Why ovarian cyst cause weight gain

Most ovarian cysts develop naturally as part of your menstrual cycle known as functional cysts. Others may develop because of an overgrowth of cells known as pathological cysts. They usually form because of hormonal changes in your body. So things that affect your hormone levels — like being pregnant, taking hormones for fertility treatment, or some forms of contraception — can sometimes lead to cysts forming. Ovarian cysts can also be caused if you have another health condition, such as endometriosis or polycystic ovarian syndrome PCOS.

For more information, see our sections on types and causes of ovarian cysts above. But sometimes, ovarian cysts may cause:. Occasionally, an ovarian cyst can rupture. This could cause severe pain in your tummy.

For more information, see our section on diagnosis above. Small ovarian cysts don't usually affect your fertility. Most ovarian cysts are functional cysts which are usually small and go away without treatment. See our section on types of ovarian cyst above for more information about these.

In some cases, ovarian cysts need to be removed by surgery. If you do have to have an ovary removed, you can still get pregnant if your remaining ovary is working normally. However, endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome PCOS are conditions that can cause ovarian cysts and can also cause problems with fertility. Probably not. For many years, doctors have prescribed the combined oral contraceptive pill for women with ovarian cysts, in the hope that this would help to make the cysts shrink. This was based on the fact that women who take the combined oral contraceptive pill are less likely to get cysts.

It was thought that if the pill could help prevent ovarian cysts happening in the first place, then they might be able to make existing cysts go away. But researchers have now found that taking the combined oral contraceptive pill seems to have no effect on any ovarian cysts that a woman already has. Many women have one or more cysts on their ovaries at some point in their lives.

These often cause no symptoms and go away without treatment. But this is not the same thing as having polycystic ovary syndrome PCOS. Polycystic ovary syndrome is the name given to a collection of symptoms caused by abnormalities in the way your body produces and manages sex hormones. Having cysts on your ovaries can be just one aspect of this syndrome. Not usually. The most common type of ovarian cyst — a functional cyst linked to your menstrual cycle — is relatively small and is unlikely to affect your weight.

If you have polycystic ovary syndrome PCOS , you may put on weight as part of that condition and you may also have cysts on your ovaries. Your doctor will advise you to lose weight if you can because even a small amount of weight loss can help your symptoms. Our short survey takes just a few minutes to complete and helps us to keep improving our health information.

At Bupa we produce a wealth of free health information for you and your family. This is because we believe that trustworthy information is essential in helping you make better decisions about your health and wellbeing. It also follows the principles of the The Information Standard. This information was published by Bupa's Health Content Team and is based on reputable sources of medical evidence. It has been reviewed by appropriate medical or clinical professionals and deemed accurate on the date of review.

Photos are only for illustrative purposes and do not reflect every presentation of a condition. Any information about a treatment or procedure is generic, and does not necessarily describe that treatment or procedure as delivered by Bupa or its associated providers.

The information contained on this page and in any third party websites referred to on this page is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice nor is it intended to be for medical diagnosis or treatment.

Third party websites are not owned or controlled by Bupa and any individual may be able to access and post messages on them. Bupa is not responsible for the content or availability of these third party websites. We do not accept advertising on this page. It was a potent mixture of joy for them, jealousy and self-pity - they were carrying babies, I was about to give to give birth to a lump of useless tissue.

The operation itself didn't worry me because I trusted my consultant. A friend had worked on a television programme about the unnecessary removal of female reproductive organs during surgery and a check of his credentials allayed any fears that he would whip out my ovaries at the drop of a hat; he had an excellent reputation.

The anaesthetic was a different matter. A strong believer in complementary therapies, I balk at even mild painkillers and was terrified of the effect such a strong drug would have on my system.

The operation was to take place at 9am. As I was wheeled down to the operating theatre on my hospital bed, I felt incredibly vulnerable: total strangers were going to render me unconscious, cut me open and remove part of my insides.

A friend's hand on my arm woke me from post-operative sleep back on the ward. I opened my eyes to drips, tubes and plastic bags suspended from metal poles - all attached to me. A nurse explained that the "remote control" next to my hand would give me a shot of morphine at the touch of a button if the pain became too much. More drugs. I don't know if was a subconscious desire to purge my body of medication, or a strong constitution, but I barely touched the morphine admin istrator and asked for it to be removed next day.

Doctors told me that the cyst had been about 14cm in circumference about the size of a large grapefruit on the frequently used but curious fruit and vegetable scale of the internal growth and was, in fact, attached to my left ovary. The ultrasound scan had recorded the results of it being squashed around the front of my lower abdomen. Endometriosis is an often painful condition in which bits of the womb's lining, the endometrium, migrate to other areas of the body and become inflamed.

Ovarian cysts and endometriosis are often spoken of in the same breath, partly because the latter condition can give rise to "chocolate" cysts, so called because they contain old, thick blood.

I was surprised when my consultant told me he had also removed one of these chocolate cysts. I had never had the pain or any other symptom connected with endometriosis, and how much room is there on one ovary anyway, for heaven's sake?

It's only the size of a walnut. My surgeon painstakingly removed both cysts and then sewed the ovary back together. Another doctor, present during the operation, even stayed behind after the usual morning doctors' round to tell me the procedure had been "amazingly intricate and beautiful to watch". After that, the influx of drugs was relentless. As well as the daily painful injection into my thigh of a blood-thinning agent to reduce the risk of thrombosis, there were oral painkillers and anti-inflammatories dished out by the night nurse.

The final - and biggest - drug hurdle was the hormone medication commonly used to suppress ovulation in order to give the reproductive system time to recover from surgery. I found it annoying to be asked every morning by an intimidating gaggle of medics whether I had made up my mind about taking it while still decidedly non compos mentis.

On one occasion my insistence that I didn't like taking drugs was met with the assertion that, in that case, I could be given a one-off injection that would last three months. These drugs prompt a "mini-menopause" and possible side effects include loss of bone density, hot flushes, vaginal dryness, headaches. A doctor agreed with my observation that whatever benefits this drug brought were purely temporary and that if my body was determined to produce another cyst it would do so as soon as the medication stopped.

I declined to take it. Although many ovarian cysts go away on their own, some require surgical removal. Crockett and her team at Virtuosa GYN have extensive experience with the surgical methods used to remove ovarian cysts. Ovarian cysts affect a surprisingly large number of women -- which is why all women need to know the basic facts about this common condition.

Can you separate the facts from the myths? Are you struggling with urinary incontinence? Surgery is sometimes the answer, but several nonsurgical approaches can make a big difference for many women. See what might work for you. Pelvic organ prolapse can cause a range of symptoms, including pelvic pain, pelvic fullness, urinary incontinence, and constipation.

Find out if you have any of the risk factors linked to this condition. Are you suffering with hot flashes, loss of interest in sex, vaginal dryness, and other frustrating menopausal symptoms?

A range of safe, effective treatments can reduce endometriosis symptoms, such as heavy bleeding, menstrual pain, and problems getting pregnant. If you feel pain down there, you may have vulvodynia, a condition that causes discomfort in the outer genital area.

Check out these common signs of vulvodynia, and learn about your treatment options.