Ovarian Cysts During Pregnancy

Quite common among all women, ovarian cysts usually take the shape of a small, round sac filled with fluid. Women even get ovarian cysts during pregnancy which happens in approximately one out of every thousand pregnancies.

The great majority of ovarian cysts discovered during pregnancy are benign cysts. Malignant cysts during pregnancy are less common. Ovarian cysts are classified as benign or malignant by doctors using ultrasound machines. If the mass lacks thick walls with no evidence of septation and is filled with fluid, it is probably a benign cyst. However, ultrasound is not one hundred percent accurate.

Even though a ovarian cyst that has grown quite large is not usually a health concern, it can lead to health complications for a pregnant woman. When the same thing happens to someone who is not pregnant it can cause extreme pain. But if that same ovarian cyst ruptures or twists inside of a pregnant woman it can problems like pre-term labor or even possibly a miscarriage.

Ovarian cysts generally do not pose a threat to the health of a pregnant woman unless the cyst grows and breaks apart. Even when an ovarian cyst ruptures, infection is unlikely. Pain can result from a rupturing cyst, however. Using pain relievers can lessen the pain and will not interfere with pregnancy. Even with an ovarian cyst during pregnancy, anesthesia can still be used throughout labor. Therefore, ovarian cysts without further issues do not present concerns to pregnancy.

The only time when a ovarian cyst generally requires surgery is when it it becomes twisted. The surgery to correct the problem will usually not cause any pregnancy complications. But with every surgery there are going to be risks that should be avoided at all costs if possible. Generally, removal will only be preformed if the cyst grows any larger then 6 CM in diameter.

When a woman is pregnant, it is best to operate on ovarian cysts during the second trimester at 14 to 16 weeks. Though some cysts are removed by laparoscopy, larger cysts can only be removed through an open incision. It is likely for large ovarian cysts to rupture. Therefore, women with large ovarian cysts should talk to their doctors about ovarian cysts during pregnancy. In many cases, doctors merely watch over their patients until the second trimester, in which they choose to operate with no complications.

It’s certainly possible for a woman to develop ovarian cysts while she is pregnant and such cysts should be monitored carefully. But usually there is nothing to fear, since ovarian cysts during pregnancy carry no greater risk than that for a woman who is not pregnant.