A chocolate cyst, or ovarian endometrioma, forms when tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows inside an ovary. It bleeds a little with each period, and the trapped old blood turns thick and brown, which is where the name comes from. It is a form of endometriosis.

Symptoms

• Painful periods that get worse over time
• Pelvic or lower back pain between periods
• Pain during intercourse
• Difficulty getting pregnant
• Some women have no symptoms, and the cyst is found on an ultrasound

How it is checked and managed

An ultrasound usually shows the cyst. A gynaecologist decides whether to watch it with repeat scans, give medicine or advise surgery, based on its size, your symptoms, your age and whether you plan to get pregnant. Keep the follow-up scans your gynaecologist advises.

Go to a hospital immediately if

you get sudden, severe pain low in the abdomen, especially with vomiting, fever or fainting. This can mean the cyst has burst or twisted the ovary.

Where homeopathy fits

Dr Amit Kumar sees women with painful or irregular periods and related complaints. For a chocolate cyst, homeopathic treatment is given alongside your gynaecologist's care and regular scans, not in place of them.

Dr Amit Kumar (BHMS, Delhi Homoeopathic Board Reg. No. 2350) has practised in Sector 4, Vaishali, Ghaziabad since 1994. The clinic is at B-3, Basement, Mini Reliance Plaza, near Sarvodaya Hospital, open Monday to Saturday, 11 AM to 1 PM and 6 PM to 8 PM. A consultation costs ₹500.

See clinic timings and book a consultation