For those unlucky women who experience recurrent bouts of ovarian cysts, the question often arises as to whether depression may 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, mainly Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. (SOP).

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

In addition, women diagnosed with PCOS often have elevated levels of homocysteine, which is a chemical formed in the body that can damage the lining of blood vessels when levels are too high, and many Researchers believe that depression associated with ovarian cysts may be a possibility due to elevated homocysteine ​​levels.

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

Unfortunately, all of the conditions mentioned above can occur in women diagnosed with PCOS, which seems to reinforce that depression associated with ovarian cysts is a reality. Of course, there are other factors to consider, but if you’ve been diagnosed with PCOS and are also experiencing depression, it’s definitely something to discuss with your doctor.

The good news is that there are some surprisingly simple things you can do in your daily lifestyle to address the hormonal imbalances that often accompany cysts, which are often to blame for the depression associated with ovarian cysts. Your diet, exercise, stress, nutritional supplements, etc. all play important roles, and the real challenge is choosing among the various ovarian cyst treatment programs and finding one that is right for you as an individual.

The absolute key to selecting the right treatment program is to choose a plan that has been tested over time, used successfully by others, one that you can incorporate into your daily life, and then follow this plan religiously. Do this and chances are you won’t have to constantly deal with recurring bouts of cysts.