Topics Covered in this blog
- What Is The Difference Between a Cyst and a Fibroid?
- Are Fibroids The Same As Cysts?
- Fibroids And Cysts Diagnosis
- Symptoms: Fibroid vs. Cyst
- Causes: Fibroid vs. Cyst
- Can Fibroids Grow In The Ovaries?
- Ovarian Cyst and Fibroid Treatment
- Find a Fibroid Treatment Center Near You
Did you know that the term ‘fibroid cyst’ is actually a bit misleading? Many people wonder if ovarian cysts and fibroids are the same, but they’re not. While both are common conditions affecting the female reproductive system, fibroids and ovarian cysts have distinct symptoms, causes, potential complications, and treatment approaches.
As the most common tumor of the female reproductive tract, uterine fibroids affect more people than you might expect. In fact, approximately 33 percent of women develop them during their childbearing years, and 70-80% of women will have developed them by the age of 50.
What Is The Difference Between a Cyst and a Fibroid?
It’s understandable that many uterine conditions and symptoms get mixed up or confused. When asking yourself fibroid vs cyst, you must first understand what they are individually.
Fibroids are smooth muscle tissue, whereas cysts are pockets of fluid. The difference in density is due to these differences in composition.
Other discrepancies exist between the two. Cysts are often found in the ovaries though they can also be present in the fallopian tubes and vaginal wall. Fibroids are located in or on the outside of the uterus. Fibroids are almost always benign except in rare cases. Cysts are often benign as well, although cancer can sometimes cause a cyst.
Differentiate symptoms by taking our symptom quiz
Fibroids
Uterine fibroids are firm, dense, noncancerous tumors composed of smooth muscle cells and fibrous connective tissue. Fibroids develop inside the uterus or on the uterine walls and can vary in size, number, and location. Although they are generally harmless, they can harm surrounding organs, impact fertility, and cause painful and uncomfortable symptoms.
Uterine fibroids can most often appear during childbearing years. Also called leiomyomas or myomas, uterine fibroids aren’t associated with an increased risk of uterine cancer and rarely develop into cancer.
Fibroid sizes range from tiny seedlings, undetectable by the human eye, to bulky masses that can distort and enlarge the uterus. You can have a single fibroid or multiple ones. In extreme cases, multiple fibroids can expand the uterus so that it reaches the rib cage and adds weight.
Ovarian Cysts
An ovarian cyst is a fluid-filled sac that develops inside or outside an ovary. Often, this common type of cyst doesn’t cause any discomfort and can even go away on its own. While they are usually harmless, some large ovarian cysts can result in pelvic or abdominal pain, pressure, or bloating symptoms. Complications that require immediate medical attention can include
- Ovarian torsion: When the ovary is displaced and twists.
- Ovarian rupture: When the ovary bursts, which is often indicated by sudden, severe pelvic or abdominal pain, along with fever or vomiting.
- Your ovaries typically grow cysts called follicles each month. Follicles produce estrogen and progesterone hormones and release an egg during ovulation; these are known as corpus luteum and follicular.
- Corpus luteum cyst: When a follicle releases its egg, it begins producing estrogen and progesterone for conception, known as the corpus luteum. When fluid accumulates inside the follicle, causing the corpus luteum to grow into a cyst.
- Follicular cyst: A follicular cyst begins when the follicle doesn’t rupture or release the egg and grows larger.
Other types of cysts also exist, though they are less commonly known. Endometriomas are cysts caused by endometriosis, which occur when the uterine lining grows outside the uterus. Cystadenomas are cysts filled with fluid and can continue to grow quite large. When the ovaries make numerous cysts, it is known as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Are Fibroids The Same As Cysts?
A fibroid is different from a cyst, though the terms have been used interchangeably because of similarities. Similarities between uterine fibroids and ovarian cysts include that they can cause pelvic pain and a protruding abdominal area. Fibroids and cysts are also both common, particularly before menopause.
If you notice pain on a specific side, this may be a good tip indicating that it could be ovarian cysts versus fibroids. If you have symptoms that affect urination or menstruation, this could suggest that the issue may be fibroids. Your doctor or fibroid specialist will be able to accurately diagnose the problem and help get you on the right path to lasting relief.
Fibroids And Cysts Diagnosis
Ovarian cysts and uterine fibroids can both be detected during a pelvic exam. If your doctor believes you have either condition based on your exam or other symptoms, they will likely order a pelvic ultrasound to confirm your diagnosis. An MRI exam may also be recommended.
Sometimes, a corpus luteum cyst can be diagnosed through a pregnancy test. If the test comes up positive, the doctor will want to conduct an ultrasound to see this could be an actual pregnancy or a misreading.
If your doctor thinks you may have fibroids, they will typically refer you to see a fibroid specialist. Either using ultrasound or MRI technology diagnoses fibroids. These minimally invasive machines give Interventional Radiologists, aka fibroid specialists, the information they need to make a diagnosis and locate the fibroids. Depending on their size and location, different treatments may be more successful at eliminating your symptoms.
When it comes to either condition, it is important to track menstrual changes and symptoms like cramps and bloating to understand if these changes are normal or if they could be caused by something else. If these changes persist over a few menstrual cycles, you should schedule a visit to see a doctor.
Symptoms: Fibroid vs. Cyst
Many symptoms of fibroids and cysts are similar, which can make diagnosis difficult. It can cause you to wonder, “Are fibroids the same as cysts?” The differences between cyst and fibroid symptoms can be subtle, so it is important to consult a doctor for evaluation.
Fibroid Symptoms
Every person experiences fibroids differently. While some women may not notice any symptoms, others may struggle with chronic pain that negatively impacts their daily life. The symptoms may vary based on the location and size of the fibroids. Fibroid symptoms may include:
- Heavy periods lasting more than 10 days per month
- Fatigue caused by anemia
- Bleeding between menstrual cycles
- Pain during sex
- Protruding belly or abdominal area
- Severe pelvic pain or cramps
- Frequent urination or difficulty emptying your bladder
Ovarian Cyst Symptoms
Many women with ovarian cysts will not experience symptoms. However, a large cyst can cause:
- Pelvic pain or pressure on one side
- Abdominal bloating or a protruding belly
- Difficulty urinating
- Pain during sex
- Unexplained weight gain
- Breast tenderness
- Sharp, sudden abdominal pain
You may notice one or several of these symptoms or an increase in symptoms as the cyst grows.
Causes: Fibroid vs. Cyst
Fibroids and cysts have two unique causes. Both growths have multiple factors that may lead to their development. Hormones play a possible role in both fibroid and cyst growth.
Fibroid Causes
Although the exact causes of uterine fibroids are unknown, it is believed that they form as the result of a combination of:
- Hormones
- Genetics
- Other growth factors,
- Extracellular matrix (ECM)
Certain risk factors increase one’s chances of developing fibroids. These factors include age and race. Women in their 30s and 40s and African-American women are more likely to develop fibroids. Obesity, high blood pressure, and Vitamin D deficiency have also been linked to fibroid growth in some studies.
Ovarian Cyst Causes
Ovarian cysts may be caused by a variety of issues. Most ovarian cysts develop as a result of your menstrual cycle. When an egg isn’t released as expected, it can become a follicular cyst. A follicular cyst develops after the follicle releases the egg, but the opening becomes blocked, allowing fluid to build up.
Other types of cysts are much less common. Hormonal issues can cause cysts to develop or the medication prescribed by a doctor to help you ovulate. Endometriosis can lead to a specific type of cyst developing in the ovary. A cyst can develop when a woman gets pregnant. An infection from pelvic inflammatory disease caused by sexually transmitted diseases that spread into the ovaries can also lead to cysts.
A cystadenoma is a type of cyst that forms from cells located outside the ovary’s surface. It can become quite large and cause symptoms.
Can Fibroids Grow in the Ovaries?
Depending on their size and location, some fibroids could block the Fallopian tubes making it difficult to conceive. However, fibroids do not grow within the ovaries.
When it comes to fibroid cysts, the uterus is the only place they grow. As mentioned above, fibroids can grow within or outside the uterine cavity, but not inside the Fallopian tubes or ovaries.
Ovarian Cyst and Fibroid Treatment
Choosing a treatment option that is right for you can be a daunting journey. Your doctor will sit with you to create a personalized strategy that fits your situation. For example, if your goals are to preserve your uterus, ovaries, or fertility, this can impact which treatment option you will want to pursue.
If you’ve been diagnosed with uterine fibroids, we want you to know about all your available treatment options. Many doctors will suggest fibroid surgery to treat your fibroids. At USA Fibroid Centers, we offer a nonsurgical approach called Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE). This minimally invasive, outpatient treatment can shrink your fibroids and eliminate your fibroid symptoms.
Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE)
By using the body’s natural pathways for UFE, one of our top-rated interventional radiologists will thread a tiny catheter through your arteries straight to the fibroid(s). Once the catheter is in the artery supplying blood flow to the fibroid, embolic agents travel through the catheter blocking the artery and causing the fibroid to begin to shrink. When the fibroid shrinks, symptoms should improve over the next few weeks.
UFE does not require you to stay overnight at a hospital, does not require stitches or general anesthesia, does not interfere with your hormones, can preserve your uterus and fertility, offers a shorter recovery period when compared to surgeries, as well as allow you to recover in the comfort of your own home.
Find a Fibroid Treatment Center Near You
If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms or just want to get it checked, it’s important to consult a USA Fibroid Centers specialist regarding your symptoms or menstrual changes. It can be easy to ignore discomfort, especially in the early stages, but it’s vital to know that your period should not be difficult to manage or painful.
Explore our website to find a USA Fibroid Centers office near you, and call us at 855.615.2555. Need more information about non-surgical fibroid treatment? Schedule an initial consultation today to learn more about Uterine Fibroid Embolization.