There are different types of ovarian cysts and each type causes a variety of symptoms. Ovarian cysts can vary in size-from as small as a pea to as big as a grapefruit. A woman can develop one cyst or many cysts. Most cysts result from the changes in hormone levels that occur during the menstrual cycle and the production and release of eggs from the ovaries. Ovarian cysts are quite common in women during their child bearing years. The corpus luteum makes hormones that cause the endometrium to grow. After ovulation, the empty follicle becomes the corpus luteum which remains until the next period. The egg moves into one of the two fallopian tubes connected to the uterus where it can be fertilized by a man’s sperm.
This is called ovulation.Īround the time of ovulation, a woman can get pregnant. About day 14, the egg is released from the ovary. On about day five of your menstrual cycle, the hormone estrogen signals the endometrium (the lining of the uterus) to grow and thicken to prepare for a possible pregnancy. An egg, encased in a sac called a follicle, grows inside the ovary. One of the two ovaries-each about the size of a walnut-produces an egg every month during your menstrual cycle. Others may cause problems and need treatment. These cysts are harmless and in most cases, go away on their own. It is normal for a small cyst (a fluid-filled sac or pouch) to develop on the ovaries. The ovaries are two small organs, one on each side of a woman’s uterus.
