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 Liu Jian Wei
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Symptoms of ovarian teratoma

In clinical practice, some women with ovarian teratoma may not exhibit any symptoms and the presence of an ovarian teratoma might only be discovered during a physical examination. In some cases, women with ovarian teratoma may experience torsion of the tumor after vigorous activity. When torsion occurs, the patient may suddenly feel pain in one side of the lower abdomen, accompanied by nausea and vomiting. If these symptoms occur, it is necessary to seek immediate medical attention and, if necessary, undergo timely surgical treatment.

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Written by Liu Jian Wei
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Can teratomas recur?

Teratomas can recur clinically, but the recurrence rate is relatively low. There are cases of ovarian teratoma recurrence after teratoma excision surgery. For recurrent teratomas after surgery, it is still recommended to undergo surgical removal again. With an increase in the number of surgeries, the probability of teratoma recurrence gradually decreases. It is recommended that patients who have undergone teratoma surgery undergo regular follow-up examinations.

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Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
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Does ovarian teratoma affect pregnancy?

Ovarian teratomas are a common type of benign ovarian tumor, and most ovarian teratomas do not affect the ability to become pregnant. This is because ovarian teratomas generally do not cause ovulation disorders, do not affect the function of the fertilized egg, and typically do not lead to pelvic inflammation, so the majority of patients with ovarian teratomas can become pregnant normally. However, if the ovarian teratoma is relatively large, greater than five centimeters, this condition may affect the function of the ovaries, or cause the teratoma to rupture or become infected after pregnancy. For teratomas larger than five centimeters, it is generally recommended to undergo laparoscopic surgery to remove the teratoma before attempting pregnancy, to prevent the teratoma from affecting the pregnancy.

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Written by Wang Jing Hua
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Is a teratoma the same as a cyst?

Teratoma is a type of ovarian cyst, and whether surgery is necessary depends on the specific conditions found during examination. Teratomas are related to congenital factors. It has been found that medication is ineffective in treating teratomas. If the teratoma is relatively small, regular check-ups can be sufficient. However, if it is growing rapidly, there is a possibility of malignant transformation, or if it is large enough to cause abdominal pain due to torsion, then surgery must be prepared for immediately. Ultimately, the nature of the teratoma is determined through pathological examination.

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Written by Li Lin
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Can ovarian teratomas become cancerous?

Ovarian teratomas are mostly benign tumors, and it is usually sufficient to undergo tumor excision or unilateral oophorectomy. However, ovarian teratomas can become malignant, and in such cases, corresponding chemotherapy treatment should be used after surgery based on the condition. Even after chemotherapy, malignant teratomas may recur. If the malignant teratoma recurs, further surgeries can be performed. Each surgery can reduce the malignancy of the teratoma, so surgery combined with chemotherapy is very effective for the treatment of malignant teratomas.