Can you have intercourse with a teratoma?

Written by Shen Li Wen
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Updated on March 13, 2025
00:00
00:00

When a woman has a teratoma, whether intercourse is advisable depends on the size of the tumor or the woman’s clinical symptoms. For example, if the teratoma is small and usually shows no clinical symptoms, normal intercourse is possible. As the size of the teratoma increases, some women may experience symptoms such as a sensation of heaviness or pain in the lower abdomen accompanied by discomfort in the back. During intercourse, the impact and change in tension could exacerbate these abdominal symptoms. Additionally, frequent changes in position during intercourse might provoke the teratoma, potentially leading to torsion and acute abdominal conditions, such as sudden lower abdominal pain. For these women, intercourse is still possible, but it is important to be gentle and slow when changing positions to avoid inducing these issues.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Jing Hua
Obstetrics and Gynecology
40sec home-news-image

Can teratoma affect menstruation?

The majority of teratomas do not have endocrine functions and will not affect menstrual cycles. If there is a delay in menstruation, the first step is to check for pregnancy. If menstruation is delayed for two weeks, pregnancy should be ruled out, and interventions might be necessary, such as an ultrasound to examine the endometrium or a progesterone withdrawal test. Teratomas do not cause menstrual delays unless a very small number of them have endocrine issues. However, these would not suddenly change the menstrual cycle but would potentially cause long-term endocrine changes from the time the teratoma is discovered.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
44sec home-news-image

Does ovarian teratoma affect the fetus?

Ovarian teratoma is a type of gynecological disease, originating from germ cells, and is a relatively common type of ovarian germ cell tumor. It can be divided into mature teratomas and immature teratomas. As for the impact of ovarian teratomas on the fetus, it depends on the size and type of the teratoma, as well as the parts it involves, especially teratomas of the testes and ovaries that involve male and female reproductive functions. When suffering from an ovarian teratoma, it is advisable to undergo surgery actively, and to plan for pregnancy after the disease is cured, in order to ensure the healthy development of the fetus.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Shun Hua
Obstetrics and Gynecology
52sec home-news-image

Does ovarian teratoma affect menstruation?

Ovarian teratomas include mature teratomas, which are benign tumors. These benign ovarian teratomas do not affect menstruation. However, there are also malignant teratomas, which are immature teratomas. Immature teratomas can secrete hormones, and because they secrete different types of hormones, their impact on menstruation varies. If an ovarian teratoma is diagnosed, immediate surgical treatment is required, because if it is an immature teratoma, it is malignant. Prolonged presence can lead to metastasis. If a teratoma is detected early, early-stage malignant tumors can be cured through surgical treatment.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Shun Hua
Obstetrics and Gynecology
50sec home-news-image

Will a teratoma regrow if it is removed?

After surgery for ovarian teratoma, whether it can regrow is uncertain, because ovarian tissue can potentially develop such tumors. Ovarian teratomas can be benign or malignant. The recurrence rate of benign teratomas is very low after surgery, but there is still a possibility of regrowth. However, for malignant teratomas, also known as immature teratomas, surgery involves removing the affected ovary. The opposite ovary can be preserved if it is normal, depending on the patient's age, but regular follow-ups are necessary. If the patient is older, an extensive surgery for teratoma, which includes the removal of both the uterus and ovaries, might be required.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhao Xiao Dong
Obstetrics and Gynecology
48sec home-news-image

Will the teratoma recur after the ovary is removed?

For teratomas, ovarian tumor excision surgery is generally chosen. If the teratoma is too large, and the remaining ovarian tissue is insufficient, there is no need to preserve the ovary, or if the teratoma has severe torsion causing ovarian tissue necrosis, an oophorectomy is necessary. After the oophorectomy, recurrence on the same side is generally not observed, but there is sometimes a possibility of recurrence on the opposite side, though the likelihood of recurrence is very low. Generally, if one ovary is removed due to a teratoma, the recurrence rate on the opposite side is usually less than 10%. Treatment of teratomas is generally surgical, and if not treated timely, complications such as torsion may occur.