What Causes Cysts? A Conventional Science Viewpoint

What causes cysts? This is a very broad question as there are many different types of cysts. For the purposes of this discussion, we will focus on ovarian cysts only. Even so, there are different causes that lead to different types of ovarian cysts. This discussion will cover a few of the main causes from the viewpoint of conventional science. In a follow-up article, we will discuss what causes cysts from a natural healing point of view.
Conventional science believes that an ovarian cyst is a natural phenomenon that cannot be avoided. In other words, most if not all women of child bearing age will develop ovarian cysts at some point in their lives. This is because what causes cysts are actually out of our direct control.
One such cause is often attributed to a woman's genetic makeup. It is believed that somewhere in her DNA, there is a gene that causes ovarian cysts to form. This genetic disposition is also sometimes used to explain a person's tendency to be more prone to certain illnesses. Based on this rationale, it is believed that if a woman has ovarian cysts, it is likely that her immediate family members may have a tendency to have it too.
Hormonal imbalance is also believed to be a factor that causes cysts. For example, high levels of the hormone Insulin is believed to contribute to the development of PolyCystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) in some women. In such cases, the woman's body is not able to use the Insulin fully and this causes too much Insulin to be accumulated in the body.
There are also studies that suggest environmental pollutants that mimic the chemical activities of natural hormones may also have a hand in causing cysts. These studies show that the creation of ovarian follicles is very sensitive to these environmental pollutants. These pollutants (also known as xenobiotics) can also damage the ovarian follicles and render them useless.
So, what causes cysts? Generally, conventional science believes that there is more than one factor that causes ovarian cysts. This viewpoint is also shared by natural healing practitioners. However, the difference is that conventional science often tries to treat the ovarian cyst as an independent problem whereas natural healing practitioners know that the cysts are just a symptom of a larger problem, namely the overall imbalance of a human mind and body.