Ovarian Tumor

The word tumor comes from the greek word for swelling. An ovarian tumor is a solid or cystic swelling that appears in, on or around the ovaries. Most ovarian tumors are harmless. Studies show that ninety-eight percent of ovarian tumors that develop in women before the age of forty-five are benign. Because of the shift in hormone balance after menopause, women are more likely to develop ovarian tumors during or after menopause.

Symptoms of an Ovarian Tumor

Most ovarian tumors are CYSTS,and most ovarian tumors do not have any symptoms at all. However if a tumor has grown very large, has twisted, ruptured or broken apart - painful symptoms may occur. These painful symptoms can include abnormal vaginal bleeding, menstrual cramps, general pelvic ache, sharp pelvic pain and painful sexual intercourse.

Ovarian Mass

An ovarian mass is any type of ovarian cyst or tumor that is either benign or malignant. Most ovarian masses are not harmful since they often consist of functional ovarian cysts. Often an ovarian mass can form when many ovarian cysts are clustered together in close proximity.

The fear of an Ovarian Mass being cancerous is what causes many women to have their ovaries removed at the first sign of an ovarian cyst or mass. This is not particularly necessary since only one in every eighty women in the United States are affected by ovarian cancer. Most doctors examine ovarian masses through the use of an ultrasound or a laparoscopic procedure

Symptoms of an Ovarian Mass

Some ovarian masses can cause pain and discomfort and in some cases they can be dangerous to the ovaries if the grow too big. If an ovarian mass does not shrink or go away within a few months, it is a good idea to have it removed. This can be accomplished by laparoscopic surgery..

Many women become scared when they are told that they have an ovarian tumor. The fear that they feel often makes them rush to make decisions that they normally would not make.

Doctors often suggest hysterectomies and the removal of ovaries for women with ovarian tumors. These procedures are not usually necessary. Laparoscopic removal can identify the nature of the cyst.

Ovarian Pain

Ovarian pain can be caused by a number of different factors, however ovarian cysts are often the main reasons for women to suffer from pain in the ovaries. There are several reasons why ovarian cysts can cause pain in the ovaries. Some follicular cysts begin to cause problems when they do not expel their eggs properly. These follicular cysts can then grow as large as eight centimeters in diameter. Once an ovarian cyst gets this big it can be very painful.

Other ovarian cysts that can cause Ovarian Pain are called luteal cysts. These are cysts that form after an egg has been released from its follicle. During this process, sometimes a small amount of blood collects in the ovary. This small puddle of blood can form a cyst after time. Luteal cysts become painful when they twist, burst or bleed into the ovaries or pelvic cavity. This pain can be dull and persistent or sharp and inconsistent. Bleeding ovarian cysts usually go away naturally.