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As a female, the more you know, the more
control you have over your health.
✦
One
important topic is ovarian cysts. There’s a
good chance you’ll have one of these fluid-
filled sacs form in or on your ovary at some
point in your life. Most cysts are harmless—
they don’t cause symptoms, they’re not can-
cerous and they go away on their own.
Still, it pays to have the answers to these four frequently
asked questions:
1
How and why do ovarian cysts form?
Your ovaries
are two small organs, sitting on either side of your
uterus, that contain eggs and female hormones.
“During ovulation, an egg grows in a tiny sac—called a
follicle—within an ovary. When the egg is ready to come
out, the sac breaks
open and dissolves.
The egg then travels
through the fallo-
pian tube and into
the uterus. If some-
thing goes wrong
with this process,
you can develop
what’s ca l led a
functional cyst,” ex-
plains Alice L. Yun,
MD, obstetrician
and gynecologist at Glendale Adventist Medical Center.
There are two types:
●
●
Follicle cysts, which form when the sac doesn’t break
open but keeps growing and becomes a cyst.
●
●
Corpus luteum cysts, which form when the egg is
released but the sac doesn’t dissolve, and the remains
form a cyst.
“Other types of cysts can form because of endome
triosis, pregnancy, infection or cell abnormalities,” says
Dr. Yun.
2
What are the symptoms?
Most cysts are small
and don’t cause symptoms. If there are symptoms,
they may include:
●
Pressure, swelling, bloating,
or pain in the abdomen or pelvic region.
●
Dull or sharp
ache in the abdomen or lower back and thighs.
●
Pain
during certain activities, including intimacy.
Do you need an OB-GYN? Call for a GAMC physician
referral at (818) 409-8100.
F e a t u r e
4
Questions,
4 answers
OVARIAN CYSTS
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How are they detected?
A cyst may be found by
your doctor during a routine pelvic exam or when
examining you because of symptoms. Your doctor
may recommend an ultrasound to look more closely at
the cyst. Blood and hormone tests may be done to uncover
the cause.
In some cases, a doctor may order a blood test that
measures a substance called CA-125, which may be a
marker for ovarian cancer. Only 1 percent of ovarian
cysts are malignant.
4
How are they treated?
In most cases, nothing has
to be done about a cyst. It will go away in one to
three months. Birth control pills are a treatment
option—they won’t get rid of a cyst, but they can prevent
new ones from forming.
If a cyst does not go away after several menstrual cycles,
gets larger or causes pain, it may be removed surgically.
Laparoscopy and laparotomy are the two main procedures
done to remove cysts.
Sources: American Academy of Family Physicians; American College of Obstetricians and
Gynecologists; Office on Women’s Health
Would you feel alone in a room with 5 million people? That’s
the approximate number of American women who have poly-
cystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
So, you’re not on your own if your doctor diagnoses you
with this hormonal disorder, the No. 1 cause of female
infertility in the U.S. You’ll join a large group of women
dealing with this often difficult condition. You’ll also find that
there are many options for treatment, as well as support to
help you through.
What is PCOS?
Women’s ovaries normally produce
both female and male hormones. With PCOS a woman’s body
makes more male
hormones (andro-
gens) than it needs.
“These excess
hormones interrupt
the regular function
of the ovaries. The
eggs in the ovaries
do not develop
properly, and many
small cysts form.
Ovulation (egg
release) and
menstruation may not happen on schedule or at all, which
is why PCOS can affect fertility,” explains Joana Tamayo,
MD, obstetrician and gynecologist at Glendale Adventist
Medical Center.
No one knows what causes PCOS. However, there
seems to be a genetic link, so you’re more likely to have it
if someone in your family has it.
There may also be a link between PCOS and insulin, a
hormone that regulates blood sugar. Many women with
PCOS have problems with their blood sugar levels. High
levels can increase the production of androgens.
Signs, symptoms and treatments
In addition
to cysts on the ovaries and irregular or missed periods, signs
and symptoms of PCOS may include:
■
Unwanted hair growth
on the body or face and thinning hair on the head.
■
Obesity.
■
Skin problems, such as acne or patches of dark skin.
■
Pelvic pain.
■
Anxiety or depression.
■
Sleep apnea.
“There is no cure for PCOS, but treatment can help many
of the symptoms and hold off complications such as diabetes,
heart disease and cancer of the uterus,” says Dr. Tamayo.
Treatment begins with lifestyle
changes
Limiting processed foods and added sugars
will help lower weight while balancing blood sugar levels.
For some women, losing 10 percent of their body weight is
enough to restore normal periods and ease other symptoms.
Other PCOS treatments include taking:
■
Birth control
pills.
■
Medications to control insulin.
■
Medicines to
block androgens.
Your doctor will help you learn about all the options and
get you started toward a better quality of life.
Sources: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; Hormone Health Network;
Office on Women’s Health
POLYCYSTIC
OVARY SYNDROME
HORMONES
GONE AWRY
Alice L. Yun, MD
Joana Tamayo, MD
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