Neoplasms occur against the background of a change in the habitual work of the body. In women of reproductive age, functional neoplasms are more often diagnosed, and in postmenopausal women, cysts are more often of an organic type. Consider next the symptoms and treatment of ovarian cysts in menopause. Most often, women are interested in the question of the need for surgical intervention. Surgery is necessary if the neoplasm is malignant, grows rapidly, or the patient complains of severe pain. In any case, it is possible to determine the tactics of treatment only after visiting a doctor and all the necessary studies.
Who is at risk?
This problem is connected not only with hormonal imbalance. In a woman's life, there may be other factors that can provoke the appearance of an ovarian cyst after menopause. Neoplasms are usually diagnosedcloser to fifty years or with premature menopause. Often, an ovarian cyst in menopause is found in the absence of pregnancies in the past, frequent bleeding during the intermenstrual period, ovarian dysfunction, systematic inflammatory processes of the reproductive system organs earlier, and frequent infectious diseases. However, there are no drastic changes. The cyst can grow gradually, not manifesting itself in any way. It is for this reason that a woman should regularly visit a gynecologist in order to identify possible violations in the early stages. In addition, you need to pay attention to the nature of vaginal discharge. Any changes may indicate any violations.
Main symptoms
Ovarian cyst during menopause manifests itself in different ways. It is necessary to take into account the type of neoplasm, characteristics, the presence of concomitant gynecological diseases and the age of the patient. If the neoplasm appeared relatively recently and does not increase in size, then there may be no symptoms at all. Occasionally, women complain of mild discomfort, but in most cases, these signs of the patient are associated with the unpleasant consequences of withering of the body.
As the cyst grows, extra pounds, constipation, uterine bleeding after the cessation of menstruation, frequent urge to urinate (including false ones), pain during menstruation and cycle failures in premenopause, vomiting that does not bring relief, and nausea. Many people note such symptoms of ovarian cysts inmenopause, as discomfort during intercourse, pain during physical exertion or active movement. Body temperature can rise up to 39 degrees. If the cyst grows, the abdomen may become enlarged, and there are frequent pains in the lower abdomen, which become more intense over time.
In each case, neoplasms increase in different ways. The number of signs of pathology and their intensity will vary. After a scheduled examination, you can accurately determine the nature of the formations and choose the appropriate treatment tactics.
Varieties of cysts
Ovarian cysts do not form functional during menopause. This is due to the lack of egg growth. Most often, neoplasms that appear are epithelial in nature. The cyst may be serous. This type develops in 60-70% of patients. The formation is distinguished by a single-chamber structure, a dense shell and a rounded shape. In most cases, it develops in only one ovary. Bilateral neoplasm requires more serious treatment.
In 13% of cases, papillary cystadenoma is diagnosed. The main difference between such a neoplasm is the presence of parietal growths. On ultrasound, in this case, papillae on the epithelium can be noted. Mucinous cystadenoma is characteristic only for 11% of cases. The neoplasm grows rapidly, which leads to a large cyst. Fortunately, the pathology is easily diagnosed.
Endometrioma occurs only in 3% of patients. Pathology occurs against the background of ingrown mucosalining of the uterus to the ovaries. It has a characteristic color due to the presence of liquid inside. There are small cysts of this type (two or three centimeters) and rather large ones (about 20 cm). Before starting treatment, it is important to accurately determine the type of formation in order to select the optimal scheme.
Diagnostic Methods
A menopausal ovarian cyst requires urgent treatment. It is very important to correctly establish the cause of the appearance of alarming symptoms. An ovarian cyst is diagnosed, for example, with a pregnancy test. The symptoms are very similar to those of an ectopic pregnancy, and persist into premenopause. When visiting the gynecological office, the doctor can determine the increase in the appendages or other causes of pain in the lower abdomen.
Ultrasound is an informative diagnostic method. This will not only confirm or refute the presence of neoplasms, but also help to track the development in dynamics. For the study, two sensors are used: transvaginal and transabdominal. The method of studying the cyst and its treatment is laparoscopy. CT will allow the doctor to determine the nature of the neoplasm, the exact location, size and other indicators that are necessary in preparation for the removal of the cyst.
Additional diagnostics
A general blood test is required to determine hormone levels and tumor markers. Sometimes a puncture of the posterior wall of the vagina is performed, with the help of which the presence of blood or fluid in the abdominal cavity is determined. After all these studies, the doctor will receive enough information,to confirm the diagnosis and prescribe appropriate medical treatment. Based on the data obtained, the need for surgical intervention is also assessed.
Medicated treatment
Treatment of ovarian cysts in menopause with the help of medications is possible only at the very beginning of menopause, when the reproductive system is still able to fight the neoplasm on its own. But before that, it is important to completely exclude cancer. Hormone replacement therapy is actively used in the treatment of ovarian cysts in menopause. Combined preparations are used: Ovidon, Divina, Klimonorm, Femoston, Klimen, Revmelid.
Taking progestins
In some cases, only progestins are allowed. The doctor may prescribe "Duphaston" or "Utrozhestan", "Iprozhin", "Prajisan", "Norkolut". Of these drugs, it is Duphaston that is most actively used. The same drug is prescribed after the removal of the ovaries. The gynecologist can determine the appropriateness of using the drug, taking into account the following factors: the presence or absence of concomitant diseases of the genitourinary system, the presence or absence of menstrual flow, the nature of the discharge, the complete picture of the hormonal background, the duration of the menopause at the moment. The regimen is developed individually for each patient, because the drug is used in a large number of cases.
Other drugs
In treatmentfollicular ovarian cysts in menopause are also prescribed drugs that block the pathological development of cells and restore the protective functions of the body. Of the antitumor drugs (antiestrogens), Tamoxifen, Novofen or Billem are prescribed. Some women choose homeopathy. It can be "Kalium", "Lycopodium", "Kantaris", "Apis", "Baromium" and others.
Additionally, the doctor may recommend taking various multivitamin complexes, means to improve the body's immune defense, anabolic hormones, painkillers, anti-inflammatory pills in the vagina (or putting anti-inflammatory suppositories).
Surgery
No intervention can be dispensed with if the ovarian cyst is small during menopause, does not increase in size, and the doctor does not detect prerequisites for complications. Surgery can be done in two ways. Laparoscopy or laparotomy is performed. With laparoscopy, there is minimal intervention, and the woman recovers faster. If the neoplasm is large, then a laparotomy will be needed. During this operation, the doctor makes significant incisions rather than small incisions. Laparotomy uses general anesthesia.
Laparoscopy and Laparotomy
With laparoscopy, only two or three small incisions (5 mm each) are made. Small incisions heal easier and faster, there are no postoperative scars. This operation is characterized by low blood loss. A few hours after the intervention, a woman can stand up on her own andmove. The patient needs inpatient observation for only two or three days, after which the woman is discharged home. After laparotomy, the patient stays in the hospital for two to four days, but the recovery period takes about four to six weeks. Only then can you return to your previous lifestyle.
Possible complications: infection, damage to the bladder or intestines, adhesions in the abdominal cavity, pain syndrome.
Folk remedies
In any other period of life or in menopause, a cyst (left ovary, right - it doesn’t matter) is not treated with folk remedies. But traditional medicine recipes will help support the body and make drug treatment more effective. Most often, celandine, walnuts, honey, onions, upland uterus, raisins are used for infusions and decoctions. A good prevention of the development of neoplasms is the presence in the diet of different types of cabbage. The vegetable contains substances that can normalize hormonal balance and make estrogen metabolism less active.
With adequate and timely treatment, an ovarian cyst in menopause does not develop into malignant tumors. Therefore, you should not be afraid to visit a gynecologist and take all the necessary tests. It is necessary to strictly follow the recommendations of the gynecologist, take the drugs according to the plan and try to make life as comfortable as possible, excluding stress factors. In addition, proper nutrition and moderate exercise are very helpful.
Delete or not?
In some cases, the doctor may suggest that the woman undergo surgery or try medication. Is it possible to remove an ovarian cyst in menopause? It is possible to determine whether it is possible to refuse an operation without he alth consequences, only taking into account the period of menopause, the type of neoplasm (unilateral or bilateral), the density of the cyst, the areas affected by it, and the fluid content inside. It is important to determine exactly whether the cyst is cancerous or not. If the neoplasm is benign, then removal may not be required. However, at the same time, a woman needs to undergo systematic examinations and examinations so that doctors can track the “behavior” of the neoplasm.
The patient is at risk if a sharp growth, change in appearance or color of the cyst is detected. Only the neoplasm or the entire ovary may be removed. In oncology, the uterine appendages are most often removed from both sides. The operation is also necessary if the woman suffers from constant discomfort, and the neoplasm is more than five centimeters in size.
Possible Complications
The chance of developing an ovarian cyst in menopause increases by 15-20%. Pathology requires quick action and timely diagnosis. If left untreated, the following complications may occur: cyst torsion, rupture, development into a malignant neoplasm. A mobile cyst can cause torsion. In this case, the patient complains of very severe pain, there is a significant increase in temperature, there is a feeling of nausea, a single orrepeated vomiting, spotting from the vagina.
There is sudden pain when it breaks. This requires urgent surgical intervention, otherwise the blood loss may be too great and threaten the woman's life. As a result, adhesions and scars in the internal organs may occur. Spikes exist in the norm, but in pathology they are formed in a significant amount, which is not beneficial. The most dangerous complication is degeneration into a malignant formation. If a cyst is left untreated for a long time, it can become malignant. That is why you should regularly visit a gynecologist even after the extinction of the reproductive function.
