Dermoid cyst

Originally Published: February 6, 2004 - Last Updated / Reviewed On: August 8, 2008
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Dear Alice,


Dear Reader,



Depending on the position of the cyst within the ovary, it may be necessary to remove a portion of or the entire ovary. In this case, a woman may wonder about her fertility potential. If the remaining ovarian tissue is normal, a woman may still ovulate, menstruate, and conceive a pregnancy. Even if one ovary is completely removed, the other ovary is stimulated and continues to produce eggs, so that conception can occur.

Though extremely rare, 1 - 3 percent of dermoid cysts of the ovary become cancerous. Most of the cysts that undergo malignant degeneration occur in postmenopausal women. Prognosis depends on cancer cell type, stage of cancer, and success of the cancer treatment.

Talking with the surgeon before the operation is an important part of planning for the future. It is a good idea for the woman to identify and write down her questions, and then be sure to understand the answers. Seeking a second opinion before surgery is an appropriate option. Bringing a companion is helpful, since it is difficult to absorb and retain unfamiliar information under stressful circumstances.


August 8, 2008


To the reader:

I have just been treated for a dermoid cyst that twisted, causing horrific pain and required emergency surgery to extract. It ended up being 17cm large and I would have had...

To the reader:

I have just been treated for a dermoid cyst that twisted, causing horrific pain and required emergency surgery to extract. It ended up being 17cm large and I would have had no clue had I not been in such terrible pain. In the process I have also now lost an ovary and a fallopian tube. I am still quite baffled as to how on earth something can get that large and be that invasive and you have no idea it is growing inside you. Then I think back to all the little signs that something wasnt right and how I attributed those things to other things without being fully checked out. Maybe someone will learn from my mistake!