A functional ovarian cyst is caused by one or more slight changes in the way the ovary produces or releases an egg. If you are postmenopausal, you are not ovulating and rarely develop a functional ovarian cyst. But in the five years after menopause, some women still have functional ovarian cysts occasionally. It is also possible to have one that you developed when you were still ovulating.

Your doctor may find an ovarian cyst during a routine pelvic exam. He or she may then use a pelvic ultrasound to make sure that the cyst is filled with fluid. In a few months, after you have been through 2 or 3 menstrual cycles, your doctor will recheck you. The cyst is likely to go away on its own during this time. If you see your doctor for pelvic pain or bleeding, you'll be checked for problems that may be causing your symptoms. See similar questions...

Eggs grow, develop, and mature in the ovaries and then are released during ovulation, part of the monthly menstrual cycle that occurs during the childbearing years. Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled sacs that form on the ovaries when the follicles (sacs) on the ovary that contain the egg mature, but do not release the egg into the fallopian tube where it would be fertilized. See similar questions...

Cysts are large (sometimes over 5mm in diameter), hard bumps below the skin surface. They are similar to nodules, with only one exception – they are pus-filled. They can be painful and long-lasting. They may cause scars, especially if they are popped. In such situation they become more painful and the inflammation lasts longer than when they are left alone. See similar questions...

Yes. However, cysts in non-Persian cats are relatively rare, regardless of the cause. So the current theory is that almost all cysts found in Persians and related breeds will be PKD cysts. Dr. Biller will be conducting research to help establish exactly how frequently cysts are found in non-persian cats. This study should help us understand the frequency of non-PKD kidney cysts in Persians, and possibly even provide clues about how they can be differentiated from PKD cysts using ultrasound. See similar questions...

quot;… a few cats with PKD also have cysts elsewhere, such as in the liver and the reproductive tract. Livers can have cystic disease that is not related to PKD." Researching PKD on the web, I have seen references to human PKD being linked to both cysts in other organs and to a certain type of cerebral aneurysm. However, so far, I haven't seen any indication that similar links have been established for feline PKD. See similar questions...

The cause of ganglions is not always clear. Non-occupational factors or conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis have been associated with ganglion cysts. Occupational factors play also an important role in the development of ganglions. Those occupations that require workers to excessively overuse certain joints such as the wrist and fingers pose the risk for ganglion cysts. See similar questions...

The term, ovarian cancer, is used to refer to a malignancy of the outer lining or epithelium of the ovary. The most common subtype is called papillary serous carcinoma because of the frond-like appearance microscopically. The second most common subtype is endometrioid. Mucinous and clear cell carcinoma are less common subtypes and tend to have a poorer prognosis. See similar questions...

I was enjoying a casual dinner the other night, when all of a sudden my heart started racing. I broke out in a cold sweat and I was shaking, dizzy and short of breath. It was really scary - I thought I was having a heart attack! See similar questions...

A cyst is a fluid filled cavity. Cysts can often be found in the ovaries. Ovarian cysts are usually diagnosed by pelvic exam or ultrasound. If the cyst is entirely filled with fluid it is called a "simple cyst." Ovarian follicles as they undergo maturation may appear on an ultrasound as simple cysts or occasionally as complex cysts. These cysts usually resolve within one to two months. Simple cysts are almost always benign. See similar questions...

A functional ovarian cyst is a round, thin-walled, clear fluid-filled sac that develops in the ovary as part of normal egg development. When it is on the ovary's surface, a functional ovarian cyst looks something like a skin blister. A normal ovarian cyst can grow as large as 1.5 in. (3.8 cm) as it prepares to release an egg into the abdomen (ovulation). When an ovarian cyst does not release its egg, it continues to grow, becoming larger than normal (functional ovarian cyst). See similar questions...

The causes of ovarian cancer remain poorly understood. One hypothesis is that an increased number of ovulations increase the risk of ovarian cancer. A second theory is that high chronic levels of pituitary hormones that stimulate the ovary (pituitary gonadotropins) can somehow lead to cancer. See similar questions...

A corpus luteum, or functional cyst, is simply a leftover follicle that has outstayed its normal lifespan. Sometimes, they continue to produce progesterone and estrogen, which may delay the arrival of the next period. See similar questions...

Most are not. Most resting cysts are dormant and do not produce toxins. Once an alga emerges from the cyst to an active stage, though, the ability to produce toxins may recur. Resting cysts of golden alga have not been tested for their ability to produce toxins. See similar questions...

A dermoid cyst is a saclike growth that contains fluid, hair, teeth, or skin glands found on the skin that is present at birth. Cysts may remain small for years then gradually grow larger. Cysts are not completely dangerous but it still needs to be removed to prevent rupturing that causes pain and inflammation. See similar questions...

The other complications result from an enlarged ovary. It may twist upon itself and result in torsion, or it may bleed or rupture, requiring operation. Sometimes a functional cyst persists after the cycle is over. See similar questions...

This is a condition in which many follicles are produced and cause accumulation of fluid in the abdomen and sometimes in the chest. The abdominal fluid causes bloating. The fluid in the chest causes breathlessness. This condition is usually temporary. However women with poly cystic ovaries have an increased sensitivity to FSH and are more susceptible to severe hyperstimulation. See similar questions...