When you are first diagnosed with an ovarian cyst, you may wonder what will happen. For most women, the cyst will clear up without any problems. However, there are two complications of ovarian cysts that you need to be aware of. These are a ruptured ovarian cyst, and ovarian torsion.
Ruptured Cyst Symptoms
A ruptured ovarian cyst occurs when the cyst grows too large. An ovarian cyst is usually a membrane filled with a clear liquid, kind of like a bubble. When the cyst grows, it stretches the membrane. If it keeps growing, eventually the membrane can not hold everything in, and so it ruptures. This then releases the liquid inside.
When the cyst ruptures, you will first feel a sharp, intense pain. It will be extremely intense. You likely will not be able to talk or move. Usually, this subsides in a few minutes and is followed by a burning. This is caused by the liquid irritating the surrounding area.
In some cases, you may also start bleeding. This is especially true if you had an endometrial cyst. This will be like a period, only generally in the middle of your cycle.
If the ruptured cyst goes untreated, the biggest risk of infection. If this sets in, you'll have a fever,chills,and sometimes even symptoms of shock. This is why it important to seek medical treatment as soon as you suspect you have a ruptured cyst.
Ovarian Torsion
With ovarian torsion the cyst grows large enough to cause the ovary to twist downwards. This cuts off the blood supply, which will cause intense pain. If it's not treated right away, the ovary could die and cause further complications.
When to Seek Medical Attention
A good rule of thumb is to contact your doctor any time your pain increases drastically. While some women will experience constant pain with a large ovarian cyst, if it ruptures or twists, the pain will get much worse. It's best to call your doctor right away to rule out a problem then wait and see if it goes away, because you could get a much worse complication.
Generally, the treatment for a ruptured cyst is to start on antibiotics right away and stay in the hospital overnight to be observed to make sure you don't have internal bleeding. Most women do not, but if you do, you may need surgery to fix it. Ovarian torsion will require surgery to fix.
