Most ovarian cysts cause no symptoms and go away on their own. But a large ovarian cyst can cause: Pelvic pain that may come and go. You may feel a dull ache or a sharp pain in the area below your bellybutton toward one side.
Symptoms of ovarian cysts
Sensations of heaviness or fullness in the abdomen. Pelvic pain that may radiate to the lower back and thighs.
Most ovarian cysts are small and don't cause symptoms. If a cyst does cause symptoms, you may have pressure, bloating, swelling, or pain in the lower abdomen on the side of the cyst. This pain may be sharp or dull and may come and go. If a cyst ruptures, it can cause sudden, severe pain.
Ovarian Cysts and Ovarian Cancer Can Cause Similar Symptoms
Common symptoms of ovarian cysts and symptoms of ovarian cancer can be similar. Both can include abdominal pain, bloating, pain with intercourse, menstrual irregularities and, more rarely, frequent urination.
The pain from ovarian cysts may feel sharp or dull. You may feel pain for extended periods of time, or it may come and go. Ovarian cyst-related pain tends to be worse during your menstrual period.
You might experience pain in your pelvic area or lower abdomen if you have an ovarian cyst. The pain can be dull, intermittent, or more frequent and persistent.
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.
Your pain should go away in a few days. Let your provider know right away if you your pain gets worse, if you feel dizzy, or have new symptoms. Follow up with your provider if you need imaging or blood tests. If you have a complex ruptured ovarian cyst, you may need to stay in the hospital for 1 or more days.
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.
That's why we often refer to physiologic (functional) ovarian cysts that occur prior to ovulation as “ovulation cysts”. These cysts can be painful as many women experience some pain as these cysts are enlarging and getting ready to “pop” (ovulate). After ovulation, something miraculous happens.
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.
Pain from ovarian cysts tends to be more acute, the 'wake you in the middle of the night' kind of pain.”
A ruptured ovarian cyst may trigger sudden pain or discomfort in your low back or belly, especially on the side where the cyst burst. The pain may be sharp or feel like a continuous dull pressure, and the severity can vary significantly based on many factors, including the size of the cyst.
Abdominal discomfort: It could feel like acid reflux, a constant pain or a dull ache. This could also feel like pelvic pressure, which causes more-frequent urination. Feeling of fullness: You can't eat as much anymore, but your clothes still feel tight and you're gaining weight.
Ovarian cysts are quite common, and the symptoms can be similar to those of ovarian cancer. While pain is a common symptom of a woman's period, it may seem uncommon if you're having persistent pelvic pain. It might come every month for a few months, then stop.
Call the doctor right away if you have sudden, severe pain with dizziness, a fever or nausea and vomiting. The cyst may have burst (ruptured) or might be twisting your ovary (torsion). Without medical care, you may have heavy bleeding or infection.
This is the most common kind of cyst, occurring as part of the normal menstrual cycle due to ovulation, says Dr. Kho. Occasionally, a functional cyst may fill up with blood, making it swell and cause pain, but they're normally painless and generally go away on their own over the course of a few weeks.
Large or persistent ovarian cysts, or cysts that are causing symptoms, usually need to be surgically removed. Surgery is also normally recommended if there are concerns that the cyst could be cancerous or could become cancerous. There are 2 types of surgery used to remove ovarian cysts: a laparoscopy.
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).
Pathological cysts are caused by abnormal cell growth and are not related to the menstrual cycle. They can develop before and after the menopause. Pathological cysts develop from either the cells used to create eggs or the cells that cover the outer part of the ovary.
Functional ovarian cysts often do not need treatment. They often go away on their own within 8 to 12 weeks.
When fluid collects on or within an ovary, it can form a cyst and if a cyst becomes large or it ruptures that can be painful. “It may get worse when you lay flat,” says Sherry Ross, M.D., an obstetrician/gynecologist and author of She-ology.
Most commonly, ovarian cysts can cause abdominal pain and bloating. “Benign cysts usually present as dull ache either side of the lower abdomen,” says Khan. “Sometimes, women may have irregular periods or irregular vaginal bleeding.
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.