Does ovarian teratoma affect pregnancy?

Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
Updated on May 18, 2025
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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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Why do benign teratomas recur?

Benign teratomas, although not aggressive or metastatic, do not require adjuvant chemotherapy or radiation therapy after curative surgery to fight the tumor. However, many benign teratomas recur after surgery and require further surgical treatment. The cause of benign teratoma recurrence is considered to be due to the persistent presence of oncogenic factors. Therefore, benign tumors can also recur, since the exact cause and pathogenesis of benign teratomas are still unclear clinically. Thus, prevention from an etiological perspective is not possible, and the only option is timely surgical removal upon tumor detection to prevent the benign teratoma from becoming malignant. For patients with benign teratomas, regular follow-up is necessary after curative surgery to monitor any changes in the condition. If signs of recurrence are detected, prompt intervention is necessary to prevent malignancy.

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Written by Liu Wei Jie
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Ovarian teratoma grows during pregnancy

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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Does a teratoma require immediate surgery?

Not all teratomas require immediate surgery. If a teratoma is found to be relatively small in size, many people can have it remain stable for a long time without significant changes, therefore periodic monitoring is possible. However, if a teratoma shows a rapid increase in size, or if it is already very large with the potential for torsion, or if there is a possibility of rupture or malignant transformation, or if the teratoma has endocrine activity, then immediate surgery may be necessary.

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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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How to treat ovarian teratoma?

In women, ovarian teratomas are largely mature teratomas, although benign, they consist of a variety of components, including solid and cystic elements, leading to a heterogeneous texture. This can result in complications such as torsion or infection, and very rarely malignant transformation. Therefore, surgical intervention is generally recommended. Depending on the size of the tumor, the surgery can be performed through laparotomy or laparoscopy. During surgery, it is crucial to completely excise the tumor while avoiding rupture of the cyst wall, which can cause spillage of the contents into the abdominal cavity and lead to contamination.