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| |    Corpus Luteum Cyst of Pregnancy by Marjorie Greenfield, M.D. reviewed by Laura Jana, M.D., F.A.A.P. Many pregnant women go for a routine ultrasound or pelvic examination early in their pregnancy and come away with the surprise finding of a corpus luteum cyst. The corpus luteum is a structure in the ovary that makes the hormone progesterone. After an egg is released from the ovary, the remaining corpus luteum is responsible for making the hormone progesterone. It is this hormone that prepares the uterus for pregnancy. A typical corpus luteum is round and fluid-filled and can range in size from less than two centimeters (about an inch) to six centimeters or more. On ultrasound, fluid-filled (cystic) structures greater than three centimeters are technically classified as ovarian cysts, even though they may well represent a normal finding. Ovarian cysts usually don't cause any symptoms. In fact, corpus luteum cysts appear as part of the menstrual cycle, last into early pregnancy, and then usually resolve over a period of time without any special treatment. Complications of ovarian cysts Occasionally a cyst will rupture, causing several hours of pain, followed by an aching feeling for a few more days. The pain often will be severe enough for a woman to go to the doctor or the emergency room, but the cause of the pain is usually obvious on ultrasound and the symptoms have usually already begun to resolve by the time an evaluation is done. A cyst will in rare instances cause the ovary to twist (ovarian torsion), cutting off its blood supply and resulting in pain and sometimes nausea and possibly requiring surgery. The symptoms of a ruptured cyst or ovarian torsion are not subtle. A woman usually knows there is something terribly wrong and seeks medical care. How to deal with a cyst If you have an ovarian cyst with only mild symptoms, rest assured that a significant complication is not likely to occur and you can go about your regular activities. Sometimes a cyst ruptures during sex, so your practitioner might recommend avoiding intercourse until the cyst resolves. Discuss with your practitioner any other activity concerns you might have. And remember: Corpus luteum cysts usually resolve painlessly by the beginning of the second trimester.
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