If you’re a woman who gets a regular menstrual period, chances are you’ve had one or more ovarian cysts. Filled with fluid or semisolid material, these small sacs form on or inside the ovaries — most commonly as a result of monthly ovulation.
In many cases, women aren’t aware that they have an ovarian cyst when one develops. Most are harmless (benign), don’t cause symptoms, and shrink away gradually on their own.
But sometimes, they burst instead.
In this month’s blog, board-certified OB/GYN A. Micheal Coppa, MD, discusses ovarian cyst rupture, including why it may happen, possible complications, and signs that it warrants prompt medical care.
Ovarian cysts fall into two general categories:
The most common ovarian cysts are physiologic or “functional” cysts, which form as a result of ovulation. They aren’t disease-related; they’re an indicator of normal ovarian function.
Each month, a follicle cyst grows on the outer surface of one of your ovaries. The follicle contains a developing egg, which it releases once the egg is ready during ovulation.
Follicular cysts form when the follicle doesn’t release a mature egg but fills with fluid instead. Corpus luteum cysts develop after the release of a mature egg, when the follicle seals and fills up with fluid — often lasting until your next period.
Pathologic ovarian cysts are less common. They don’t form in response to ovulation, but they aren’t necessarily a sign of disease, either. They include:
Dr. Coppa may recommend monitoring pathologic ovarian cysts to ensure that they don’t cause complications.
Every month during ovulation, a follicle that releases a mature egg as intended does so by bursting open. When it happens, you may feel mild pelvic pain for a short period — or nothing at all.
Normal functional ovarian cysts typically resolve on their own without incident, shrinking away within a few weeks as your body reabsorbs the fluid. Even so, larger functional cysts as well as abnormal pathologic cysts are more vulnerable to rupture.
While the cause of many cyst ruptures remains unclear, experts do know that these sacs can be destabilized by normal menstrual cycle hormonal fluctuations as well as increased physical pressure. Ovarian cysts may burst because of:
Strenuous exercise, sports, heavy lifting, and sudden, intense movements can put direct physical pressure on an ovarian cyst that makes it burst.
An ovarian cyst may rupture under the physical pressure and movement of sex.
An external blow or injury to the pelvic region or abdominal area can cause an ovarian cyst to suddenly break open.
Sometimes, an ovarian cyst may burst during a routine pelvic exam.
A larger ovarian cyst is more likely to rupture than a smaller one. As a cyst grows and fills with more fluid, its walls become thinner and more susceptible to popping — much like an overfilled water balloon.
Infertility medications to induce ovulation can increase the risk of ovarian cyst rupture.
In rare cases, taking blood-thinning medications can increase the risk of an ovarian cyst bleeding into itself and subsequently rupturing.
Most ruptured cysts are harmless, requiring nothing more than over-the-counter pain relievers to ease any pelvic pain you may experience in the aftermath. Your body takes care of the cleanup, absorbing the fluid or tissue that leaks out of the burst cyst — sometimes within 24 hours but generally over the course of days or weeks.
If you experience severe, sudden pain on one or both sides of your pelvis — especially if the pain is accompanied by fever (an indication of infection), vomiting, or heavy bleeding — seek immediate medical care at your nearest emergency department to rule out dangerous complications like internal bleeding or ovarian torsion.
Ovarian torsion happens when a larger cyst causes the ovary to twist, cutting off its blood supply, requiring surgical treatment.
Whether you have unexplained pelvic pain or a diagnosed ovarian cyst that requires routine monitoring, Dr. Coppa and our team are here to help at our offices in Cranston, Smithfield, or Providence, Rhode Island. Call or click online to schedule an appointment today.
