Ovarian Cyst and its Impact on Pregnancy and Fertility

Cysts of the ovary are sacs that are filled with fluid and can be found either on or within the ovaries. Many women will experience this at some point in their lives. Most are painless and create no symptoms, so they go undiagnosed and eventually go away on their own without any treatment.

Because of this, most ovarian cysts are only found during regular pelvic exams or ultrasounds. Doctors will often only look further if a couple has been trying to conceive for a year with regular intercourse and has not yet been successful in falling pregnant, despite the fact that having a cyst on an ovary does not typically impair one's chances of becoming pregnant script1.

Symptoms associated with ovarian cysts2:

As was previously indicated, the vast majority of ovarian cysts are so little that they don't manifest as any kind of discomfort. If a cyst is particularly large or has ruptured, it may cause unpleasant symptoms.

Possible signs include:

  • Abdominal distress or pain.
  • Unpredictable menstrual cycles.
  • Abdominal swelling and/or bloating
  • Discomfort in the pelvic region.

A ruptured ovarian cyst can cause excruciating pain that comes on suddenly. It's highly rare that your cyst would rupture on your own, but if you think it has, it's best to see a doctor. Infection might develop if a ruptured cyst is not closely managed. Ovarian torsion (also known as a twisted ovary) is another possible complication of cysts that does call for surgical intervention.

Can ovarian cysts impact pregnancy and fertility issues3,4?

When an ovarian cyst becomes symptomatic, it can lead to discomfort in the abdomen or pelvis, as well as bloating and sometimes even a fever. Seeing a gynaecologist is required in such unusual circumstances. Because of this, women who have ovarian cysts for an extended period of time may not realise that they are negatively impacting their ability to conceive or maintain a pregnancy. Ovarian cysts are not always the cause of infertility. Some forms of ovarian cysts can have an impact on a patient's ability to conceive.

Endometriomas: Ovarian cysts could have endometriomas as their root cause. Endometriosis is a disorder in which the uterine lining (endometrium) develops outside of the uterus. Endometriomas are cysts that occur on the ovaries as a result of endometriosis, and they can have an impact on fertility and make it more difficult to conceive naturally. There is a correlation between endometriosis and infertility in the range of 30–40% of cases.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Ovary cysts are caused by polycystic ovary syndrome. These cysts are typically the size of little pearls and can cause severe health problems. The menstrual cycle is disrupted and hormone levels are thrown off. Due to an imbalance of hormones in the body, mature eggs are unable to develop to the point where they can be released from the ovaries. Again, hormonal imbalance and irregular menstrual periods result when ovulation does not occur since the body will stop producing progesterone. Untreated, it might reduce fertility or cause infertility in the future. Functional cysts, cystadenomas, and dermoid cysts, on the other hand, are not linked to sterility.

How to conceive with ovarian cysts5?

Fertility problems are a real possibility for women with polycystic ovaries and endometriomas. However, adjustments to one's way of life, infertility therapies, or even a bit of surgery, can help alleviate these issues (removal of endometrioma). If drugs or other treatments fail and the preexisting cyst has resulted in scarring, the last resort for such women would be IVF (In vitro fertilisation), that provides the greatest chance of conception. In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is a form of assisted reproduction in which hormone injections are used to stimulate a woman's ovaries into producing eggs. Mature eggs are then removed from the ovaries, fertilised in a laboratory, and implanted into the uterus.

Reference:

  1. Do Ovarian Cysts Cause Infertility? | Ovarian Cysts & Pregnancy. London Women’s Centre Lean more (2017).
  2. OBGYN, C. S. Ovarian Cysts: What They Mean for Your Fertility | Cool Springs OBGYN. Learn more.
  3. Ovarian Cyst and its Impact on Pregnancy and Fertility. Learn more.
  4. Legendre, G. et al. Relationship between ovarian cysts and infertility: what surgery and when? Fertil Steril 101, 608–614 (2014).
  5. Fertility, M. How to conceive with ovarian cysts? Medicover Fertility Learn more.