ovarian cysts + old mare

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doranstown

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does any body have any knowledge they can share on ovarian cysts and an older mare who bred successfully in the past.

was told she scanned in foal but vet now tells me she's not and it wouldn't be possible without treating her for the cysts first.
 
my mare had some, and had no issues conceiving, she was 16 and took first time last season (1 foal previously)

Thats only personal experience, and im no expert!!
 
Ovarian cysts are not a major problem in most cases. The problem occurs when the cysts become too large and/or numerous, and can prevent oocytes migrating down into, and through, the ovulation fossa and into the oviduct. I don't know how one can tell if they're causing this specific problem unless the mare is not getting pregnant (and all other problems have been discounted). I'll investigate and let you know if I find out any more information.
 
Can I just clarify, are we talking about ovarian cysts (on the ovary), or uterine cysts? Very different locations!
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Volatis - if your vet is scanning your mare's ovaries looking for a pregnancy, then maybe you should get a new vet
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Ahhh i was confused too - my vet said the same, we scanned at 16 days and couldnt see anything other than what he said were cysts and then we went back a few days later and we saw baby foalie! So actually my mare never had ovarian cysts, i am talking utter rubbish!!
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Thanks AP that makes sense now. Actually, why do they get uterine cysts?
 
The uterine cysts originate from two sources: one from a sequela of periglandular fibrosis (the uterine gland cysts), and will probably be too small to be identified by ultrasound. The second type are cysts of the lymphatic lacunae (lymphatic cysts), and these are the ones that are normally several cm in diameter as shown by ultrasound.

They may, or may not effect fertility. Sometimes they effect the way the embryo moves around the uterus before it fixes, and strangely embryos have quite an affinity for cysts, and often fix right next to cysts (making your vet panic - "oh no, twins!"). Cyst positions should ALWAYS be mapped before breeding for this reason, to make sure you don't end up pinching of the embryo and leaving behind a cyst!

The reason for them forming? Can be scarring/fibrosis-based, reduced lymphatic drainage, possibly from infections, and sometimes - just random growths.
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thats a few of the many reasons that uterine cystic structures occur. e.g. organising haemomata, post-placentitis fibrin deposition with subsequent infiltration of fibroblasts and organisation of the newly formed tissue into adhesions and sealed pockets that prevent normal endometrial secretions from draining. etc etc etc

its not so much that embryos have an affinity for uterine cysts, its more a case of that once the mare has passed the embryo into her uterus it will move around alot, this process is important with regards to maternal recognition of pregnancy, and since the mare will have high levels of progesterone, from the corpus luteum, the myometrium of the uterine wall will have high tone, this increases steadily up until enough tone is present as to fix the embryo in a particular position - not to be confused with actual fixation of the embryo to the wall, hence embryos will transverse the uterine tubes easily, even in the presence of what appear to be quite large cysts, its as the tone increases in the uterus that the embryo will become unable to pass a cyst and hence come to lie next to any cysts.

and twins should not be any reason to "panic"

also the term ovarian cyst should not be used when referring to mares, to cows yes, woman to a certain degree but not mares. as ovarian cysts DO NOT occur in mares.
 
thanks andy,
she missed a year. was told by stud she had cysts. she didn't come into season so i assumed she was in foal as no probs before. she didn't come into season last year either, took her back to stud to be looked at. not in foal. injected to bring on, covered, scanned at 14 days told in foal. ve came out recently handled her, not in foal. cost a fair bit of money so i don't want to waste any more fighting a losing battle. what can be done if anything, is it just pot luck?
 
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also the term ovarian cyst should not be used when referring to mares, to cows yes, woman to a certain degree but not mares. as ovarian cysts DO NOT occur in mares.

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I suggest you read a review by Patrick McCue (1998) entitled "A Review of Ovarian Abnormalities in the Mare". They most certainly do occur, just not as regularly as in bovines.
 
Stop. There are many abnormal structures that can occur on the ovary of the mare. These are however specific abnormalities, and should be described as such, i.e. to tell of their specific aetiology. To use the term "cyst" in the mare is wrong as it can imply cystic ovarian disease, which does does not, i repeat not occur in the mare. Superficially the structures occuring in the mare appear as cysts but they are not.
 
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