts: After the egg gets released, this follicle tends to shrink; but in case it doesn’t, it can get filled up with fluid or blood and become a corpus luteum cyst.
Functional cysts are almost always noncancerous, don’t trigger any symptoms, and usually go away on their own after a few menstrual cycles.
2. Pathological Cysts: These are less common and arise due to unusual proliferation of the cells.
Dermoid cysts: the tissues within the cysts are hair, skin cells, teeth, etc. Most of the dermoid cysts are benign.
Endometriomas: are cysts commonly caused by endometriosis, a condition where the tissue that normally lines the uterus grows outside of it.
Cystadenomas: These are the cysts developed from the ovarian tissues, mostly filled with watery or mucous liquid. Can You Get Pregnant with an Ovarian Cyst?
Can I Get Pregnant with Ovarian Cyst?
Ovarian cyst pregnancy symptoms
Normally, having an ovarian cyst does not prevent pregnancy. In fact, most functional cysts do not hamper ovulation or conception. Below is an explanation of each type of ovarian cyst with regard to how it may affect pregnancy.
Endometrioid cysts: Together with endometriosis, they interfere with optimal fertility by hindering the ovaries from releasing eggs and the health of the fallopian tubes. Pregnancy can still take place, but sometimes treatment for the cysts also gives endometriosis treatment.
PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome): This condition is marked by numerous small cysts on the ovaries, hormonal imbalances, and irregular menstrual cycles. While it is a very common cause of infertility, most women with PCOS, when correctly treated—usually with lifestyle changes, medications, or fertility treatments—will conceive.
Dermoid Cysts and Cystadenomas: These cysts generally do not interfere with fertility, though in some cases, they may need to be removed surgically if they become large or symptomatic in order to avoid complications such as ovarian torsion that could interfere with fertility.
Also Read: What does ovarian cyst pain feel like?
Signs and Symptoms of Ovarian Cysts in Pregnancy
An ovarian cyst can sometimes leave a pregnant woman wondering how it will affect pregnancy because of its symptoms. Generally, ovarian cysts during pregnancy don’t result in major symptoms, specifically if they are small, though some women feel:
Abdominal-Pelvic Pain: Mild to moderate pain in the pelvis is frequent in occurrences with ovarian cysts, but in the case that a cyst does grow large, it can cause more visible pain or pressure in the lower abdomen.
Bloating: Some women may feel that their abdominal cavity is filled with something or bloating.
Altered Bladder Function: If a very large cyst exerts pressure on the urinary bladder, it may present as the increased frequency of micturition, or the patient may not be able to void the bladder fully.
Almost all ovarian cysts diagnosed during pregnancy are simply functional cysts and will go away on their own. However, some issues can arise, like ovarian torsion, where the ovary twists on itself, sometimes necessitating surgery.
Also Read: What size of ovarian cyst is dangerous?
Can Ovarian Cysts Cause Miscarriage?
The fear of an ovarian cyst causing a miscarriage is strong, but most cysts do not result in miscarriages. Here’s what you need to know:
Functional Cysts: These typically do not result in a miscarriage. In fact, corpus luteum keep a pregnancy in its early stages during a pregnancy as it produces the hormone progesterone that is responsible for supporting a pregnancy until the placenta can take over for this function.
Endometriomas and Severe Endometriosis: A direct causative relationship between endometrioma and a miscarriage has not been reported, although severe endometriosis may increase the risk for other pregnancy complications, including miscarriage, on account of creating a hostile environment within the uterus.
Large or Congenital Cysts: Pregnancy-related problems very rarely develop with large cysts or with the turning or rupture of one. In such a situation, surgery may become necessary following a certain window of risk to the pregnancy. Even so, this situation is rare and with constant monitoring, the risk of miscarriage may be brought to an absolute minimum.
Management of Ovarian Cysts During Pregnancy
If you are pregnant with an ovarian cyst, your healthcare provider may simply keep track of the cyst with the help of regular ultrasounds to watch how its size is developing and to ensure that the cyst is not causing problems.
Most cysts do not have to be treated and usually disappear by themselves. Surgery is usually postponed until a woman is no longer pregnant because the risks of exposing the developing baby to the anesthesia and the possibility of a miscarriage are too high. If surgery is necessary, it is usually performed in the second trimester when the pregnancy has the least risk.