Signs Your Ovarian Cyst Needs to Be Removed

Ovarian cysts aren’t necessarily a medical condition requiring treatment. Most cysts develop as part of the normal reproductive cycle and resolve without issue. Even cysts that develop outside the typical menstrual cycle rarely need surgical intervention.

However, some ovarian cysts can be problematic for your health and require removal, called ovarian cystectomy. In these cases, the team of board-certified providers at Darin Swainston MD. FACOG in Las Vegas, Nevada, uses minimally invasive surgical techniques whenever possible to remove these cysts.

Our office uses the latest in robotic-assisted surgery to give patients the best results using the least invasive methods. This means lower risks, greater precision, and a faster recovery time if you need an ovarian cystectomy.

Signs of problematic ovarian cysts

It’s important to keep in mind that most ovarian cysts don’t cause problems. Even those that trigger frustrating symptoms often go away on their own.

Some cysts, however, are associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This health condition can lead to problems with your overall health and even infertility, but treatment usually involves hormone therapy and other medications rather than surgery.

If you develop any of the following symptoms, it’s important to seek an evaluation from your provider:

Abnormal bleeding
Bloating
Pain in the abdomen
Pelvic pressure
Pain in the back, side, or thighs
Pain during or after sex
Bowel or urinary symptoms (e.g., frequent urination)

Your provider conducts a physical and/or imaging exam to determine if ovarian cysts are present and the cause of your symptoms.

In some rare cases, you may need to go to the nearest emergency room for immediate treatment. This includes experiencing severe pain with fever and vomiting, severe pain with fainting, weakness, or dizziness, severe pain with unexpected heavy bleeding, or severe pain with rapid breathing.

When ovarian cysts may require surgery

Only your medical provider can determine if your ovarian cyst requires surgical intervention. Most cases are left to resolve on their own or addressed with hormonal therapy. However, your Darin Swainston MD. FACOG provider may recommend surgical removal if:

Cyst grows too big (>10cm)
Cyst doesn’t resolve and causes problematic symptoms
Cyst develops after menopause
Cyst becomes twisted (torsion)
Cyst ruptures and keeps bleeding (hemorrhage)

An ovarian cyst also requires surgical removal if it’s determined to be cancerous.

Benefits of ovarian cyst removal

If your provider determines surgically removing your problematic ovarian cyst is the right course of treatment for your unique needs, you can expect your troublesome symptoms to resolve after surgery.

And because the team at Darin Swainston, MD. FACOG uses minimally invasive robotic-assisted surgery techniques, you can rest easy knowing that you’ll receive the best care with the fewest risks.

Some of the benefits of minimally invasive ovarian cyst removal include: