Ovarian cyst cancer was until recently believed to have no symptoms and could therefore not be discovered until it was far too late. The number 1 question on the mind of ovarian cysts sufferers is "Do I have ovarian cyst cancer?

I’m glad to inform you that less than 1 in 10 of ovarian cysts is cancerous. In fact, the latest research has shown that cysts are often quite harmless. However, a less than 1 in 10 chance of your cyst being cancerous is still a chance, and so it is important to find out exactly what form of cyst you have. So, if you think you have an ovarian cyst, please go see your doctor as only a doctor can tell you for sure if you do in fact have a cyst.

The most common types of cysts are little fluid filled sacs that form when the follicle that surrounds the egg either fails to dissolve after the eggs is released or fails to release the egg altogether. As you might suspect based on the above description, this is a very common occurrence. Virtually every woman will have this happen at least once in her lifetime. This in itself is not something to worry about, as often the follicle will eventually dissolve without causing any harm.

In some cases the faulty follicle can cause some pain and in some cases they can become complicated by rupturing and causing ovarian torsion. An ovarian torsion is a significant cause of lower abdomen pain in women.

If you experience either of these, either the follicle not dissolving or letting the egg be released, rest assured that these problems can be easily treated and also they are not causes of cancerous cysts. At the end of this article I show you a natural treatment for these complications that is less intrusive than other forms of treatment.

The other types of cysts that are less common are ones that contain solid matter, commonly known as complex ovarian cysts. Firstly, let me state now that not all cysts that contain solid matter will develop into ovarian cyst cancer, but the chances of these cysts becoming cancerous is increased.

These complex ovarian cysts are treated best through surgery as they can be completely removed. The removal is done via a procedure known as laparoscopy. Laparoscopic surgery, also known as minimally invasive surgery (MIS) or keyhole surgery is a modern surgical technique that is done through small incisions as compared to larger incisions needed in traditional surgical procedures. However, if you have a complex ovarian cyst with a diameter of 2.5 inches/6 centimetres or larger, the laparoscopy procedure cannot be used and traditional abdominal surgery is required.

Fortunately, only a small proportion of women have complex ovarian cysts and so do not require these types of surgery to deal with ovarian cysts.

If you believe you may have a form of ovarian cyst, the most common symptoms women suffer from are;

• bloating

• pelvic or abdominal pain

• trouble eating or feeling full quickly

• urinary symptoms, such as urgent or frequently needing to go

These symptoms could easily be caused by things other than ovarian cysts, however if any of the above occur suddenly, quickly become more severe, or are consistent over a long period of time then it is advisable to see your doctor as soon as possible as they can carry out further checks for ovarian cysts; the earlier the better.