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Ovarian cysts are relatively common among women. Most are harmless and do not require any treatment. Complex ovarian cysts, on the other hand, are less common and more worrisome. Complex ovarian cysts are so-called because unlike their simple counterparts, they have both solid and liquid components. Complex ovarian cysts can be broken down into three common types: dermoid cysts, endometrioma, and cystadenomas.

The cells that produce human eggs, otherwise know as ova can begin to form what is known as a dermoid cyst. The cells within the ova are the basic building blocks of every type of tissue that grows within the human body. This is why hair, skin and even teeth tissue can be found within dermoid cysts. While generally no cause for concern due to their low chance of becoming cancerous they can still be very painful as they grow, possibly twisting the ovaries.

Endometriosis can become a culprit in the growth of another type of complex ovarian cyst, Endometrioma. Uterian cells begin to grow on the outside of the uterus and attach to an ovary, producing a growth after a woman has gone through many menstrual cycles. Generally Endometrial cysts can continue to grow, sometimes becoming as large as grapefruit. Some information suggests that Endometriosis is actually partly due to genetics. Common symptoms include pain during urination and bowel movements, irregular menstrual cycles, fatigue, pain before and after menstrual cycles and during intercourse.

Developing from ovarian tissue, cystadenomas are complex ovarian cysts that can be filled mainly with liquid and have a tendency to twist in the ovary producing sever pain. There are two different types of cystadenomas, serous and mucinous. Serous are filled with a thin fluid and are know to grow between 2 and 6 inches in diameter. Mucinous on the other hand have a core of thick, gelatin like liquid and grow from 6 to 12 inches in diameter.

Complex ovarian cysts may also manifest symptoms that mimic those of pregnancy: tender breasts, nausea and vomiting. If one experiences severe pain in the abdomen or pelvis, medical attention should be sought. Endometriosis or ectopic pregnancies can produce painful and noticeable symptoms similar to those of complex ovarian cysts. The symptoms are differentiated through pelvic pain, pain before or after menstrual periods, and pain during intercourse. They might also experience the absence of menstrual periods or unusual bleeding patterns.

As a general rule, ovarian cysts can usually be diagnosed with a manual pelvic exam by your doctor. Once they have a basic idea of what they are looking for, doctors will ask for a pelvic ultrasound to be preformed to better understand the situation and double check their findings. Pregnancy tests are also common tests to be preformed due to many of the same symptoms of pregnancy and ovarian cysts being similar. Once a diagnosis of complex ovarian cysts has been made it is very important that any time you experience severe pain in the pelvic or abdominal area you contact your doctor right away.

A complex ovarian cyst must be examined properly to find out if it is cancerous or not. While complex ovarian cysts are not always cancerous, proper steps and testing should be done by a doctor to make sure while taking into account things such as patients symptoms, age and history when coming to a proper diagnosis.