Postoperative Care for Teratoma Surgery

Written by Shen Li Wen
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Updated on May 11, 2025
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After undergoing teratoma surgery, women shouldn't assume that everything is settled once the surgery is over. There are several precautions to be mindful of. For example, it's advisable to avoid exhaustion, sexual intercourse, sitz baths, and swimming for a month. It's also important to stay away from spicy foods. These measures primarily help prevent infections and promote the healing of the surgical site. Under normal circumstances, unless there are particular issues such as purulent vaginal discharge, or the surgical site becomes split, swollen, or starts discharging pus, a routine follow-up is recommended one month post-surgery. This includes a gynecological exam and a pelvic ultrasound to assess the healing of the incision. Additionally, understanding the recovery of the menstrual cycle is essential. For women planning to conceive, some pre-pregnancy advice should also be provided. Afterwards, it is suggested that women undergo a check-up every six months to a year to monitor for any signs of recurrence.

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Written by Xu Xiao Ming
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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What are the symptoms of teratoma?

Ovarian teratomas can cause abdominal pain and might even result in sudden abdominal enlargement, often accompanied by symptoms like bloating. Women experiencing these symptoms are advised to seek medical attention promptly. Ovarian teratomas are more commonly found in younger women, particularly during their reproductive years. Thus, female patients experiencing these symptoms should promptly undergo an ultrasound at a hospital to check for the presence of teratomas and also have a blood test for tumor markers. If a teratoma is present, it is recommended to undergo surgical treatment as soon as possible due to the risk of malignant transformation.

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Written by Yan Qiao
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Does a teratoma that is too large affect fertility?

Ovarian teratoma is a type of commonly seen benign ovarian tumor. Even though it is benign, like in the case of teratomas, it can still potentially affect a woman's fertility. The critical factors are the location and the size of the ovarian tumor. If the tumor originates from the center of the ovary, it is likely to cause significant damage to the ovarian tissue. Additionally, if the tumor is large, it can also cause substantial damage to the normal tissue. These factors can impact a woman’s fertility, leading to a decline or even complete loss of reproductive function. Whether fertility is retained depends on the function of the ovary on the other side.

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Written by Xu Xiao Ming
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Is ovarian teratoma cancer?

Ovarian teratomas are divided into benign and malignant types. If the teratoma is malignant, then it is a type of cancer. If it is benign, it is not cancer; it is just a tumor. The malignancy of a tumor is not as high as that of cancer. Therefore, it is necessary to determine its pathological type. After removing the teratoma, it should be sent to the pathology department for examination to clearly determine whether it is benign or malignant. For benign teratomas, postoperative follow-up observation is sufficient. However, if the teratoma is malignant, the scope of the surgery should be conducted according to the protocols for ovarian cancer, and chemotherapy is required after surgery.

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Written by Liu Jian Wei
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Is the likelihood of a teratoma being benign high?

Currently, teratomas are relatively common in clinical practice, and there is a high probability that teratomas are benign, with most teratomas being benign. The definitive diagnosis requires surgical removal of the teratoma, followed by routine pathological examination post-surgery. The nature of the teratoma, whether benign or malignant, is determined based on the pathological examination, and the results of the pathology dictate the next steps in the treatment plan. If the teratoma is malignant, further follow-up treatment is necessary.

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Written by Shen Li Wen
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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How is a teratoma surgically removed?

When a woman has an ovarian teratoma, treatment should be determined based on the specific age of the woman, whether the teratoma is benign or malignant, and other factors. For example, if the woman is relatively young and has a benign teratoma and wishes to preserve her fertility, she can undergo ovarian teratoma excision surgery, which can be performed either laparoscopically or through an open surgery. During the operation, the entire teratoma can be completely separated and placed in a specimen bag to prevent contamination of the woman's pelvic cavity and avoid chemical peritonitis or granuloma. If the teratoma is malignant, then it is necessary to remove the adnexa and perform a comprehensive staging surgery. After surgery, based on the results of the pathological examination, it will be decided whether additional treatments such as radiotherapy or chemotherapy are needed.