Vim & Vigor - Summer 2018 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 53

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Personalized Reproductive Care
Every woman is unique. That's why GMC honors what makes you one
of a kind by providing personalized care for all of your reproductive
needs. Start by making an appointment with GMC's health navigator by
visiting everydaywellness.org/wellnessnavigator.

typically runs without a hitch, but every
once in a while, a follicle can stick around-
causing a cyst.

Are there different types?
While there are several diﬀerent types of
ovarian cysts, the most common types are:
3 Follicle cysts: When the follicle growing
the egg doesn't break open, a cyst is formed.
These typically cause no symptoms and will
go away in three months or less.
3 Corpus luteum cysts: These cysts
form when the egg is successfully released,
but instead of shrinking, the follicle reseals
and begins to ﬁll with ﬂuid. While these
cysts go away rather quickly-in roughly
a few weeks-they can grow to be fairly
large, making twisting of the ovary or pain
more common.
3 Polycystic ovary syndrome: This
condition, caused by an imbalance of
hormones, can cause the growth of many
small cysts, along with other symptoms,
such as weight gain, excess hair and acne.

Do they cause symptoms?
"Thankfully, most cysts don't cause any
noticeable symptoms," explains Dr. Pohl.
"However, a large ovarian cyst can cause a
number of side eﬀects." These include:
3 Pelvic pain - a dull or sharp ache in
the lower abdomen on the side of the cyst
3 Fullness or heaviness in your abdomen
3 Bloating

Can you prevent them?
"The short answer is no," says Dr. Pohl.
"If you are ovulating, then there is always
a chance that you could develop an ovarian

CYSTS VS.
FIBROIDS
Ovarian cysts aren't the only type of growth
that a majority of women will experience-
uterine ﬁbroids are also surprisingly
common. In fact, nearly 50 percent of
women will experience these ﬁrm, compact
tumors in their childbearing years or
during menopause.
Uterine ﬁbroids share many similarities
with ovarian cysts: they're primarily benign
(over 99 percent of ﬁbroid tumors are not
cancerous), they often go undiagnosed and
there's no known cause. However, there are
key risk factors every woman should know:
3 A diet high in red meat
3 A family history of ﬁbroids
3 High blood pressure

cyst." But, if your doctor prescribes
hormonal birth control, this will stop
you from ovulating and stop new cysts
from forming.

When is there cause
for concern?
"One of the biggest health risks that
come with ovarian cysts is the risk of it
breaking or rupturing," notes Dr. Pohl. Seek
immediate medical attention if you have
been told by your doctor that you have a cyst
and experience:
3 Sudden, severe abdominal or pelvic pain
3 Pain with fever or vomiting
3 Faintness, dizziness or weakness
3 Rapid breathing
"There's no denying that ovarian cysts
can be scary," explains Dr. Pohl. "The
good news is, though, they can easily
be detected with routine pelvic exams."
So, if you believe that you may have an
ovarian cyst, talk with your provider. "By
utilizing diﬀerent tests and screenings,
your provider will be able to develop a
treatment plan customized just for you-
and your ovaries," emphasizes Dr. Pohl. ■
SUMME R 2018

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