Can Ovarian Cysts Cause Infertility?

During the course of a typical menstrual cycle, a person can develop growths on the ovaries called ovarian cysts. These are not harmful, and more often than not, they resolve on their own. In addition, ovarian cysts do not present any symptoms. This means that a person could have ovarian cysts and not be aware. 

At times a person could develop ovarian cysts in large numbers or very frequently. Often, this points to an underlying condition such as polycystic ovarian syndrome, or endometriosis, which would require medical intervention. Let us look into how cysts are formed, possible symptoms as well as their treatment. 

What Is an Ovarian Cyst?

Ovarian cysts form from the antral follicles that occur naturally in the ovaries. Whereas antral follicles typically develop eggs to full maturity they can fill up with fluid and continue to grow forming the cysts. This can happen in different ways, and as such, they are grouped into two main categories.

Types of Ovarian Cysts

The two main types of cysts are functional cysts and non-functional cysts. We shall now look at these in a little bit more detail. 

Functional Cysts

These are the most common, occurring somewhat discreetly, as they do not present any symptoms and resolve on their own. Their discovery is usually made during a routine ultrasound.

1. Corpus luteum cysts usually develop when an antral follicles, after releasing the mature egg within, reseals itself and continues to grow. As it grows, fluid also continues to build up within it.  
2. Follicular cysts on the other hand continue to grow with the mature egg still within the antral follicle. 

Non-Functional Cysts

This type of cyst presents in two ways. The first is harmless and asymptomatic. The second is symptomatic as a result of an underlying issue. There are three types of non-functional cysts. We shall outline them below:

Cystadenomas 

Cystadenomas are a type of benign tumor. Usually, these are filled with a clear fluid that has a mucus-like consistency. Typically, they are asymptomatic, but they can present complications, which require surgical interventions.   

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) 

PCOS as the name suggest, occurs when many cysts form around the ovaries. They case symptoms such as acne, weight gain, excessive hair growth or baldness and extreme tiredness. As well, their presence can present challenges when a person is trying to conceive. Usually, polycystic ovaries are treated using prescribed medications. 

Endometriomas

Endometriomas are cysts that develop due to a condition known as endometriosis. They typically contain tissue similar to that found on the uterine lining. They have a dark brown colorin and as such are referred to as chocolate cysts. The presence of endometriomas indicates that there are additional complications owing to the endometriosis. In general, it has been found that endometriosis increases the chances of infertility. While each case is unique, the courses of treatment for endometriosis include surgical interventions and medications.   

Symptoms of Ovarian Cysts

Should ovarian cysts rupture, they usually present symptoms such as vaginal bleeding or spotting, bloating, severe pain in the pelvic area or lower back, or irregularities in a person’s menstral cycle. Ovarian cysts tend to rupture when they have grown very big. At times symptoms similar to those of a ruptured cysts may ybe accompanied by heavy vaginal bleeding, severe nausea, vomiting, fever, and dizziness. Should one experience any of these additional symptoms, they must immediately seek emergency medical care. 

Treating Ovarian Cysts

Regardless of the type of ovarian cyst a person may have, their treatment is conducted on a case by case basis. As well, they must be observed prior to any medical intervention being applied.

Observation

Due to the fact that ovarian cysts tend to resolve on their own, professional medicare providers will first observe to see if they will resolve. They do this by doing regular ultrasounds on the patient.

Hormonal treatments

Should cysts form regularly and in large numbers, often hormone-based therapies are applied to control ovulation. This is typically done using prescribed oral contraceptives and other hormonal treatments.

Surgery

Should cysts become complicated, cancerous, or grow very big, different types of surgeries are performed to remove them. When they are neither cancerous, nor particularly large, the typical approach will be a laparoscopic surgery. When they are canceros or quite large, an open surgery  will be the typical approach used. 

Do Ovarian Cysts Cause Infertility?

Yes. Due to their nature, ovarian cysts typically cause imbalances in hormone production, which affects regular ovulation. As well, their presence can cause discomfort during sexual intercourse. These factors as a result. PCOS on its own is one of the leading causes of infertility all over the world. 

Seeking Expert Fertility Advice

While ovarian cysts have various treatments, where they are located, their size and how their presence has affected hormonal production has an impact on whether a person can become pregnant or not. However, when properly treated, it is possible for a person to become pregnant. It is important to give the body time to get back into its reglar cycle before trying to become pregnant.  

IVF with a cyst

When a person is undergoing IVF, cysts can make the egg retrieval phase challenging. As such, many healthcare providers will recommend the removal of the cysts prior to the start of treatment in order to improve the chances of success. 

In Summary

As we have seen, ovarian cysts are typically harmless and go unnoticed. However there are times they can prevent one from becoming pregnant. If you have ovarian cysts, it is vital to gety the right care, particularly if you are considering building your family. Speak to our experts at Virginia Fertility & IVF regarding ovarian cysts or any other reproductive  healthcare concerns you may have. Our team will guide you to find the most suitable options for your unique circumstances.