Health Snapshot: Ovarian Cysts
If you’ve been diagnosed with ovarian cysts, you’re in good company. Ovarian cysts are common from puberty to menopause and especially during a woman’s childbearing years.
Here are five important facts you should know about ovarian cysts.
Cysts that form during your menstrual cycle are very common and called functional ovarian cysts. They are not the same as ovarian tumors (including ovarian cancer) or cysts caused by hormone-related conditions (polycystic ovary disease).
These common ovarian cysts are fluid-filled sacs that form on or inside an ovary. During the days before ovulation, a sac will grow and hold a maturing egg. Once the sac breaks open and releases the egg, it then goes away. But if the sac fails to break open and the egg is not released, or if fluid remains in the sac, then a cyst is formed.
The vast majority of ovarian cysts are harmless and go away on their own. Most cysts require no treatment and will go away after one or two periods. Once doctors identify functional ovarian cysts, they typically take a wait-and-see approach to treatment. They’ll monitor the situation then prescribe medication if the problem worsens. In the meantime, the pain can be relieved with the use of a heating pad or by taking a warm bath to relax tense muscles.
Many cysts have no symptoms and cause little if any discomfort. Other cysts can swell, twist, rupture or bleed and become large and painful. They can cause pressure and pain in the lower abdomen; pain during your period or during sex; abnormal bleeding; bleeding when you are not on your period; and delays to the start of your period. The larger the cyst, the greater the symptoms can become.
It’s not your fault if you get ovarian cysts. As long as you’re ovulating, you can potentially develop cysts. For women who are prone to cysts, birth control pills may help reduce the number of cysts from forming.
If you experience painful menstrual symptoms related to ovarian cysts, talk to your healthcare provider. If you have sudden and severe pelvic pain, accompanied by nausea and vomiting, it may be a sign of a ruptured cyst. Contact your doctor immediately.
What others are saying
-
Brenda, 12/16/2009 3:19:40 AM
I can say from experience when I was just 16 years old i had to have surgery to remove an ovarian cyst.If you have one that is big enough to need surgery you will know just from the pain that it causes.i had to sit up in bed for a whole night because i hurt too bad to lie down and even then it was a lot of pain.only after a night of sitting in bed trying to sleep did my mother decide to take me to the doctor only to be trying to get to the hospital thereafter.i was poked and prodded by at least 3 different doctors, that i remember.they had never seen/felt an ovarian cyst that big before.after all was said and done and surgery was over i found out that the cyst was the size of a baseball that would have kept growing and possibly ruptured if we hadn't found it sooner than we did !!!! I NEVER want another cyst in my life time again!!at least that big!! -
michelle, 12/16/2009 6:43:37 AM
Several years ago I had a tiny chat inside my ovary that caused pain in my stomach for months and was so bad I could not walk at times. One day my stomach swelled up and I was throwing up and had diarhea so I went to the hospital. They thought it was gas. Turns put it finally ruptured which is why I was so sick. -
Darlene, 12/16/2009 7:51:41 AM
I found this to be a really great article. It gave me information that I didn't know. Quite benificial and helpful. Thank you. -
Linda, 12/16/2009 8:28:28 AM
Interesting only I was diagnosed with one and I have been in menopause for 13 years. I do have those symptoms though and it was confirmed by ultrasound. I guess you can get ovarian cysts at any age which may be of interest to women my age. -
Carla, 12/16/2009 8:33:19 AM
Ovarian cysts in women is called also PCOS....Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome....
I have that which causes many other symptoms of other diagnoses...you can further research by looking online to read about PCOS... -
Deb, 12/16/2009 8:58:52 AM
In March my 12 year old daughter had 4 ovarian cysts on one side. We did not know this... she had a great deal of pain, could hardly walk. At the hospital they did a CAT scan, assumed it was appendix and went to surgery. There they found internal bleeding and an ovary the size of a softball. Her ovary twisted from the ruptures and twisted around her fallopian tube. They had to remove the ovary and tube on her right side. She had a 6 month ultrasound with no cysts on the other side, thank God.
Oh, and she has not yet had her period. I never knew this could occur before the onset of cycles. -
Sue, 12/16/2009 10:03:55 AM
One night I felt a little pop in the right side of my lower abdomon. The next morning I woke up. I couldn't get out of bed. The pain from my right side of my hip went up to my shoulder joint. I called the chiropractor thinking something was pulled as I was moving things the day before. I could hardly make it to the bathroom, passed out there. went to get my adjustment. But he couldn't touch me without me crying. Had a hard time lying on the table too. Finally went to the Doctors office. Kept passing out on the table. Finally went to the hospital and found my abdomon filled with blood from the rupture. But that wasnt' until a few hours passed and technology wasn't like it is today. It's an experience I'll never forget. If the pain is bad, go to your Doctor to get checked. -
Chandra, 12/16/2009 11:02:53 AM
I definitely know how these feel. I went to the emergency room 3 different times in a year because I did not know what was wrong. I could barely walk, had diarhea, felt like throwing up and sweating. They hurt so bad I would shake from the pain. I did have to have the surgery because I had 3 that needed to be removed. The unfortunate thing was each time I went to the emergency room they couldn't find anything. I found out later on from my gyno is that they would get so big and rupture which would cause me intense and horrible pain. I was told by my gyno I might continue to have this problem until I have my first child. Has anyone else's doctor to you this? -
Kristin, 12/16/2009 11:14:15 AM
When I was 21 or 22, I had an ovarian cyst. The pain was overwhelming and came in waves. It was so bad that I thought it was an appendix attack. My mother did not know either so she took me to the emergency room. This article is very helpful. I hope other girls and women read this as well just in case they happen to have a cyst. -
AJ, 12/16/2009 11:23:39 AM
I had a cyst rupture too (and had no clue I had them before that point). I vomited for well over a day--I couldn't even drink water without vomiting. I went to the hospital partway through that time, but it took me a while to even get looked at.... ^^; (Like 6 hours!) They thought it was my appendix and finally got me in for emergency surgery. Only after I woke up did they tell me it was an ovarian cyst that had ruptured.
That was not fun. (Of course, the slow hospital didn't help any.) -
Angela, 12/16/2009 11:38:59 AM
This is very interesting, and gives me something to bring up with my doctor the next time I see her. I think I may have one or a cyst of some sort in my abdomen, due to problems with urination and constipation. Thanks! -
rosemarie, 12/16/2009 12:25:12 PM
im glad that read your info i im going through menupose and info explain alot to me ty so that i made a doc appointment -
Patti, 12/16/2009 12:49:40 PM
My boss called 911 when I became suddenly very sick at work. An ultrasound revealed that it was a cyst that had ruptured, and yes, they are excrutiatingly painful. It's nice to see information about this problem. I didn't know what it was until it happened to me. -
Amanda, 12/16/2009 2:00:50 PM
I found this information very, very helpful. In May of this year I went for a regular checkup and was told that I have ovarian cists......That was it. "Have a good day....See ya later" No more info. So I made a second appointment. This time I was told "Yeah it's normal." The End. I wasn't given any of the information given in this article. Thank you Kotex for this information. Now I know what signs to look for and when to worry. (Which thankfully is not right now) Have a great day, ladies. Thank you again for this article. -
Darlene, 12/16/2009 2:06:29 PM
Helpful, very Helpful -
rekia, 12/16/2009 2:08:27 PM
thanks for the article. i have 2 of my friends that had to have surgery due to ovarian cyst, it appears it is becoming more common in our generation of 18 to 25 year old. i was thinking diet, environmental and other lifestyle habits could play into it, but as the article states it is hard to determine how to prevent an ovarian cyst. i gald for those who survived the surgery. -
E.G, 12/16/2009 4:43:55 PM
Today I was told I have a cyst it's small and was told it was okay unless I feel pain which I don't. Do you only feel pain when it's big or has ruptured? Thanks for this article it gave me some important info. on something I just found out today. -
kathy, 12/16/2009 6:53:41 PM
I would like to know the difference between a cyst and polup. My doctor said I have a polup that needs emoved -
Valena, 12/16/2009 9:18:35 PM
Thank you for sharing your stories...I too suffer periodicaly with cysts...however I dont think they have been as large as some of the examples some of you gave (baseball) I have had unexplained pain for the last twelve years...Im 39....it comes and goes...it does hurt more if my intestines are full....when they rupture the discharge is slimmy...sorry to be grafic...has anyone else had that happen? Sometimes it hurts so bad I cant move...Ive never been sick like others...I do belive I have a high tolerance for pain...so I stopped going to the doctor...and I take a 800 motrin...I think it came from my tubligation after my third child 15 years ago...what do you think? -
Kathryn, 12/16/2009 11:26:42 PM
I have had ovarian cysts ever since I'd lost a pregnancy (I was 28), my body was confused and when I became pregnant with my son (he's 8 now), I was told that during the C-Section, they found several craters on my right ovary from where cysts had ruptured. In 2006, I had 3 cysts rupture within a 2 week period. The doctor did a LOT of tests and discovered there were two other smaller cysts that were inverted (they were in the process of being reabsorbed by my ovary). I needed a hysterectomy to kind of reset my "inside clock". I still have both of my ovaries - my OB didn't want me to be thrown into menopause before I was 40. By the way, when some cysts rupture, the pain can be right up there with a kidney stone. -
Susan, 12/16/2009 11:41:36 PM
I was told I have an ovarian cyst, but it's a dermoid cyst, which contains hair and teeth (!). I was going to get it removed but chickened out; that was maybe 10 years ago; it was the size of a baseball. I get some pain in that area every once in a while. Will it just keep growing or will it rupture like a regular ovarian cyst? -
Megan, 12/17/2009 10:53:37 AM
I have had ovarian cysts for 14 years. The last was 5 cenimeters. My gyno said I would have to have surgery and would loose my ovary. I had another internal ultrasound and they said it looked like I had ovarian cancer. I went to the cancer hospital 3 times and they did another ultrasound and the cyst had ruptured. SO it was gone and it was not cancer because it ruptured. I just want to say that I am glad that I got the second opinion because if I had not I would have been out of work for 5 weeks after surgery. Also I do know when it ruptured because I was very sick all of a sudden. The doctor said that I would not have known when it ruptured but she was wrong. I was sick for 2 days. GET A SECOND OPINION! -
Merry, 12/18/2009 3:09:08 AM
My daughteer has had diarhea for along time 2 or 3 years, Her Doctor told her to use anti-diarhea med from over the counter. But now she be told she has ovarian cysts, (very painful), So can diarhea be a sign of cysts? She has alway's suffered so much pain with her monthly periods. So, she's most likely had these cysts since before she started her period. -
Irma, 12/18/2009 9:46:10 AM
When I was eight months pregnant with my youngest child I got a pain on my right side, I thought I was in labor. Come to find out, it was a cyst on my right ovary. The pain was worse then labor pain, it did not subside it was a constant, excruciating pain. I was sent home and was told that I would have a c-section should I go into labor or if the pain returned. The pain returned three weeks later and a c-section was done and my ovary was removed, it was the size of an adult kidney. -
CLEONA, 12/18/2009 4:37:53 PM
I am so grateful for this infromation. The pain that I have been experiencing for too many years for my Dr. to tell me that "nothing" is wrong. During the times of my cycle I literally cannot walk, my veins are horriblely swollen, back and thigh pains,. It's almost to the point where i cannot walk, talk, sleep or eat, working is a chore and a physical and mental battle. The information I feef has saved my life, I DREAD my cycle coming now it is robbing me of my life, taking too much energy. -
CLEONA, 12/18/2009 4:37:59 PM
I am so grateful for this infromation. The pain that I have been experiencing for too many years for my Dr. to tell me that "nothing" is wrong. During the times of my cycle I literally cannot walk, my veins are horriblely swollen, back and thigh pains,. It's almost to the point where i cannot walk, talk, sleep or eat, working is a chore and a physical and mental battle. The information I feef has saved my life, I DREAD my cycle coming now it is robbing me of my life, taking too much energy. -
lynn, 12/18/2009 8:50:25 PM
I had no clue, never had heard of them until, april of this year. I went to lay down and it was like being punched in my stomach. I layed for hours in bed hurting , pain meds didnt touch it. Finally my boyfriend loaded me in the car and drove me to the hospital. After screaming, crying for hours they told me what it was. I could hear the blood from the ruptured cyst in my stomach and it still gives me the shudders. The pain was all the way up to my neck. I feel for anyone in that amount of pain. -
carol, 12/19/2009 8:11:21 AM
would these cysts cause your period to stop i found out several months ago i had a cysts on my left ovary but had terrible pain on my right side i wound up in the ER and they could not find out what was wrong until a sonagram was done and we are just keeping an eye on it for now -
Sylvia, 12/19/2009 8:34:58 AM
When i was 13 i had to have an ovarian cyst removed that was the size of a softball. i was in school at lunch and my princole had to remove me to the nurses office.The nurse called my mom and my mom rushed my to the hospital and my gyno rushed me into emerency surgery. They removed my left falopian tube but left the ovary there. When i was 16 i was diagnosed whith a cyst on my right ovary and i have been in birthcontrol for 2 years. I am now 18 and i will have a check up soon so hopefully i will be told that everything is okay again althought the cyst will still be present. -
Steph, 1/4/2010 8:25:47 AM
I have had issues with ovarian cysts since I was approx 20 (that I know of anyway). Went for nearly a year without having a period and then all of a sudden it started and barely stopped for over a year. I couldn't handle the weeks or even months with it and days without it or especially the random and sometimes nearly agonizing pain. I kept mentioning the pain and issues with bleeding every time I saw my doctor and though she kept saying nothing was wrong and I had finally had enough and told her that to me, these things signaled to me that SOMETHING was wrong and I wanted to see a gyno. After the first couple times going to see the gyno, the doctor told me it was ovarian cysts, the main issue being PCOS, explained it extremely well to me and gave me prescription that seems to work fairly well for me and although I do still have the pain sometimes as well as the irregular cycles, I now know what is causing it and that helps me not worry. I am thankful to have found a gyno who was knowledgeable and cared enough to figure out what was wrong. ** Pain signals something wrong and second opinions can never hurt ** -
Tracy, 1/4/2010 11:54:02 AM
I am 39 years old and have been dealing with ovarian cysts for a year and a half now. I was feeling rotten for 2 weeks, diarehha, pressure on my lower back and no appetite, I thought it was the flu. Then I got this dull ache going down my inner right thigh that just drove me nuts so I went to the doc. After many tests she decided to send me for an ultrasound and there it was discovered I had an ovarian cyst on both ovaries, one was 4cm and the other 2cm. I have had the excutiating pain twice since then where it feels like someone is ripping your stomach apart or severe labour pain with no break, I get very dizzy, go into a cold sweat and shake horribly. I have given birth to 3 children with no drugs so I feel my pain tolerance is quite high. There is nothing like this pain! I take 2 extra strength tylenol and wrap up in a blanket with a heating pad on my abdomen and try to relax. The heat is very soothing! This seems to work very well for me, within an hour the terrible pain is gone but I feel almost bruised for the next couple of days. I have been referred to a gyno and have ultrasounds every 3 months to watch them. They are still there after a year and half but have not grown so that is positive. They have been diagnosed as endometriomas, the gyno could remove them but they are quite small and if she takes too much of the ovary it would put me into early menopause. I have opted to leave them alone. I must add that my period has always been very regular and has not changed because of this, I can see how difficult this is to diagnose. -
Rhonda, 1/4/2010 9:49:50 PM
I have had this problem for several years. I can actually feel a 'ball' on my lower right side when it happens. Severe pain. Go to the hospital and always the same....can't find anything. My middle daughter started having the same problem a couple of years ago. They did the same thing to her. Took her to the hospital and couldn't 'find' anything. This sounds so common. Why don't doctors check for it or seem to know about it? -
Melinda, 1/5/2010 4:53:05 PM
My first encounter with ovarian cysts were when I was a young mother and went to the ER for persisitent abdominal pain on my left side. I was told I had an ovarian cysts 2 mm in size that would either dissolve on its own or they could put me on birth control to reduce the cysts. I begged them to just take it out but they refused because it was so small. I now have been on birth control pills for decades and my left ovary bothers me several times a month. If I eat too much food, hold in too much urine, wear pantyhose, or any tight clothing, or have any extra fluid in my abdomen put pressure on that left ovary I am in excruciating pain. But the doctors refuse to remove the cysts and my ovary. They just keep me on the pill and claim the cysts will come and go. I want them gone for good. I want to wear snug clothes once in awhile. I want to know what its like to fill full without my ovary hurting. I would like to enjoy activities without being interrupted to use the bathroom cause the slightest excess of urine puts pressure on my ovary. How do I get a doctor to agree to remove the ovary? And now I have no insurance even if a doctor were willing to remove the ovary. Which is the worse of two evils, being medicated for decades or removing a non-vital ovary? -
Grace, 2/2/2010 5:09:46 PM
I have suffered with PCOS & endometriosis for years. To correct someone above, ovarian cysts are NOT called PCOS. It is normal for women to have functional cysts (pt of menstrual cycle); it is not normal to have recurrent cysts, elevated serum testosterone and insulin resistance (which creates the other 2 somehow). In order to know if you have PCOS or another reproductive disorder g/t a reproductive endocrinologist and have your hormones etc checked out. Sounds like some of you might have more than one condition. I did, and having them both diagnosed & therefore correctly treated made all the difference. Am on medroxyprogesterone tabs 10 mg/2x day. Stops ovaries from cycling = no cysts; reduces estrogen, stops periods=controls endometriosis. Hope this helps. (Oh, and don't let anyone tell you Lupron is the only answer for endo. They are getting $ from the drug company as opposed to progesterone which is cheap).
Share your thoughts
Thank you! Your comment will be reviewed and, if approved, posted to the site. Please check back soon.
Rate this article