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" \nWhat exactly is an ovarian cyst? Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled sacs that form on or inside an ovary. They are found in nearly all pre-menopausal women because they are the result of active ovaries and egg-follicles. Many of these cysts usually dissolve and come through your period. But sometimes, egg-follicles form a larger cyst that doesn&amp;#039;t dissolve after a cycle or two. It then fills with fluid, grows, and begins causing pain and other symptoms.  How do you know if you have an ovarian cyst? Women often discover them because they cause intense cramp-like pain when they rupture, bleed, or are pushed around. Non pelvic pain related symptoms include gaining weight, pain during sex, irregular periods, pain urinating, and lower back pain. If you have any of these symptoms, contact your doctor immediately, so they can properly check you out. Not all cysts cause symptoms, but can be detected during your routine pelvic exams (another reason to stick to your annual gyno visit).  What type of tests will your doctor perform on you to see if you have an ovarian cyst? Your doctor might do the following: Lab tests, including a complete blood count (CBC) to check for infection or internal bleeding, a pregnancy test to detect a uterine or ectopic pregnancy, an ultrasound to get a clear picture of the cyst in terms of size, quantity, what it&amp;#039;s filled with (blood or fluid), and if it&amp;#039;s growing, a CT scan or MRI to tell your doctor whether the cyst has signs of malignancy, and if it&amp;#039;s pressing on or invading on the turf of any other organs, lymph glands, or blood vessels.  What are some factors that can impact your chances of developing cysts that do not go away? A history of ovarian cysts in your family, smoking, and getting your period early can affect your developing ovarian cysts. And generally, women ages 20-35 are more likely to experience them. Can ovarian cysts cause you to gain weight? Yes. Some cysts are hormone-secreting cysts, which can impact several parts of your health including your weight. PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) can also cause metabolic issues, which can lead to weight gain. How can you treat cysts? Some will go away on their own. But for those that don&amp;#039;t, your symptoms can be treated with birth control pills, or if it is on the more severe side, they can be treated surgery: A Laparoscopy (small incision, small instrument used to remove small cysts) or a Laparotomy (larger incision through stomach to remove larger cysts). And if your cysts are cancerous, you may also require radiation or chemotherapy coupled with surgery. Ultimately, the best way to detect ovarian cysts is to consult your doctor. Want more from Dara? Follow her on Facebook and Twitter @dadeeyo. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.cosmopolitan.com/health-fitness/advice/a4376/ovarian-cyst/?click=rel>