Ovarian cysts can pose misdiagnosis risk

Many women in Arizona suffer from ovarian cysts and other health concerns related to the female reproductive system. The ovaries are small, walnut-sized organs that are part of the female reproductive system. They store and release eggs (ova) during ovulation; this monthly egg release begins the monthly menstrual cycle.

Each ovum is enclosed inside a follicle, a type of sac, until a hormonal signal causes it to be released into the uterus. If the egg is not fertilized, resulting in pregnancy, it is expelled with the uterine lining in the following menstrual cycle.

A cyst is a growth, usually a small filled sac, inside one of a woman’s ovaries. These cysts are very common, and almost all women have had some type of ovarian cyst throughout their lifetime. More than 95 percent are estimated to resolve themselves without any particular treatment.

While the vast majority of ovarian cysts are benign, the real concern is about those which are not. Some kinds of ovarian cysts, including many benign cysts, cause abdominal pain and discomfort. Benign tumors called dermoids can also grow in an ovary.

Ovarian growths can also, however, be a sign of ovarian cancer. Rather than having a benign cyst likely to resolve on its own, a woman may be in the stages of growing ovarian cancer posing a serious risk to health and life.

Because ovarian cysts that are benign and non-harmful are so common, women with ovarian cancer or other serious reproductive system disorders could be at risk of misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose. Failure to diagnose ovarian cancer or other types of cancer can lead to substantially worse medical outcomes.

Women whose ovarian cancer was not properly diagnosed may be victims of medical malpractice. A medical malpractice lawyer could provide guidance and representation when seeking compensation for the pain and suffering and medical bills caused by worsened outcomes due to a delayed or wrong diagnosis.