If you have been advised that you need a dermoid ovarian cyst removal, it means that a cyst has been discovered in your ovary that is likely to cause serious medical problems. Many women have ovarian cysts for years without any symptoms. However, dermoid cysts that do cause symptoms will almost certainly need a dermoid ovarian cyst removal.
There are several different types of ovarian cyst. The most common, a follicular cyst, is a sac that attaches to the inner wall of the ovary and fills with fluid. This can occur as a normal part of a woman’s cycle. However, a dermoid cyst can be more severe and is likely to need a dermoid ovarian cyst removal. Instead of being filled with fluid a dermoid cyst may be filled with fat, or fragments of teeth, skin or hair. This is because these cysts have grown from cells which make eggs, and these eggs can develop into any type of cell. Consequently the cysts can form different types of tissue and can grow up to 6 inches in size. This can seriously interfere with the functioning of your ovaries and a dermoid ovarian cyst removal is necessary.
If you have been recommended to have a dermoid ovarian cyst removal, it is likely that you have some quite unpleasant symptoms. You may have had irregular periods for some time. The cyst could cause a dull pain in the lower abdomen, or alternatively every now and again you could experience a sudden agonizing abdominal pain, accompanied by vomiting and possibly fever. This symptom is a sign of torsion, that is twisting, of the cyst. Without dermoid ovarian cyst removal this could stop the blood supply to the ovary.
A surgeon will always choose to carry out the dermoid ovarian cyst removal by laparoscopy if this is appropriate. This is a procedure in which a tiny incision is made in the abdomen via the navel, and a laparoscope, which is a slender tube attached to a fiber-optic camera and surgical instruments, is passed through the incision to remove the cyst. This method of dermoid ovarian cyst removal is less invasive, causes less scarring and has the least likelihood of complications. It can also be done as a day case without hospital admission.
However, if the dermoid cyst has grown too large, a laparoscopy will not be able to deal with it, partly because a larger incision is required. The dermoid ovarian cyst removal will then have to be done by conventional open surgery. In this case you would have to be admitted to hospital and be given a general anesthetic. The surgeon makes a large cut in the abdomen, then the muscles have to be separated and the blood vessels tied off, so that the dermoid ovarian cyst removal can take place. The surgeon may also remove some tissue if there is any suspicion of cancer, so that a biopsy can be carried out. The surgeon then completes the dermoid ovarian cyst removal by stitching the abdominal muscles, and then closing the incision with stitches, clips or staples.
The prospect of dermoid ovarian cyst removal may sound frightening, but surgeons regard it as a fairly routine procedure. Most women recover quickly and are completely back to normal in four weeks at most. It is a small price to pay for freedom from painful and unpleasant symptoms.
