Signs & Symptoms of Ovarian Cysts After Menopause

Because ovaries do not produce eggs after menopause, most ovarian cysts appearing at this time are benign and nothing to worry about. However, there is still a small chance they could be cancerous, so it is important to consult a physician upon the development of certain symptoms.

Major Symptoms

• Abdominal pain and back pain could mean ovarian cysts have developed. Not being able to fully empty your bladder, as well as a feeling of pressure located in the bladder and rectum are also concerns. However, these symptoms could also arise for many other reasons, so it is important to get tested.

Pelvic Symptoms

• A sensation of pressure on the pelvis is another symptom, arising from ovarian cysts filling up with fluids. Pain does not usually accompany this unless the cysts have burst, releasing fluid into the abdomen.

Menstrual Symptoms

• Menstrual irregularities of any kind usually mean something is not right, and could be a sign of existing ovarian cysts.

Tips

• If testing confirms the presence of ovarian cysts, a CA-125 blood test should be done. This test is specifically for the post-menopausal; it is not as accurate in the pre-menopausal. If the results are normal and there are no other signs of cancerous cysts, most of the time the cysts will disappear on their own. If, however, the test is not normal and the cysts are cancerous, they can be removed through surgery. This is an effective way of totally eliminating the cancer, as long as it is caught early enough.