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How do I Treat a Fallopian Tube Cyst?

Laura M. Sands
Laura M. Sands

Often, a fallopian tube cyst goes away on its own without deliberate medical treatment. It is for this reason that some medical professionals will choose to wait before attempting to shrink or surgically remove a cyst in this area. When a cyst begins to grow larger and cause pain or interferes with a woman’s reproductive system, however, shrinking the cyst via hormone manipulation or removing it via surgery are the most common forms of treatment.

With or without treatment, it is not uncommon for a woman who has already had a cyst to develop new ones that grow either directly on the reproductive organs or next to these organs. One of the most common causes of this condition is endometriosis. Lining a woman’s uterus is a soft tissue known as endometrium, and each month during her regular menstrual cycle, this tissue is expelled from the uterus. When a dysfunction occurs in this process, however, the endometrium may begin to spread to other internal organs, such as the ovaries or the fallopian tube, and form scar tissue as well as cysts.

While fallopian tube cysts are typically benign, they can cause infertility in some women.
While fallopian tube cysts are typically benign, they can cause infertility in some women.

Fallopian tube cyst treatment, therefore, also commonly includes treating endometriosis. As the most common cause, the symptoms of this condition commonly overlap with cyst symptoms such as unusually painful menstrual cramps, spotting between periods, pain during intercourse, bloody stools, and pelvic pain. When a fallopian tube cyst occurs as the result of endometriosis, a medical professional may choose to remove the buildup of this tissue through a surgical procedure. If the cyst doesn’t appear to be growing or is not causing severe symptoms, the healthcare provider may choose to correct it through less invasive means, such as prescribing birth control pills to manipulate a woman’s hormones, and cause the cyst to shrink while also possibly preventing new tissue from accumulating and forming new cysts.

Birth control pills may be prescribed to treat and prevent fallopian tube cysts.
Birth control pills may be prescribed to treat and prevent fallopian tube cysts.

These cysts are usually benign, but some may cause infertility in women. Although this condition is a less common cause of infertility, it is possible that endometrium in the fallopian tubes may block the passage of eggs needed for conception to take place. Even without painful symptoms, therefore, endometrium is sometimes found during an examination of infertility causes and treated by hormone manipulation to improve the likelihood of pregnancy.

If left untreated, a fallopian tube cyst may result in persistent pain or indicate other health concerns.
If left untreated, a fallopian tube cyst may result in persistent pain or indicate other health concerns.

There is danger in not treating a fallopian tube cyst, which is why health experts say that the regular monitoring of a cyst’s growth and symptoms is important. For instance, cysts caused by endometriosis may also eventually result in an ectopic pregnancy or may cause the development of pelvic adhesions and lead to further complications involving the fallopian tubes. When these conditions occur, surgery is often the only treatment option.

Discussion Comments

anon326039

I had surgery for an ectopic pregnancy and they removed the right tube and I have a cyst on the left one. Will I face any problems the future like the risk to have cancer?

anon321285

I had two large fallopian tube cysts when I was 16. I woke up one night in excruciating pain. They sent me to hospital and found one of the cysts had burst, while the other had twisted my tube around and caused so much damage I had my right tube removed. I keep getting the pains again and I'm convinced the cysts are back although the doctors say they're not. It's been five years, but it worries me so.

pleonasm

@Fa5t3r - It really depends on the kind of cysts though. Unfortunately, for many women, having endometriosis with cysts on the ovaries and Fallopian tubes is excruciatingly painful and surgery is only a temporary solution. They know they will have trouble conceiving and trouble carrying to term.

I have heard of cases like this where the woman has basically chosen to just have a complete hysterectomy in order to stop the pain. So, it really depends on what kind of cyst people have, which is something that they need to talk over with their doctors. Generally, I believe if the cyst is on the Fallopian tubes, rather than the ovaries, it's a little bit more serious.

Fa5t3r

Just want to say that I have a friend who had to have a huge cyst on her Fallopian tube removed a few years ago. She was really worried that it would mean that she was infertile and the doctor told her there was definitely a chance that she could end up like that.

But, she just had her first child the other day and baby and mother are doing fine. So, it's not the end of the world. It is possible to have surgery to remove cysts and still be able to have children afterwards.

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    • While fallopian tube cysts are typically benign, they can cause infertility in some women.
      By: blueringmedia
      While fallopian tube cysts are typically benign, they can cause infertility in some women.
    • Birth control pills may be prescribed to treat and prevent fallopian tube cysts.
      By: Kimberly Reinick
      Birth control pills may be prescribed to treat and prevent fallopian tube cysts.
    • If left untreated, a fallopian tube cyst may result in persistent pain or indicate other health concerns.
      By: Alliance
      If left untreated, a fallopian tube cyst may result in persistent pain or indicate other health concerns.
    • Endometriosis may lead a woman to develop a fallopian tube cyst.
      By: ryanking999
      Endometriosis may lead a woman to develop a fallopian tube cyst.
    • The thickness of the endometrium changes along with the female's menstrual cycle.
      By: joshya
      The thickness of the endometrium changes along with the female's menstrual cycle.