An ovarian cyst consists of a structure that is fluid-filled and usually causes no harm and has no symptoms. These types of cysts are actually quite common in women, even those who are pregnant. It has been found that 1 in about 1,000 women will get ovarian cysts during pregnancy.

The great majority of ovarian cysts discovered during pregnancy are benign cysts. Malignant cysts during pregnancy are less common. Ovarian cysts are classified as benign or malignant by doctors using ultrasound machines. If the mass lacks thick walls with no evidence of septation and is filled with fluid, it is probably a benign cyst. However, ultrasound is not one hundred percent accurate.

Ovarian cysts can become large, even when they are benign, and this leads to special complications during pregnancy. Though large cysts can cause pain whether or not a woman is pregnant, when a large cyst ruptures or twists on itself during pregnancy, there is the possibility of a miscarriage or pre-term labor. A baby may be delivered earlier than usual due to complications with ovarian cysts during pregnancy.

Under most circumstance, women rarely have problems with ovarian cysts during pregnancy, so long as the ovarian cyst does not become too large or ruptures. Even if the ovarian cyst ruptures, the result is often only pain and rarely infection. This pain can be lessened through the use of pain relievers and will not interfere with the normal progress of pregnancy. Moreover, despite their ovarian cyst, women can still use anesthesia during labor. Consequently, ovarian cysts do not present a huge threat during a pregnancy.

If the cyst becomes too large and causes pain, surgical intervention is necessary. This will not harm the baby or adversely affect the pregnancy, but surgery is more commonly avoided during a pregnancy. It may become medically necessary to remove when the ovarian cyst is larger than 6 to 8 cm, unless spontaneous shrinkage occurs.

Bear in mind that if they are big enough ovarian cysts during pregnancy will probably rupture. Most doctors simply keep an eye on the situation until the second trimester. If warranted and depending on the size, ovarian cysts can be removed either by laparoscopy or open incision.

In short, while ovarian cysts during pregnancy are fairly common, they should be closely monitored throughout the pregnancy. Ovarian cysts are generally no worse for the health of the would-be mother than they would be at any other time.

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