Depression Associated With Ovarian Cysts - What is the Connection?

For those unfortunate women who experience recurring episodes of ovarian cysts, the question often arises whether depression can be a side effect that is actually related to their affliction. The truth is that experts tend to disagree on the subject, but the general consensus seems to be that depression associated with ovarian cysts occurs mainly in those women who have been diagnosed with certain types of cysts, primarily Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).

Studies seem to point to the fact that depression associated with ovarian cysts in these women is caused primarily by a hormonal imbalance, and much of the depression stems from the resulting symptoms, which oftentimes includes weight gain, infertility, elevated testosterone levels, increased body hair, and other very disturbing symptoms that unfortunately frequently accompany a diagnosis of PCOS.

Additionally, women who have been diagnosed with PCOS frequently have increased levels of homocysteine, which is a chemical substance which forms in the body that may injure the blood vessel linings when levels are too high, and many researchers believe that depression associated with ovarian cysts may be a possibility due to the elevated levels of homocysteine.

Another factor to consider is mixed anxiety-depressive disorder, a condition that sometimes occurs in women with PCOS. These women generally have higher homocysteine levels during certain phases of the menstrual cycle. A relatively new category established by the medical community, mixed anxiety-depressive disorder defines patients suffering from both symptoms of anxiety as well as depression, both being of equal intensity.

Unfortunately all of the conditions referred to above may occur in women diagnosed with PCOS, which seems to reinforce that depression associated with ovarian cysts is a reality. There are, of course, other factors you should consider, but if you've been diagnosed with PCOS and you're also experiencing depression, it's definitely something that you should discuss with your physician.

The good news is there are some surprisingly simple things you can do in your daily life-style to address the hormonal imbalances which often accompany cysts, which is most often the culprit of depression associated with ovarian cysts. Your diet, exercise, stress, nutritional supplements, et cetera, all play a major role, and the real challenge comes with choosing from the various ovarian cysts treatments programs and finding one that is suitable to you as an individual.

The absolute key to selecting the right treatment program is to choose a plan that is time-tested, that has been used successfully by others, one that you can incorporate into your daily life, and then you should follow this plan religiously. Do this and there's a very good chance that you won't be constantly dealing with recurring episodes of cysts.