Ovarian Cyst Types

Ovary Cysts and Ovary Pain

An ovarian cyst is nothing more than a small sac, filled with a harmless fluid, that develops in your ovaries. In an ultrasound scan, the cyst resembles a bubble.

Normally there is no ovary pain associated with an ovarian cyst. When you have an ovary cyst, you generally don't even know it. More often than not, an ovarian cyst is discovered during a routine examination. Generally an ovarian cyst will go away on it's own without treatment in a few weeks.

Ovary pain will occur however, if the cyst ruptures. In such instances, surgery may be needed to remove it. To learn more, click on ruptured ovarian cyst.

A woman can get one of the types of ovarian cysts almost anytime during her life, but they occur most often during the childbearing years. Most are not related to any kind of disease, although it is possible for a cyst to be cancerous.

Types of ovarian cysts The following types of ovarian cysts are non-cancerous. A woman may develop more than one type.

Follicular This type forms when ovulation does not take place or when a mature follicle collapses on itself (called involution). A follicular cyst typically occurs at ovulation. It can grow to a little more than two inches in diameter.

When this type of ovarian cyst ruptures, it can cause severe ovary pain. Since it occurs at ovulation, it is commonly called mittelschmerz (translation: middle pain). One woman in four who has this type of cyst will experience ovary pain.

Follicular cysts usually disappear by themselves in a matter of a few months.

Corpus luteum cyst Once an egg has been released from a follicle, it is called a corpus luteum (translation: yellow body). The function of the corpus luteum is to secrete estrogens and progesterone, which are hormones responsible for the thickening of the endometrium. This process is critical to pregnancy.

If a pregnancy doesn't happen, the corpus luteum usually breaks down and disappears. In some circumstances though, it may fill with fluid or blood and stay on the ovary. In most cases, this occurs only on one side. There are no symptoms.

Hemorrhagic cyst When bleeding occurs inside the cyst, it's called a hemorrhagic cyst. This type may cause ovary pain on one side of the body.

Dermoid cyst This is considered to be an abnormal type of ovarian cyst. It can grow as large as 6 inches in diameter, and generally occurs in younger women. It usually contains fat and resembles the type of cyst that appears on the skin.

Dermoid cysts can become inflamed and cause severe abdomen pain.

Endometriomas or endometrioid cysts These occur when a woman has endometriosis. It can cause chronic pain in the area of the pelvis. It usually occurs during a woman's reproductive years.

Endometrioid cysts are sometimes called chocolate cysts because they're filled with dark, reddish-brown blood.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome or PCOS We have a separate article on this topic. Click on ovary pain and polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Polycystic-appearing ovary This is not the same thing as polycystic ovarian syndrome or PCOS. It is bigger than other types of ovarian cysts, and small cysts may also be present around the outside of the ovary.

Cystadenoma This is a benign tumor that grows from ovarian tissue. It may be filled with a mucous-type fluid material. A cystadenoma can grow as large as a foot or more in diameter.

See our related article on ovarian cyst symptoms and signs.