What is the chocolate cyst?
Chocolate cyst is a blood filled ovarian cyst in which the blood has become thickened and dark. Chocolate cysts are most commonly ovarian endometriotic cysts. They are frequently painful and fixed due to surrounding inflammation.
What are the symptoms?
Possible symptom of endometriosis. Endometriosis causes chocolate cysts. Endometrial tissue lines the uterus, and endometriosis causes this tissue to grow outside the uterus as well.
Symptoms are:
- painful periods
- unexplained pelvic pain between periods
- pain during sex
- digestive issues
- painful bowel movements
- heavy menstrual periods
- difficulty getting pregnant.
Treatment
Treatment depends on symptoms and reproductive goals. If these include pregnancy, the main aim of treatment is to preserve or enhance fertility.
In some cases, a doctor may recommend waiting and carefully observing the cyst to see if it grows.
Doctors may recommend surgery to remove the cyst under the following circumstances:
- the cyst is very large
- periods are painful
- there are signs of infertility.