I Think I Have an Ovarian Cyst — How Can I Be Sure?

Your body is an excellent communicator, often letting you know something is amiss. You might have stomach trouble to indicate a food allergy, a headache that points to lack of sleep, or a blister that proves you wore ill-fitting shoes.

If you experience an ovarian cyst, you’ll get hints that something is going on.

Dr. Kevin Hooker and our team at Lake Havasu OB/GYN Care are caring and dedicated to meeting all your OB/GYN care needs, including helping you determine whether you have an ovarian cyst. If you do, Dr. Hooker creates a personalized treatment plan to bring you lasting relief as soon as possible. 

Why do ovarian cysts develop?

Ovarian cysts are fairly common — about one in 10 women has them. A functional ovarian cyst is a fluid-filled sac that develops in or on your ovary when you ovulate. Follicular cysts develop when your follicle doesn’t release an egg and fills with fluid, while corpus luteum cysts form on a cell mass that develops after you ovulate.

The good news is that these cysts are typically harmless, may not even cause symptoms, and often go away without treatment.

Suspicion versus certainty about an ovarian cyst

The symptoms of an ovarian cyst, especially as it gets bigger, include pelvic pain and pressure, lower back pain, and abdominal bloating, which you may also experience as routine premenstrual symptoms, so it can get confusing. Ovarian cysts can also lead to painful intercourse. 

If you suffer from these symptoms, you may wonder if you have an ovarian cyst, but the only way to be sure is to see Dr. Hooker, who uses definitive diagnostic tests that may include a pelvic exam, pregnancy test, blood tests, or a pelvic ultrasound. He may also recommend a minimally invasive laparoscopy procedure, where he inserts a slim tool through a small abdominal incision so he can see your ovaries and any cysts present.

Ovarian cyst detection is another reason why visiting us for your routine well-woman exams is so important.

Depending on your situation, Dr. Hooker recommends the treatment he believes is most appropriate for you:

1. Cautious waiting and watching, where he carefully monitors your cyst to see if it goes away or requires treatment.
2. Minimally invasive surgery that allows Dr. Hooker to remove a cyst that has grown too large or is painful. He can perform this minor procedure right at Lake Havasu Regional Medical Center, and there’s little post-procedure downtime.
3. Hormonal birth control methods can prevent ovarian cysts from emerging, so they’re good in that sense, but they cannot cause a cyst you already have to shrink in size or disappear entirely.

Treating an ovarian cyst helps you avoid the discomfort that comes with a large cyst, as well as any potential for the cyst to become cancerous.

Call our conveniently located Mesquite Avenue office at 928-683-1667 if you’re experiencing symptoms of an ovarian cyst or request an appointment online.