Can ovarian cysts during pregnancy be dangerous to both mother and baby?

The appearance of certain problems during pregnancy can certainly make mothers anxious and worried about the condition of their future babies. Especially if it turns out that the problem that arises during pregnancy is an ovarian cyst. Can ovarian cysts harm the fetus in its womb?

What are ovarian cysts?

The ovaries are organs that are part of the female reproductive system. There are two ovaries, each located on the left and right side of the pelvis. The ovaries function to release new eggs every time a woman ovulates.

In the ovary, there is a bag filled with fluid or commonly known as a follicle. From this follicle, the left and right ovaries release eggs alternately, routinely every month. The egg that is released will go into the fallopian tube and the follicle will fuse.

However, in certain cases, the follicle does not release the egg completely so that the cell actually develops into a cyst.

Cysts, which are small, fluid-filled sacs can develop on one of the ovaries or both.

Why do ovarian cysts appear during pregnancy?

It is important to note that every woman has had a cyst at least once in her life. Cysts can appear at any time during a woman's life because they usually form as a result of the natural process of the menstrual cycle. However, many women are not aware of having it because they do not feel pain or experience no symptoms.

It does not appear suddenly, but develops slowly until it finally forms a cyst lump. That's why some expectant mothers find out that they have ovarian cysts when they are pregnant after having an ultrasound check.

Ovarian cysts can also develop in the womb if you had PCOS or endometriosis before becoming pregnant.

PCOS is a condition that has been linked to a number of hormonal imbalances. While endometriosis is a condition of thickening of the lining of the uterus (endometrium) outside the uterus.

Apart from that, cysts can also appear in pregnant women who have previously taken fertility drugs gonadotropins that induce ovulation or other types, such as clomiphene citrate or letrozole. Fertility therapy can result in cysts as part of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.

Symptoms of ovarian cysts during pregnancy

Ovarian cysts during pregnancy rarely cause characteristic symptoms. Signs and symptoms may appear and feel when the lump is large enough, here are the signs reported by WebMD:

Bloated
Always feel full even though you haven't eaten
The stomach feels pressed
The more frequent you urinate back and forth
Abnormal hair growth
Fever
Difficulty eating

These symptoms could be a sign that the cyst is getting bigger in the months after you become pregnant. Lump cysts that grow bigger can hold potential harm to the fetus in the womb.

What is the danger of cysts in pregnant women and the fetus in the womb?

Most ovarian cysts during pregnancy are harmless and can go away on their own without needing treatment. In most cases, ovarian cysts do not affect the mother and the fetus in the womb.

A condition that needs to be watched out for is when the ovarian cyst does not disappear but instead gets bigger.

According to Winchester Hospital, ovarian cysts during pregnancy are said to be dangerous if the size is more than 5 cm and to block the cervix as a birth path for the baby.

Having ovarian cysts during pregnancy does not cause ovarian cancer in pregnant women. However, the cyst lump can burst and cause internal bleeding.

Especially if the lump is twisted so that it blocks blood flow. This can then cause severe pain or tenderness around the lower abdomen and pelvis.

The development of ovarian cysts during pregnancy may also cause problems with the uterus. The most important complication and should be watched out for is preterm labor. This risk may occur if the woman has to have surgery to remove the cyst.

Preterm labor is more at risk if the operation to remove the ovarian cyst is performed when the pregnancy is around 20 weeks.

If the doctor detects ovarian cysts in pregnant women, he will continue to monitor the development of the cysts and the fetus in the womb.

How to diagnose ovarian cysts during pregnancy?

As mentioned earlier, ovarian cysts can be detected when examining the womb through an ultrasound scan. Ultrasound images can show the location and size of the cyst.

In addition, your doctor may also suggest further tests if you suspect you are at risk for ovarian cysts by doing:

Imaging tests such as CT, MRI, or PET scans that can produce clearer and more accurate images.
Blood test to test for the presence of the hormones LH, FSH, testosterone.
CA-125 test. This action is done if the doctor suspects that your cyst is potentially cancerous. Often this test is used for women aged 35 years, because at that age your risk of developing ovarian cancer is high.

How to treat ovarian cysts during pregnancy?

To deal with this one cyst, the doctor will do several ways, such as:

1. Check the content regularly

When you have ovarian cysts while pregnant, the doctor will initially only do the monitoring. Given that most cysts do not cause any impact.

Cysts do not require special treatment or medication to be removed. Routine gynecology with ultrasound can help doctors monitor the development of the cyst.

2. Laparoscopy

These cysts can sometimes grow on the stem of the ovary, causing it to bend and eventually become damaged.

To treat this condition, the doctor will remove the cyst through a laparoscopic procedure. If the cyst grows bigger, it is possible that the doctor will perform further surgery, namely a laparotomy.

3. Surgical removal of the cyst

Ovarian cyst removal surgery will be performed when the pregnancy has entered the 2nd or 3rd trimester. This operation must be done carefully to prevent miscarriage.

4. Caesarean section

Ovarian cysts during pregnancy that grow very large have a high risk of blocking the baby's birth canal. So, doctors will usually advise mothers to give birth by caesarean section. A caesarean section will also be performed if the cyst is at high risk of causing dangerous complications.

How to prevent ovarian cysts during pregnancy?

To prevent the appearance and development of ovarian cysts in pregnant women, always check with your obstetrician regularly.

The doctor will perform regular pelvic exams to detect the size of the ovaries. You should also keep track of any unusual changes or symptoms you felt during your period before becoming pregnant.

This in turn will help your doctor detect changes in your menstrual cycle that could indicate ovarian cysts during pregnancy.

It is important to always report it if you experience sudden severe pelvic or abdominal pain while pregnant. This is a danger sign that needs to be consulted by your gynecologist immediately.