Some ovarian cysts can be associated with decreased fertility. However, it depends on the type of ovarian cyst you have.

Ovarian cysts that can affect your fertility include:

• Endometriomas. Endometriomas (en-doe-me-tree-O-muhs) are cysts caused by endometriosis, a condition in which the tissue normally lining your uterus (endometrium) grows outside the uterus. These ovarian cysts may be associated with fertility problems.
• Ovarian cysts resulting from polycystic ovary syndrome. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition marked by many small cysts on your ovaries, irregular periods and high levels of certain hormones. PCOS is associated with irregular ovulation, which may contribute to problems with fertility in some women.

These types of ovarian cysts generally don't affect fertility:

• Functional cysts. Functional cysts — such as follicular cysts or corpus luteum cysts — are the most common type of ovarian cyst. Functional cysts form during a normal menstrual cycle and don't cause or contribute to infertility. In fact, functional cysts actually indicate that the necessary functions leading to fertility are taking place.
• Cystadenomas. Cystadenomas (sis-tad-uh-NO-muhs) are growths in the ovary that arise from the surface of the ovaries. Although they may require treatment, they don't affect fertility.
• Dermoid cysts. These solid cysts contain tissue — such as skin, hair or even teeth — instead of fluid. Dermoid cysts aren't associated with infertility.

If you've been diagnosed with an ovarian cyst and are concerned about becoming pregnant, talk to your doctor. Your doctor will discuss treatment options that may improve your chances of pregnancy.

You might, but more research is needed to know for sure. Ovary removal (oophorectomy), often done in conjunction with a hysterectomy, has a dramatic effect on your body before menopause. This abrupt loss of your ovaries is also called surgical menopause, because it triggers all the changes of menopause.

Your ovaries produce most of your body's estrogen, a reproductive hormone that has many functions beyond regulating your menstrual cycle. Estrogen may protect your brain from age-related changes that can lead to cognitive impairment and dementia.

Some studies have suggested that an early oophorectomy may increase your risk of Alzheimer's disease, other types of dementia or cognitive decline. Some research suggests that you may help offset this risk by taking hormone therapy (HT) until you reach a natural age of menopause.

More research will be needed before doctors can know for sure whether an oophorectomy will increase your risk of dementia and whether HT is necessary.

That's why it's important to talk with your doctor before deciding to have an oophorectomy.

Ask your doctor:

• What condition the surgery is treating
• What other treatment options there are
• Whether you're close to menopause
• Whether you'll be a candidate for HT

For some women, an oophorectomy is worth the long-term risks. If you carry one of the genetic mutations that make you likely to develop breast and ovarian cancers, for example, this surgery may save your life — even if you don't take HT.

Understanding when you're ovulating — and having sex regularly five days before and on the day of ovulation — can improve the odds of conceiving.

Ovulation is the process in which a mature egg is released from the ovary. Those six days are important because the egg is able to be fertilized for about 12 to 24 hours after it's released. In addition, sperm can live inside the female reproductive tract as long as five days after sexual intercourse under the right conditions. Your chance of getting pregnant is highest when live sperm are present in the fallopian tubes during ovulation.

In an average 28-day menstrual cycle, ovulation typically occurs about 14 days before the start of the next menstrual period. But in most women, ovulation occurs in the four days before or after the midpoint of the menstrual cycle. If, like many women, you don't have a perfect 28-day menstrual cycle, you can determine the length and midpoint of your cycle by keeping a menstrual calendar.

Beyond the calendar, you can also look for ovulation signs and symptoms, including:

• Change in vaginal secretions. Just before ovulation, you might notice an increase in clear, wet, and stretchy vaginal secretions. Just after ovulation, cervical mucus decreases and becomes thicker, cloudy and less noticeable.
• Change in basal body temperature. Your body's temperature at rest (basal body temperature) increases slightly during ovulation. Using a thermometer specifically designed to measure basal body temperature, take your temperature every morning before you get out of bed. Record the results and look for a pattern to emerge. You'll be most fertile during the two to three days before your temperature rises.

You also might want to try an over-the-counter ovulation kit. These kits test your urine for the surge in hormones that takes place before ovulation, which helps you identify when you're most likely to ovulate.

Despite manufacturers' claims, ozone air purifiers don't remove asthma triggers from the air. In fact, inhaled ozone can make asthma worse.

Ozone generators sold as air purifiers intentionally produce the gas ozone. Ozone can mask odors by changing the chemical composition of particles or other gasses in the air, making the air seem fresher and cleaner. However, ozone generators don't actually filter out the small particles that trigger asthma.

Inhaling ozone, even in small amounts, can irritate the lungs. Specific effects may include throat irritation, coughing, chest pain and shortness of breath, as well as an increased risk of respiratory infections.

Some ozone air purifiers are made with an ion generator, sometimes called an ionizer, in the same unit. You can also buy ionizers as separate units. Ionizers do remove particles from the air, causing them to attach to nearby surfaces or to each other and settle out of the air — but they may generate unwanted ozone.

Air filters that remove small particles — such as high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters — are effective in removing allergens from the air, without posing any ozone concerns. To work effectively, filters need to be cleaned or replaced regularly, according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Paced breathing is slow, deep, diaphragmatic breathing. With normal breathing, you take about 12 to 14 breaths a minute. By comparison, with paced breathing you take only 5 to 7 breaths a minute. The paced breaths are slow, smooth and deep enough to move your diaphragm — the muscular wall located beneath your lungs — as you take deeper breaths. The goal of paced breathing is to reduce the stress chemicals your brain produces and facilitate a relaxation response.

Some evidence shows that paced breathing may help reduce menopausal hot flashes, including how often they occur and how severe they are. Paced breathing may also help lower blood pressure, decrease anxiety and promote relaxation.

You can teach yourself paced breathing — for instance, from a smartphone app or Web-based program — or you can seek the help of an expert.

Paced breathing may not be appropriate if you experience dizziness or have hyperventilation problems. Otherwise, paced breathing is a generally safe mind-body approach to enhance relaxation.

Pain and depression are closely related. Depression can cause pain — and pain can cause depression. Sometimes pain and depression create a vicious cycle in which pain worsens symptoms of depression, and then the resulting depression worsens feelings of pain.

In many people, depression causes unexplained physical symptoms such as back pain or headaches. This kind of pain may be the first or the only sign of depression.

Pain and the problems it causes can wear you down over time and affect your mood. Chronic pain causes a number of problems that can lead to depression, such as trouble sleeping and stress.

Disabling pain can cause low self-esteem due to work or financial issues or the inability to participate in social activities and hobbies.

Depression doesn't just occur with pain resulting from an injury. It's also common in people who have pain linked to a health condition such as diabetes, cancer or heart disease.

To get symptoms of pain and depression under control, you may need separate treatment for each condition. However, some treatments may help with both:

• Antidepressant medications may relieve both pain and depression because of shared chemical messengers in the brain.
• Talk therapy, also called psychological counseling (psychotherapy), can be effective in treating both conditions.
• Stress-reduction techniques, physical activity, exercise, meditation, journaling, learning coping skills and other strategies also may help.
• Pain rehabilitation programs, such as the comprehensive Pain Rehabilitation Center at Mayo Clinic, typically provide a team approach to treatment, including medical and psychiatric aspects.

Treatment for co-occurring pain and depression may be most effective when it involves a combination of treatments.

If you have pain and depression, get help before your symptoms worsen. You don't have to be miserable. Getting the right treatment can help you start enjoying life again.

About a third of the people who have palindromic rheumatism will go on to develop rheumatoid arthritis.

Palindromic rheumatism is characterized by sudden and recurrent attacks of painful swelling of one or more joints. Attacks may last for several days or just a few hours. Between attacks, pain and swelling completely disappear.

Drugs originally designed to combat malaria are often helpful in reducing the frequency and duration of attacks. These drugs also appear to reduce the likelihood that palindromic rheumatism will progress to rheumatoid arthritis.

Not necessarily. Palliative care is for anyone who has been diagnosed with a serious illness and may have symptoms from that illness or its treatment. The goal of the palliative care specialist is to reduce any signs and symptoms you may experience and make you more comfortable.

Palliative care is often confused with hospice care, which is generally for people with terminal illnesses. Hospice care workers provide palliative care, but palliative care can be given at any time during an illness, not just at the end of life.

A palliative care specialist works with your doctor and a team of chaplains, counselors, nurses and other professionals to create an individualized plan to reduce signs and symptoms you experience during your treatment. This can make it more likely that you'll complete your treatment and maintain a quality of life that allows you to continue doing things that are important to you.

Recent data show that for people with certain types of cancer, early use of palliative care services not only makes them feel better but also helps them live longer when compared with people who get standard treatment only.

Pancreatic cancer, also known as pancreatic adenocarcinoma, is one of the deadliest cancers. Even with aggressive treatment, the prognosis is poor.

Various factors stack the odds against successful pancreatic cancer treatment:

• Early detection is uncommon. Few pancreatic cancers are found in the early stages of the disease, when the cancerous cells can be surgically removed. Signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer — such as pain in the upper abdomen, yellow skin and eyes, and weight loss — don't typically occur until the disease is advanced.

  There are no effective screening tests for pancreatic cancer. If you or your family has a significant history of pancreatic or other cancer, discuss with your doctor whether you should be undergoing any genetic testing or routine checkups.

• Pancreatic cancer tends to spread quickly. The pancreas lies at the junction of several very important structures in your abdomen, making it easy for the cancer to spread into these structures and other organs. Pancreatic cancer often spreads to nearby organs — including the liver, gallbladder and intestines — early in the course of the disease.
• Recurrence is likely. Even after surgical removal, pancreatic cancer often recurs.

Most people with pancreatic cancer undergo chemotherapy as part of their treatment. Several newer combination treatments show promise in increasing the response rate to pancreatic cancer treatment.

Most health care organizations recommend women begin regular Pap testing at age 21. If you're a virgin — meaning you haven't had sexual (vaginal) intercourse — you may have a low risk of cervical cancer, but you can still consider testing.

The purpose of a Pap smear is to collect cells from your cervix, which is the lower end of your uterus. The cells collected in a Pap smear can detect if you have cervical cancer or suspicious cells that indicate you may develop cervical cancer.

In most cases, cervical cancer is caused by a sexually transmitted infection called human papillomavirus (HPV). If you've never had any type of sexual intercourse, you're unlikely to have HPV. However, there are other risk factors for developing cervical cancer, such as family history and smoking, so talk to your doctor if you have concerns.

For effective cervical cancer screening, many organizations recommend an initial Pap smear at age 21. Discuss when to begin cervical cancer screening with your doctor. Together you can decide what's best for your particular situation.