An ovarian cyst is a sac that forms on the ovary and swells up with fluid. If the cyst bleeds, it is called a hemorrhagic (say "heh-muh-RA-jick") ovarian cyst. If a hemorrhagic cyst breaks open, it can release blood and fluid into the lower belly and pelvis. You may not have symptoms from the cyst.
“Normal, physiologic cysts can grow, rupture and bleed every month, as part of your normal menstrual cycle,” says Cara King, DO, Director of Benign Gynecologic Surgery.
In some cases, a ruptured cyst can cause more severe symptoms. These can include severe pain in the lower belly and bleeding.
Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled sacs or pockets within or on the surface of an ovary. Hemorrhagic ovarian cysts develop during ovulation when an egg is released through an ovarian follicle on its surface, and that follicle bleeds into a cyst.
Most of the time, these cysts are benign. They do not mean a cancer diagnosis, and some may even resolve on their own. Others are linked to different conditions, such as PCOS. But there is a risk of ovarian cancer associated with these cysts.
Many women get one every month as a regular part of their menstrual cycle and never know they have a cyst. Although they are typically harmless, cysts need to be checked out if they begin causing severe pain or won't go away because there is a slim possibility that they may be a sign of ovarian cancer.
Symptoms you may experience if you have a ruptured ovarian cyst include: Sudden, sharp pain in the lower belly or back. Vaginal spotting or bleeding. Abdominal bloating.
Skin cysts do not usually hurt, but can become tender, sore and red if they become infected. Foul-smelling pus coming out of the cyst is another sign of infection.
The best test to determine whether a cyst or tumor is benign or malignant is a biopsy. This procedure involves removing a sample of the affected tissue — or, in some cases, the entire suspicious area — and studying it under a microscope.
After your cyst is removed, your doctor may give you an antibiotic ointment to prevent infection. You should use this until the healing process is complete. You may also be given a scar cream to reduce the appearance of any surgical scars.
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).
These are cysts that harbor cancer or have the potential to become cancer. They are characterized by cells that secrete mucinous material into the cyst.
Bumps that are cancerous are typically large, hard, painless to the touch and appear spontaneously. The mass will grow in size steadily over the weeks and months. Cancerous lumps that can be felt from the outside of your body can appear in the breast, testicle, or neck, but also in the arms and legs.
Most cysts grow slowly, and are not painful. However, they may become infected, in which case they turn red and start to hurt. The skin around them becomes swollen, and they may start to ooze foul-smelling pus.
A cyst will not heal until it is lanced and drained or surgically excised. Without treatment, cysts will eventually rupture and partially drain. It may take months (or years) for these to progress.
If a cyst has become infected, it may look red due to inflammation. Infected cysts can also have a whitish appearance due to the presence of pus. The pus may smell unpleasant. A person should see a doctor if they suspect any infections.
Never squeeze a cyst
While you may want to pop your cyst open, you should never do so by squeezing or picking at it. Most cysts are nearly impossible to squeeze out with your fingers alone. Plus, you can send bacteria and sebum deep below the hair follicles, causing the materials to spread and make even more cysts.
If the wound where your cyst was is left open, the area can take weeks or months to heal, and you may need to take two to four weeks off from work. If the treated area was stitched closed, you may only feel the need to take one to three days off from work.
Once the pus is drained, antibiotics may not be needed unless the infection has spread into the skin around the wound. The wound will take about 1 to 2 weeks to heal, depending on the size of the abscess.
Can cysts turn into cancer? Most cysts are benign, but some can also develop into cancer. “Depending on the cyst location and type, some can be precancerous and need to be followed or removed. It can be like a polyp in the colon, each type having varying risk of developing into cancer,” Dr.
Cysts can remain small for years or they can keep growing larger. Sometimes, as noted above, a sebaceous cyst can disappear on its own, but surgery is usually necessary to remove them.
Functional cysts normally shrink on their own over time, usually in about 1 to 3 months. If you have a functional cyst, your doctor may want to check you again in 1 to 3 months to check on the status of the cyst.
While most cysts are harmless, it's better to be safe than sorry. Cysts may be symptomatic of more severe medical conditions that can be deadly if left untreated. If you notice an abnormal growth beginning to develop underneath your skin, it's important that you don't dismiss it as harmless.
Infections, tumors, parasites, and injuries can cause cysts. They are usually noncancerous. If a person is worried about a cyst or has noticed a new lump, they should see a doctor for an accurate diagnosis and treatment, if necessary.
A cyst is a pocket-like area, within tissue, that is not normally there. It can be filled with fluid, blood, tissue, hair, bone, a foreign body, etc. If it is filled with pus, it becomes an abscess. Cysts can occur anywhere on or in your body. Cysts that are often treated in outpatient clinics are “on” your body.