Right Sided Ovarian Cysts Less Likely to Need Treatment

Cysts on the ovaries are relatively common in teens and adolescents. Although the diagnosis of a cyst may sound ominous, many cysts on the ovaries in teens and pre-teens resolve spontaneously without any treatment at all. According to a new study, whether or not an ovarian cyst ends up needing treatment could depend on which side of the body it’s on.

What Causes Ovarian Cysts in Teens?

The most common type of ovarian cyst in teens is a functional cyst – one that forms as a result of the hormonal changes that take place around the time of ovulation. These cysts usually grow and shrink as hormone levels fluctuate – and often completely resolve on their own over the course of several menstrual cycles.

There are other types of non-cancerous ovarian cysts such as dermoid cysts that don’t always resolve spontaneously and may require treatment – including surgery. In some cases ovarian cysts in teens don’t cause any symptoms at all and may be discovered on a routine pelvic exam. When they are symptomatic, the most common symptoms are abdominal pressure, back pain, and painful menstrual periods.

Ovarian Cyst Right Side: Are They Less Likely to Require Treatment?

Researchers reviewed the charts of 151 teenage girls who had been diagnosed with an ovarian cyst. In sixty percent of these girls, their ovarian cyst resolved without treatment while the remainder needed surgery. Upon reviewing the charts, they found two factors increased the odds of an ovarian cyst in teens going away without treatment – the size of the cyst and the side of the body it was on.

Surprisingly, left sided ovarian cysts were 116 times less likely to resolve without treatment than cysts on the right side of the body. Larger ovarian cysts (greater than 7 centimeters) were also more likely to require surgical treatment, All in all, an ovarian cyst on the right side that’s small in size was the most likely to go away spontaneously.

Why Are Right Sided Ovarian Cysts in Teens More Likely to Resolve?

The lead author of the study, Dr. Wall, has no explanation – but he and his colleagues plan to review the charts more closely to see if these findings can be explained.

The Bottom Line?

Most doctors recommend following an ovarian cyst to see if it goes away on its own before suggesting surgery. According to this study, this is good advice – especially if it’s small and on the right side.

References:

Family Practice News. June 1, 2010. page 46.