The most common signs and symptoms of ovarian cysts include: Pain, such as dull pelvic or abdominal pain, or sharp pain during activity. Bloating, or a feeling of fullness or heaviness in the abdomen. Nausea and vomiting, similar to morning sickness.
Pain with intercourse or pelvic pain during movement. Pelvic pain -- constant, dull aching. Sudden and severe pelvic pain, often with nausea and vomiting (may be a sign of torsion or twisting of the ovary on its blood supply, or rupture of a cyst with internal bleeding)
Ovarian cysts sometimes cause you to feel bloated or swollen in your lower abdomen, especially on the side where you have the cyst. You might also experience a feeling of pressure or heaviness in the swollen area.
Although most ovarian cysts go away on their own, you should see your doctor immediately if you experience these symptoms: Feeling faint, dizzy, or weak. Fast breathing.
If an infected cyst ruptures, it can trigger sepsis, a life-threatening immune response to harmful bacteria. Women with infected cysts are treated with antibiotics and sometimes require hospitalization for surgical drainage of the cyst.
If you have pelvic pain with fever, nausea, and vomiting, it could be a sign you have an infection associated with the cyst. An infection deserves immediate medical attention. Cysts can also rupture or twist — a condition called torsion.
Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled structures that may be simple or complex. They are common findings usually discovered incidentally on physical examination or imaging. Ovarian cysts can cause complications, including rupture, hemorrhage, and torsion, which are considered gynecological emergencies.
Weakness and dizziness
Some women with an ovarian cyst feel lightheaded and dizzy. This usually occurs when the cyst has ruptured or become twisted, and your body reacts to the pain.
Avoid vigorous activity. If you have a large cyst, the health care provider might ask you to avoid vigorous activity until the cyst grows smaller and goes away. Extreme activity might cause ovarian torsion. Birth control (BC) pills may be ordered to stop ovulation.
Some cysts are cancerous and early treatment is vital. If left untreated, benign cysts can cause serious complications including: Infection – the cyst fills with bacteria and pus, and becomes an abscess. If the abscess bursts inside the body, there is a risk of blood poisoning (septicaemia).
Symptoms of Ovarian Cysts
This fluid can irritate the lining of the abdomen and cause pain. The pain may be on one or both sides of the lower abdomen. Also, large cysts may cause a sensation of pressure in the abdomen. Cysts can also cause urinary or bowel problems if they press on the bladder or bowel.
A cyst on your ovary can be found during a pelvic exam or on an imaging test, such as a pelvic ultrasound. Depending on the size of the cyst and whether it's filled with fluid or solid, your health care provider likely will recommend tests to determine its type and whether you need treatment.
If you have an ovarian cyst, you can usually just wait for it to go away on its own in a few months. But sometimes cysts can break open. This is called a rupture. This can cause a lot of pain and heavy bleeding.
In most cases, ovarian cysts disappear in a few months without the need for treatment. Whether treatment is needed will depend on: its size and appearance. whether you have any symptoms.
So, as soon as you notice the discomfort linked to ovarian cyst pain, take an over-the-counter pain reliever such as naproxen, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen. These medications do not provide long-term relief but are a good option to eliminate ovarian cyst pain temporarily.
Which foods can make your ovarian cyst worse? Meat and food products that contain saturated fats are known to trigger the symptoms of ovarian cysts.
While most ovarian cysts don't need treatment, we may monitor your cyst and perform an ultrasound to determine whether you need surgery. We may recommend surgical removal if a cyst: grows bigger than 10 centimeters. ruptures and continues to bleed (though this is rare).
Most patients can go home the same day. In some cases, an overnight stay may be required. Expect some soreness around the surgical site during the first 24 to 48 hours following surgery. Walking is encouraged, based on your energy level.
Complications of Ovarian Cysts
Sudden and severe pelvic or abdominal pain; fever and chills; vomiting; or weakness, dizziness, and rapid breathing all signal a twisted or ruptured ovarian cyst.
Clues that make us more suspicious of this mass would be that it appears more complex in the ultrasound image, there are areas that have solid appearance and there is increased blood supply flowing to it.
Mood swings: Because of the hormonal imbalance, women with PCOS also have a higher risk for depression, anxiety and extreme or rapid changes in mood.
Women with PCOS are more likely to develop certain serious health problems. These include type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, problems with the heart and blood vessels, and uterine cancer. Women with PCOS often have problems with their ability to get pregnant (fertility).
Most ovarian cysts are only 1 to 3 centimeters in size and go away on their own within a few months. They only rarely grow large enough to cause severe symptoms. In very rare cases they grow as big as 15 to 30 centimeters. Complications are also rare.
Large cysts (>5 to 10 cm) are more likely to require surgical removal compared with smaller cysts. However, a large size does not predict whether a cyst is cancerous. If the cyst appears suspicious for cancer (based on tests) or if you have risk factors for ovarian cancer.