Painful menstrual periods, severe cramps, vaginal bleeding and postponed child plans…. Chocolate cyst, which can be seen in 17 percent of women who cannot have children, can cause infertility by disrupting the environment suitable for pregnancy in the uterus.
It also leads to a decrease in ovarian reserve and is characterized by menstrual pain and persistent cramps.
What is a chocolate cyst?
Endometriosis, also known as chocolate cysts, are fluid-filled sacs that form deep inside the ovaries. Chocolate cysts, so named because they look like melted chocolate, occur when endometrial tissue proliferates in the ovaries.
Chocolate cysts, which are very common in women of reproductive age, are non-cancerous masses. These masses are filled with dark and reddish brown blood.
It is caused by the accumulation of endometrial tissue in the ovaries, which is normally found only in the uterus, thickens after menstruation and allows the baby to settle and is renewed by being discarded every menstrual period. It can make it difficult to have a child because it affects the reproductive system.
What causes endometriosis (chocolate cysts)?
Although it is not known exactly why chocolate cysts, which are very common in women, occur, there are some risk factors for the emergence of the disease. The most important of these are genetic factors.
There is a genetic tendency to carry the disease. If someone has a family history of endometriosis, they are more likely to develop the disease. Another important cause is menstruation in the opposite direction.
Normally, endometrial tissue is expelled with menstrual bleeding, but if there is a reverse flow, the tissue flows into the abdominal cavity and settles in the organs there. This can lead to a chocolate cyst.
In addition, if there is a problem with the immune system, this disease can also occur due to infection in the body.
What are the symptoms of a chocolate cyst?
- Painful and painful menstrual periods
- Excessive bleeding during menstruation
- Severe cramps
- Back and abdominal pain
- Pain during sexual intercourse
- Difficulty during urination and defecation
- Increased fatigue and swelling during menstrual periods
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation during menstrual periods
- Dark vaginal discharge
- Infertility
How is a chocolate cyst diagnosed?
The patient’s medical history is very important in diagnosing the disease. At this point, the physician listens to the patient’s complaints and performs the initial examination by asking questions about the medical history.
A gynecological examination is then performed to check the condition of the reproductive organs. Ultrasound imaging is performed, but it may not be possible to diagnose endometriosis with a standard ultrasound. Therefore, transvaginal ultrasound is used to look at the structure and number of chocolate cysts. MRI imaging is used to make a definitive diagnosis and to help with surgical planning.
Laparoscopy, which is performed by entering the abdomen through a small incision made near the navel, determines the texture, structure and number of cysts. If necessary, a sample is taken from the mass for further testing.
How is endometriosis (chocolate cyst) treated?
Chocolate cysts are treated in two ways. If there is no suspicion of cancer and the woman wants to have children, she is supported with certain medications to protect her ovarian reserves. For women who do not plan to become pregnant, hormone therapy can be started along with painkillers.
If surgery is necessary, the eggs are collected and frozen before surgery. In this way, the ovaries are preserved according to the plan to have a child.