Dealing with Chocolate Cysts  

Occurring in over 20 -40%of women who have Endometriosis, Chocolate cysts is a condition commonly found in women who are of reproductive age.

What are Chocolate Cysts?

Endometriomas or ‘Chocolate Cysts’, are ovarian pouches filled with fluids and old blood. These cysts tend to take shape when an endometrial tissue starts growing abnormally and attaching itself to the ovaries. This can have mild to severe symptoms and side effects that can require expert medical attention.

How are Chocolate Cysts formed?

While there are no exact reasons as to what causes endometriosis, doctors suggest that estrogen plays a huge role. People with a family history of the condition, retrograde menstrual flow, immune disorders such as autoimmune disorder, injuries or damage to the uterus etc. are all triggers for Chocolate Cysts.

What are the symptoms of Chocolate Cysts?

• Painful menstrual cycles: Women suffering from Chocolate Cysts may experience painful chronic abdominal pain during their period that gets more and more painful each month. It can also cause irregular or heavy periods and or spotting.
• Pain during sex: Chocolate cysts can often result in pain or discomfort during sexual intercourse.
• Bloating: While we all experience some form of bloating during our period, unusual bloating frequently can be a cause for concern.
• Constant urination: Sometimes cysts can affect your bladder and bowel movements making you feel constipated or needing to urinate more often than usual.
• Fever
• Bleeding: If you have unexplained bleeding constantly apart from your period, it may be time to visit your Gyno.
• Pain during exercise: While we all feel a bit sore after a good workout, if you are in intense pain each time you exercise, it could be a sign of Chocolate Cysts.
• Weight gain: If your cysts grow large, you might end up gaining weight without reason.
• Infertility: Chocolate cysts can make it difficult to get pregnant.

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What are the risks of Chocolate Cysts?

• Higher risk of Ovarian Cancer
• Pelvic Pain
• Decreased Ovarian function
• Infertility

How do you treat Chocolate Cysts?

Chocolate cysts can be treated with careful observation, medicine and surgery.

Medication

If you suspect you have Endometriosis, visit your physician or Gynecologist immediately. He/she will advise you on the best way forward. Most doctors tend to prescribe medication to help slow down the growth of the cysts to avoid causing damage to your ovarian cysts. Long term use of Endometriosis medicine can have effects such as weight gain, excessive hair growth, loss of bones mass and hot flashes, so be sure to only take the medication as instructed by your consulting doctor.

Surgery

If the Chocolate Cyst is too big and you are having painful symptoms, your doctor may suggest surgically removing the cysts.  If the cyst is larger than 4 centimeters and causes severe pelvic pain, there is a higher chance of being taken in for surgery.

The removal of the cyst will be done through laparotomy or laparoscopy, where your surgeon will make a tiny incision, insert a thin camera and light to perform the surgery.