Postmenopausal Ovarian Cysts

During a woman's reproductive years, ovarian cysts can occur. The cysts that grow during this part of a woman's life are generally harmless and will cause little to no trouble at all. Ovarian cysts can develop and may or may not create any symptoms. Once the female has gone through menopause, cysts will generally stop forming, but it is possible for postmenopausal ovarian cysts to still occur.

After menopause, having a cyst occur on an ovary is considered abnormal. It is recommended that if a cyst is found that surgery is performed to remove the cyst. The reason for this is to ensure that they cyst is not malignant (cancerous). In addition, if surgery is done when an ovarian cyst has been discovered and the body is functioning normally, then this will prevent any further cysts from forming and developing.

It is strongly recommended that a particular blood test, the CA 125 blood test, be performed on postmenopausal cysts. This test is very specific in what it does; CA 125 is a biomarker or a tumor marker that is comprised of protein that is found in great concentration in other tumor cells located in other areas of the body. The highest area of the body that the CA125 are found is in ovarian cancer cells.

The acronym CA stands for cancer antigen; therefore the test is to verify if the cysts are indeed malignant or not. Since the cases of ovarian cancer are constantly increasing, using the CA125 blood test is done not only as a precaution but also as a preventive measure. When dealing with the possibility of cancer, it is better to be safe than sorry.

The most useful and effective way to determine the current status of an ovarian cyst is through the use of an ultrasound. However, there are other methods to help verify the possibility of a postmenopausal cyst. Methods like a CT scan, an MRI or PET scans can all help the physician to learn the size and condition of a cyst. The additional scans simply allow your doctor to take a different view of the cyst similar to that of a second opinion.

It is important to reiterate that not all ovarian cysts will be considered cancerous or need to be removed by a surgical procedure. There are certain criteria that are followed to determine if surgery is necessary and several of these are:


Cyst should be at least 5cm in diameter
Cyst cannot be considered "simple"
More than one cyst must exist in an ovary
If surgery is not immediate, observation and review of possible complications for 4 months must be done on a regular basis

If a postmenopausal ovarian cyst must be surgically removed, normally a laparotomy will be performed. During this particular type of surgery, the surgeon will remove the cyst but may or may not remove the ovary that the cyst is attached to. The removal of an ovary is not anticipated before surgery; the decision is made once the surgeon can view the cyst and ovary. The removal is to prevent any further harm, such as a rupture or infection, to the woman. If you do not want to lose your ovaries, that is your option but discuss this with your doctor to understand the risks involved if they are kept.

As explained, tests are available to determine if a postmenopausal ovarian cyst should be removed or not. There are modern as well as natural treatments and therapies available that will manage these cysts which lessen the risks and dangers involved. Remember that surgery is normally done only if the woman's life has been threatened.

Darlene Rogers

Darlene Rogers is a researcher and writer on health and beauty issues.
If you want even more information about the natural treatment of ovarian cysts and other surgery for ovarian cyst information, go to her website http://www.symptomsforovariancysts.com.

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