Ovarian Cysts: Am I At Risk?

Ovarian cysts are usually solid or fluid-filled sacs that result from fluid accumulated during ovulation. After the menstrual period, these cysts usually shrink or dissolve spontaneously, although they may reoccur in subsequent ovulatory cycles.Clomid powder

No. Cysts are typically a part of the menstrual cycle; even if they continue to grow after they form, they are rarely cancerous. And there is no evidence that women who have benign, or harmless, ovarian cysts are at greater risk than other women for cancerous ovarian growths. You may be at greater risk for ovarian cancer, however, if

You have a family history of ovarian cancer.
You have been given fertility drugs for artificial reproductive techniques such as in-vitro fertilization. Many physicians have administered the drug Clomid (clomiphene citrate) as a first-line treatment to induce ovulation. A study in the American Journal of Epidemiology suggests that clomiphene increases the risk of uterine cancer.
Other possible risk factors include a high-fat diet and having had talcum powder applied near the vagina, according to the National Cancer Institute. Researchers have not done case-control studies on either talc or high-fat diet and ovarian cancer. But an analysis of sex studies on vaginal exposure to talc and ovarian cancer found a statistically significant risk, and studies have linked high-fat diets to some forms of cancer.

Not necessarily. There's a tendency to view all ovarian cysts with suspicion, but many cause no problems at all. Cysts related to ovulation, for example, don't cause cancer. But some cysts -- such as those found in girls or postmenopausal women -- are cause for more concern.

Generally, any cyst that persists for more than two to three menstrual cycles or continues to increase in size warrants close evaluation, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Is there more than one kind of cyst?

Yes. Cysts related to ovulation are known as functional cysts. Another variety, the follicular cyst, occurs when the follicle fails to burst and stubbornly continues to grow without releasing the egg. A follicular cyst usually disappears after two to three menstrual cycles. Some, however, can grow as large as 2.75 inches -- a little bigger in diameter than a 12 ounce can of soda -- and be quite painful; they may require surgery.

A luteal cyst, another type of functional cyst, grows from the corpus luteum, the substance that remains after the egg is released. This substance usually dissolves, but it can sometimes continue growing and become a cyst.

Some women will develop functional cysts over and over. The good news is that neither the follicular nor luteal cysts lead to cancer.

When multiple cysts are growing on the ovaries at the same time, you have polycystic ovarian syndrome . This condition is a sign of hormonal imbalance; if you have it, your body may be producing too many hormones known as androgens, and your ovaries may not produce eggs without treatment.