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Chocolate cysts….Threat of women of reproductive age

Chocolate cysts….Threat of women of reproductive age

Many women have asked what is a chocolate cyst? Also called an endometrioma, it is one of several types of cysts on ovaries that affect women. A chocolate cyst is a sac or pouch growing on the ovary that contains fluids and sometimes semi-solid material too, in which case it may be referred to as a complex ovarian cyst. Because the endometrial tissue inside the cyst responds to monthly hormones it bleeds and fills the interior of these cysts with unclotted blood. Chocolate cysts get their name from the dark old blood that grossly resembles chocolate. Other names for chocolate cyst are endometrial cyst, endometrioma cyst, and chocolate ovarian cyst.

Millions of women will be affected by endometriomas each year. Approximately five to ten percent of all women will have one at some point during their life, typically during their childbearing years. Most women will get them in the ovary on the left side of the body. One of the critical problems with chocolate cysts is that they tend to reoccur. Usually, the size of an endometrioma ranges from about half an inch (grape size) to four inches or more (softball size) in diameter.

Cause chocolate cysts Some ovarian cysts cause problems, such as bleeding and pain. Surgery may be required to remove cysts larger than 5 centimeters in diameter. To conclude, chocolate cysts are caused by endometriosis where the uterine lining tissue has migrated to the ovaries. It can give rise to few or severe symptoms and is a cause of infertility. Treatment can be medical – painkillers and or hormones – or surgical and although there is no cure, the condition can be alleviated.

Signs and symptoms
Some or all of the following symptoms may be present, though it is possible not to experience any symptoms: Abdominal pain. Dull aching pain within the abdomen or pelvis, especially on intercourse. Uterine bleeding. Pain during or shortly after beginning or end of menstrual period; irregular periods, or abnormal uterine bleeding or spotting. Fullness, heaviness, pressure, swelling, or bloating in the abdomen. When a cyst ruptures from the ovary, there may be sudden and sharp pain in the lower abdomen on one side.

Chocolate Cyst Treatment
Typical options for chocolate cyst treatment include medication with drugs and surgery. Drugs may be helpful in relieving symptoms temporarily but do not treat or actually remove the cyst. Danzol and GnRH are two such drugs commonly used. Surgery is often recommended but has its own problems as well. Often during surgery healthy ovarian tissue is removed with the cyst resulting in lowered fertility for the woman. Sometimes the entire ovary must be removed depending on the size and number of cysts. Other complications may also result from surgery such as scarring, adhesions, and cuts to the rectum or bladder. The worst thing a woman can do is to have unnecessary surgery that causes damage to her ovaries or other organs.