03 Feb Fibroids and Ovarian Cyst What’s the difference?

This is perhaps one of the most frequently asked questions among women who suffer from heavy and painful menstrual periods, since both are among the reasons for suffering from this condition.

Fibroids and ovarian cysts and are often considered the same. However, although they both form in the female reproductive organ, their location, size, and consistency are different, and their treatment is also different.

What is a cyst? It is a bag of fluid or solid tissue that can form in any part of the body, such as the uterus, ovaries, or fallopian tubes, and in most cases they are benign.

What is a uterine fibroid?

It is a muscular accumulation that develops in the uterus. Fibroids can be located inside, outside, or on the cervix walls and are non-cancerous tumors.

Do fibroids and ovarian cysts produce the same symptoms?

Yes, most patients experience similar symptoms, and for this reason, it is easy to get them confused. Some of the common symptoms between cysts and fibroids are heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain, and lower belly swelling.
In some cases, women do not have symptoms until a long time after development, when fibroids or cysts are larger and diagnosed through ultrasound.

Can both affect fertility in women?

Uterine fibroids and ovarian cysts can affect the probability of pregnancy due to the alteration they produce in the reproductive organ.
In the case of fibroids, as they grow inside the uterus, they can decrease the possibility of the embryo implanting in it.
The cysts may cause hormonal disturbances, leading to polycystic ovary syndrome, which causes menstrual delays and infertility.

How are fibroids treated?

One of the treatments is embolization, a minimally invasive procedure, which involves delivering drugs through the artery to decrease the abnormal blood flow and reduce fibroids. The advantage of this treatment is the possibility of conserving the uterus.

What is the treatment for cysts?

Depending on the cysts’ size, hormonal or surgical treatment can be done if the cysts affect the patient’s quality of life due to bleeding or severe pain.
Depending on the size of the cysts, hormonal or surgical treatment may be performed if the cysts affect the patient’s quality of life due to bleeding or severe pain.

Disclaimer:
The content of this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.