Ruptured ovarian cyst – how to spot it?

Ruptured ovarian cyst,  when described, simply is similar to a bursting water balloon. But it’s not a joke as a ruptured ovarian cyst causes pain. Aside from the pain, it also causes women to be alarmed because of the leakage or outflow of a large amount of fluid.  The pain that is usually located in one side of the pelvis is caused by a fluid filled sac that became bigger and bigger as more fluid gets deposited in it. Let’s try to explore how it all starts.

Ruptured ovarian cysts all start with the development of a cyst which is a small sac filled with fluid. This sac developed in the ovary can be as small as a pea or can be as big as an orange. The formation of the cyst is due to the failure of the ovary to release an egg in the course of a woman’s monthly cycle. During ovulation when the egg is not released, the sac known as the ovarian follicle is filled with a large amount of fluid. This, eventually gets larger and larger until it becomes a large cyst.

An  ovarian cyst is generally harmless but there are also some that are cancerous. Some women may not even be aware that they have developed ovarian cysts. This is because it will not cause discomfort, pain or any symptom indicating its presence – except of course when a ruptured ovarian cyst spills its fluids into the abdomen. Most of the time, ovarian cysts would even get cleared out in a single or sometimes two menstrual cycles. However, when the cyst gets too large, its walls start to weaken. This is the reason for the leaking out of the fluid called a ruptured ovarian cyst. The leaking fluid often irritates the pelvic lining which in turn causes severe pain. The ruptured ovarian cyst pain however can subside within the next few days.

Ruptured ovarian cyst symptoms  are quite similar to having a regular ovarian cyst. In both cases, the common denominator is pain. When you have an ovarian cyst, you will notice or feel a constant and dull pelvic pain. There is also the possibility of pain after sexual intercourse or when performing daily activities such as bending, reaching or lifting. You may also feel pain when passing bowel movement. Sports and physical activities can also induce pain.

On the other hand, symptoms of ovarian cyst rupture are often associated with menstrual cycle. To be specific, the pain of a ruptured ovarian cyst is felt before and right after menstruation. On both cases, whether the ovarian cyst is ruptured or intact, you may experience irregularity on your menstrual cycle. It is also possible that your menstrual cycle will either be shorter or longer than usual.

Ruptured ovarian cysts symptoms  also include bleeding that is heavier than usual. Spotting also randomly happens throughout the menstrual cycle.  This is the condition when there  is a small bleed or discharge, even if it is not yet your menstrual period. For some women, they experience amenorrhea with ovarian cyst rupture. This is the condition where the menstrual period stops altogether.

The treatment of ovarian cysts rupture would vary depending on how severe the condition is. Just in case the ovarian cyst happens to be larger than 5-6 cm and comes with too much pain, laparoscopy may be recommended to remove the cyst.  However, some doctors would just give pain relievers but under close observation. If the pain fails to improve after several hours or if there is a drop in blood count, then laparoscopy will be performed. This is to make sure that internal bleeding does not happen. In some cases, this condition can be easily fixed by taking birth control pills. But keep in mind that it is always best to consult a gynecologist when you suspect you have a ruptured ovarian cyst.