Ovarian cysts among women are very common. I first discovered I had an ovarian cyst when I was 16 years old. I worked at a local pharmacy, and I had called my mom to tell her that I wasn’t feeling well. The pain that I had was not yet excruciating, but I could sense that it was different from anything that I had ever felt before. Whether instinct or not, I told my mom she needed to come pick me up immediately, as I did not think I could drive home. Within seconds, shooting pain went through my abdomen, and with the help of co-workers, I hobbled to the back room to curl up in the fetal position.

The pain that I was experiencing was the result of a cyst bursting in my ovaries. The pain was debilitating, and the aftermath resulted in my co-workers and mother carrying me to out to my mom’s car, her rushing me to the doctor, and being put on best rest for 24 hours along with heavy duty painkillers. The unfortunate news that I discovered was that there is no cure, little prevention, and these are all too common among women.

Many woman have cysts that pass through their ovaries without their knowledge. They can come and go feeling just like a menstrual cramp. However, for some of us, the cysts do not dissolve and therefore they either burst resulting in extreme pain, or they must be surgically removed to prevent bursting.

After my first cyst burst, my doctor put me on birth control to hormonally control the development of cysts along with ovulation.  Many women go on birth control for long periods of time, but it is not healthy. Without the use of birth control, cysts will develop as my eggs develop and with previous history of ruptured cysts, it is more likely to occur again.

When not cancerous, Webmd.com (http://www.webmd.com/content/article/9/1680_50983) describes cysts as sacs of fluid that are originally formed around the egg. It is possible for the sac to close up resulting in a buildup of fluid creating the ovarian cyst that may eventually burst.

There are just a few things that you can do to prevent the formation of ovarian cysts. Something you can do is limit your caffeine. Any over-indulgence in caffeine can cause inflammation that will irritate the cyst and may cause it to rupture. Another prevention method is to take the route that I have taken, which is to consistently stay on birth control to prevent ovulation therefore controlling the formation of ovarian cysts.

Should you feel any sharp pain your abdomen, have any abnormal bleeding outside of your menstrual cycle, or notice unusual discharge, contact your doctor immediately. Staying active and having your yearly pap smear test is also very important in taking good care of your reproductive health.

Unfortunately, despite all that is known about the formation of cysts, the prevention is few and far between. By making sure to get yearly tests and checkups, you can keep your body healthy. Hopefully in the future more will be known about how to better prevent the pain and suffering of those living with ovarian cyst ruptures.

Source:

http://www.webmd.com/content/article/9/1680_50983