Diagnosis of Ovarian cyst

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Most ovarian cysts cause no symptoms, so often go undiagnosed. Others may be diagnosed by chance during a pelvic examination, or if you need an ultrasound scan for another reason. If you have symptoms that could be caused by an ovarian cyst, your doctor will probably refer you to a gynaecologist (a doctor specialising in womenâ€™s reproductive health). The gynaecologist will carry out a vaginal examination to see if they can feel any abnormal swelling.

To confirm an ovarian cyst, youâ€™ll usually need to have an ultrasound scan as well. The probe of the scanner is placed on your abdomen to scan the ovaries. The doctor may also put a small, tube-shape, rounded probe inside your vagina to scan the ovaries from this angle. An ultrasound scan tells the doctor how dense (solid) the cyst is, and therefore whether it is a functional cyst, or a more complex one (a firm tumour). If the cyst is complicated, you may need to have additional CT or MRI scans as well.

As well as this, your doctor may carry out a blood test to look for a protein called CA-125. If there is a tumour, the level of this protein is usually higher than normal. A high level of CA-125 can also be a sign of ovarian cancer, although it is affected by other conditions too.