Ovarian teratoma grows during pregnancy

Written by Liu Wei Jie
Obstetrics
Updated on September 04, 2024
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Will ovarian dermoid cysts grow larger after pregnancy? According to clinical experience, there is no correlation between ovarian dermoid cysts and pregnancy status. If there was a dermoid cyst before pregnancy, it is sufficient to monitor its changes during pregnancy check-ups.

Generally, ovarian dermoid cysts do not grow larger after pregnancy. However, it is important to note that ovarian dermoid cysts are prone to torsion and rupture. Therefore, patients with ovarian dermoid cysts should be attentive to any abdominal pain during pregnancy. If there is no abdominal pain, generally there should not be a major issue.

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Written by Liu Wei Jie
Obstetrics
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Is it easy to get pregnant with a teratoma?

First, what is a teratoma? Teratoma is a common ovarian tumor in gynecology, with a very high incidence rate. It is generally benign and the occurrence of teratomas is related to congenital genetic factors. Generally, if a teratoma is found, the first step is to check the size of the teratoma. If it is smaller than five centimeters, tumor series tests are normal, and there is no other discomfort, observation can be initiated. If the teratoma is relatively large, larger than five centimeters, surgical intervention is required. Teratomas themselves are not related to pregnancy, but because teratomas can lead to ovarian cyst torsion, after torsion occurs, one side of the adnexa may need to be removed, which could reduce fertility.

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Written by Sun Shan Shan
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Can ovarian teratomas be treated with Chinese medicine?

Ovarian teratomas cannot be treated with traditional Chinese medicine. Firstly, ovarian teratomas are categorized as germ cell tumors and are divided into mature and immature teratomas. Mature teratomas, also known as dermoid cysts, are benign tumors. The cysts may contain hair, teeth, and some bony material. Immature teratomas, on the other hand, are malignant tumors that make up 1% to 3% of ovarian teratomas and are more common in younger patients aged 11 to 19 years. Therefore, once an ovarian teratoma is suspected, it is necessary to promptly visit a hospital for further examinations to determine the nature of the cyst, and then, based on the examination results, appropriately handle it with timely surgical intervention.

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Written by Liu Jian Wei
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Do ovarian teratomas hurt?

Ovarian teratomas, if without any complications, do not cause abdominal pain. Many people only discover the presence of ovarian teratomas during routine physical examinations. However, if a series of complications occur with ovarian teratomas, they can lead to abdominal pain. For example, the torsion of an ovarian teratoma, can cause the patient to feel sudden acute pain in the lower abdomen on one side. This pain is generally severe and unbearable and may also be accompanied by symptoms such as nausea and vomiting.

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Written by Zhao Xiao Dong
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Why does pressing on a teratoma hurt?

Teratoma pain is often caused by torsion of the teratoma, which is prone to twisting, especially after vigorous exercise or sexual intercourse. Teratoma torsion typically presents as lower abdominal pain, and physical examination of the teratoma site will show significant tenderness, and even rebound pain. In such cases, emergency surgery is generally required to perform a teratoma excision. If the torsion is too severe and there is obvious ovarian necrosis, a unilateral adnexectomy must be performed, and the ovary cannot be preserved. However, this is relatively rare, and in most cases of teratoma torsion, the ovary can be preserved.

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Written by Sun Shan Shan
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Is surgery necessary for teratoma?

Ovarian teratoma belongs to a type of germ cell tumor. Ovarian teratomas can be classified into mature teratomas and immature teratomas. Mature teratoma, also known as dermoid cyst, is mostly a benign tumor. Within the cyst, components such as sebum, hair, teeth, and bone can be found. Additionally, mature teratomas have a malignant transformation risk of 2%-4% and are commonly seen in postmenopausal women. On the other hand, immature teratomas are malignant tumors, accounting for 1%-3% of ovarian teratomas and more commonly found in younger patients, with the average age ranging from 11 to 19 years old. Therefore, timely surgical treatment is necessary once an ovarian teratoma is detected.