Complex ovarian cysts are relatively rare.  What makes these cysts different from most ovarian cysts is a complex ovarian cyst is usually a solid tumor.  As it grows, it can produce symptoms that could worsen and produce serious complications the longer it’s ignored or untreated.

Symptoms of Ovarian Cyst Complex

The symptoms of complex cyst of the ovary can vary from person to person.  However, certain symptoms do manifest in most women who suffer from this type of cyst.  These symptoms include:

• Abdominal and or pelvic pain.  The pain closely resembles the types of pain experienced by women who suffer from ectopic pregnancy or endometriosis.

• Menstrual irregularities like delayed periods, very light or very heavy menstrual bleeding.

• Pelvic pain that extends to the thighs and the buttocks.  Similar to the pain experienced by a person suffering from sciatica.

• Pelvic pain during intercourse, urinating, bowel movements, or other physical activities.

• Heaviness in the abdomen, nausea, or vomiting

• Sudden abdominal pains with no discernable triggers

What makes diagnosing complex ovarian cyst difficult is that its symptoms often resemble those of other reproductive diseases like endometriosis and ovarian cyst complication.  Looking at the symptoms is not enough to make an accurate diagnosis.  To get a definitive diagnosis of complex ovarian cysts, consult your doctor.  He or she will run the necessary diagnostic tests in order to determine whether or not you have this disease, and to accurately assess the extent and severity of the disease.

Types of Ovarian Cyst Complex

Treatment of complex cysts of the ovary can vary, depending on the type of cyst, the severity of the disease, and the physical condition of the patient.  For the most part, treatment would depend on the category of the complex ovarian cyst. Complex ovarian cysts can be grouped into 3 categories:

1. Dermoid Cysts:  Dermoid cysts are ovarian cysts that form germ cells or cells that eventually form into egg cells.  This type of cysts can be terrifying for patients because they often contain human parts like bone, teeth, cartilage, hair, nails, skin and etc. These cysts can cause severe pain especially when they are twisted and cause ovarian torsion. They are almost always benign because it contains mature tissue.  Dermoid cysts can become cancerous, but these cases are quite rare.
2. Endometrioma:  This type of complex ovarian cyst is formed from the endometrium, the tissue that lines the uterus.  When the endometrium spreads to the other parts of the womb, it can form painful cysts that bind to blood vessels.  When these cysts rupture or break away, they can cause severe pain and bleeding.
3. Cystadenomas:  Cystadenomas are complex ovarian cysts filled with mucus.  Cystadenomas often cause ovarian torsion because of their ability to grow rapidly.  Women suffering from cystademona often experience severe pain and discomfort.

Endometriosis is a disease wherein the endometrium or endometrial implants spread and grow outside of the uterus. These implants can grow and disrupt the blood flow to other organs like the fallopian tube or the ovaries. Endometriosis can also worsen and produce complications like endometriomas and ovarian torsion.

Endometrial implants are fast growing and fast spreading, which means that they can easily spread even after the uterus has been removed from the body. In fact, the symptoms that you may be experiencing, like pelvic pain and menstrual abnormalities, are more likely the result of endometrial implants invading the ovaries and the fallopian tube and not due to the endometrium growing inside the uterus.

Recurrence of endometriosis after hysterectomy is actually quite common. Around 10% of women who had a hysterectomy for endometriosis usually experience recurrence within one year of their surgery while 40% experience recurrence within 5 years.

Preventing Endometriosis After A Hysterectomy

There are several ways to prevent the recurrence of endometriosis after surgery. The first option is to talk with your doctor about the option of having hormone replacement therapy after the surgery. Studies have shown the hormone replacement therapy may help prevent or postpone recurrence of endometriosis. It can also help the patient deal with the early menopausal symptoms that are often associated with hysterectomies. However, there have been cases that hormone therapy might speed up recurrence instead of preventing it.

The other option is to have the ovaries removed in addition to having a hysterectomy. There’s a big chance that endometriosis can recur as long as the ovaries stay because they keep supplying the body with hormones that also encourage these cysts to grow. With the uterus and the ovaries gone, there’s no place of the endometrial implants to develop.

However, this type of procedure can cause abrupt premature menopause. Premature menopause can cause symptoms like hot flashes, headaches and anxiety. It can also increase a woman’s risk of developing heart disease and diabetes. That is why it’s extremely important to talk with your doctor on whether this type of solution would work for you.

Another way to prevent endometriosis recurrence after hysterectomy is to make some lifestyle changes. Studies have shown that certain lifestyle factors have a big effect in the development of endometriosis and the intensity of the symptoms. Stress and anxiety often can make endometriosis symptoms worse. An unhealthy diet, chemical exposure and lack of exercise have been linked to the increased rates of endometriosis development.

Proper stress management, getting enough sleep, quitting smoking, a healthy diet, and exercise are just a few ways that you can help prevent the recurrence of endometriosis after a hysterectomy. The results may not be immediate, but they can improve your health in the long term.

If hysterectomy is your only option in treating endometriosis, always remember that the risk of recurrence for this disease is pretty high. That’s why you should discuss with your doctor and develop a plan on what you should do if endometriosis returns after a hysterectomy. Preparing beforehand does not mean that you’re sure you will have endometriosis again. Preparation allows you to anticipate what would happen if recurrence does occur so you can be prepared to treat this disease quickly and effectively.

In order to understand how endometriomas form, we first have to look at what endometriosis is and how it develops. Endometriosis is a common chronic reproductive system disorder that affects around 10 to 15 percent of women worldwide. It is also the leading cause of pelvic pain among women.

Endometriosis happens when the endometrium, the lining of the uterus that eventually becomes the material that’s discharged during menstruation, spreads outside the uterus and lines other organs like the fallopian tubes or the pelvic canal.

The endometrium binds to the blood vessels of these structures. And when a woman menstruates, the endometrium breaks down to form part of the menstrual blood. The breaking down of the endometrium outside of the uterus is what causes the symptoms and discomfort associated with endometriosis.

Sometimes, not all of the endometrium goes out of the body as menstruation. Some parts stay behind and form cysts called endometriomas. The problem with endometriomas is that it can be a little tricky to diagnose. These symptoms are fairly similar to patients with acute pelvic inflammatory disease or appendicitis. That’s why an accurate diagnosis is important. In fact, the only way to diagnose them is through a series of diagnostic tests like ultrasound and laparoscopy in order to confirm their diagnosis.

Endometriomas are also called chocolate cysts because of how these tumors are formed. The endometrium is rich in blood, so as the cysts developed they become filled with chocolate colored, coagulated blood. When one of these cysts rupture, the woman would experience bleeding and see coagulated blood along with the discharge. The woman may also experience intense pelvic pain, increase in white blood cell count and low grade fever.

Ovarian torsion or twisted ovaries are commonly caused by endometriomas. The reason for this is because the ovaries are especially susceptible to endometriomas due to its position. The ovaries are adjacent with the tubes to the opening of the pelvic area which makes the ovaries more prone to contamination when the menstrual flow is discharged. The ovary’s high level of steroid hormones compared to other organs makes it an ideal environment for development of endometrial tissue.

Endometrioma can only be treated through surgery. The procedure usually involves puncturing the cyst to drain the fluid. Once the blood has been drained, the cyst can be removed surgically or with the use of a laser. Then all the affected blood vessels have to be cauterized to prevent internal bleeding.

Removal of endometriomas has to be done with care because any damage to the ovary can cause serious complications. Best case scenario, the injury on the ovaries may cause some temporary hormonal imbalances and cause mild symptoms like headaches and menstrual irregularities. Worst case scenario, the ovaries can be permanently damaged so the woman becomes infertile. For the best outcomes, endometriomas should be treated right away, as soon as they’re diagnosed, in order to get rid of the symptoms and preserve the woman’s fertility.

Intramural fibroid tumors are common tumors that are usually found in the uterus. These are non-cancerous tumors that can also grow on organs that contain smooth muscle cells like the intestines, but this happens rarely. An intramural fibroid grows inside the uterine wall causing the uterus to bulge and appear bigger.

Fibroid tumors are solid tumors which are made of fibrous tissue, hence the name ‘fibroid’ tumor. Fibroid tumors vary in size and number, most are slow -growing and usually don’t cause any symptoms. In fact, most women are not even aware that they have intramural fibroids until they’re diagnosed accidentally; usually through ultrasound for a different condition.

However, 25% of fibroid tumors do develop at a faster rate and will cause symptoms. Intramural fibroid symptoms usually include:

• Frequent urination. The tumor can exert pressure on the bladder, reducing its capacity.
• Difficulty urinating. The position of the tumor can block or interfere with urination.
• Feeling of fullness in the abdomen. The size and position of the intramural fibroid tumor can reduce stomach capacity.
• Constipation
• Pelvic and back pain. This can occur when the tumor causes nerve compression or muscle strain.
• Miscarriages and infertility issues. The tumors will make it difficult for the endometrium and fetus to develop in the womb.
• Severe menstrual bleeding, painful menstrual cycles. Intramural fibroids can interfere with the smooth muscle contraction involved in menstruation and cause pain.
• Bloated appearance that doesn’t reduce in size in spite of exercise and dieting

Left untreated, intramural fibroids can cause complications. They can grow rapidly to the point that it can block the supply of oxygen, blood, and nutrients to key organs like the kidney or liver which can result in organ failure.

Some studies show that women with intramural fibroids are less likely to conceive. Those who do get pregnant have a greater risk of miscarriage, premature deliveries and cesarean section.

Treatment for Intramural Fibroid

The only treatment available for intramural fibroids is surgery. This is why tumors that don’t cause any symptoms or infertility problems are usually left alone. If the tumors don’t cause any problems, going through surgery to remove them may do more harm than good.

But for intramural fibroids that do cause symptoms and produce problems, surgery is needed and it must be done as soon as possible.

There are three types of surgical procedure often used to treat intramural fibroid tumors. The type of technique used would depend on the severity of the condition, the doctor’s expertise, and the patient’s physical condition.

1. Abdominal myomectomy . Abdominal myomectory is an open abdominal surgery procedure that involves slicing open the uterus to get to the tumor. This is a major surgical procedure that would require general anesthesia and several weeks of recovery.

2. Uterine artery embolization. Uterine artery embolization is considered to be less invasive than abdominal myomectomy. It’s usually done in cases where the patient can’t have major surgery and there are only a few large tumors. This procedure kills the fibroids by injecting polyvinyl alcohol beads into the uterine artery with a catheter to prevent blood flow to the intramural fibroids. Once the fibroids lose their blood supply, they stop growing, die and are reabsorbed into the uterus.

3. Hysterectomy. Severe cases of intramural fibroids may require surgical removal of the uterus. Especially if the tumors have already caused significant damage to the uterus. Hysterectomy is also performed when the tumors have caused the blood vessels in the uterus to rupture, resulting in uncontrolled bleeding.

Endometriosis is a fairly common chronic disorder of the female reproductive organs.  It is also known as the leading cause of pelvic pain among women and can also lead to infertility.  It is a progressive disorder, meaning there are several endometriosis stages depending on its severity.

Studies show that 10 to 15 percent of women are affected by endometriosis.  Caucasian women are more likely to suffer from this condition than Asian or African American. Because this is a relatively common condition in women, there are plenty of treatment options readily available; ranging from standard medical treatment to alternative, natural options.

Endometriosis is very easy to treat, especially at its early stages.  However, most women ignore the symptoms or sometimes mistake the symptoms for something else.  As a result, women often get treated at later endometriosis stages, when the symptoms are severe and complications have occurred.

So how do the stages of endometriosis develop?  You first have to look at the cause of endometriosis, endometrial implants.  Endometrial implants are bits of blood and tissue that the body discharges during menstruation.  Ideally, these implants should only be found in the uterus.  They’re discharged whenever menstruation occurs or they develop into the placenta when a woman becomes pregnant.

Endometriosis happens when the endometrial implants develop outside the uterus, like the fallopian tubes or the pelvic lining.  Because of their nature, endometrial implants can grow, spread, and latch on to the local blood supply.

Fortunately, endometrial implants aren’t cancerous.  However, they can produce symptoms like severe pelvic pain, inflammation, and internal bleeding.  They also break apart and cause scarring and cysts.

Classification of Endometriosis Stages

There are various standards when it comes to classifying endometriosis stages.  But in general endometriosis is classified based on the severity of the disease itself.  The intensity of the symptoms does not necessarily correlate to the endometriosis stages.  However, the symptoms are accurate indicators in determining a woman’s chances of getting pregnant.

Doctors usually classify endometriosis into four stages:

• Stage 1(Minimal): characterized by isolated endometrial implants.
• Stage 2 (Mild):  consists of surface implants less than 5 cm in total without  any major adhesions
• Stage 3 (Moderate): several endometrial implants and lesion or adhesion around the fallopian tubes and ovaries may appear.
• Stage 4 (Severe): widespread implants on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, pelvic linings, many large ovarian endometriomas with thick adhesions.

This categorization is based on a complex point system.  The point system assesses location, number, depth and size of the implants.  The stages of endometriosis are not related to the intensity of the pain or chances of infertility.  So a woman with stage 1 endometriosis may experience severe pain, but mild endometriosis while a woman with stage 4 endometriosis may experience little or no pain, but have severe endometriosis.   These categories are based on the location, amount, depth, and size of the implants.

Endometriosis stages cannot be accurately diagnosed through symptoms or physical examination alone.  They are often mistakenly identified as other reproductive conditions such as ovarian tumors or infections.  The best way to diagnose endometriosis is through direct visual of the implants through laparoscopic surgery.  Laparoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive surgical technique in which a small scope is inserted into a small incision in the abdomen in order to assess the spread of endometrial implants.

Endometriosis is a benign disease, but the condition is progressive and the symptoms get worse with every menstrual cycle.  Because the implants are made of the same material that is discharged during menstruation, these implants also break up and find ways to be discharged out of the body.  Implants that discharge from unnatural locations are what cause endometriosis symptoms like internal bleeding, inflammation, chronic pelvic pain, and formation of cysts and scar tissue as a result.  In fact, nearly 9 out of 10 women that experience chronic pelvic pain are likely to have endometriosis.

Natural endometriosis treatment works best when diagnosed early.  Here are possible signs and symptoms you should look for if you suspect you have endometriosis.

• Painful menstrual periods. Pain in the pelvic area and cramping may begin even before the period and may last for several days after the onset of the monthly period.
• Chronic pain on the pelvic, lower abdomen, and lower back area. It is also known to cause sciatica or nerve pain in the legs.
• Abnormally heavy menstrual discharge during or in between periods.
• Intense sharp pain during intercourse, bowel movement, urination and/or ovulation.
• Constipation, indigestion, diarrhea, nausea, and/or vomiting
• Infertility. Endometriosis can trap the fertilized egg due to adhesions.
• Gastrointestinal symptoms
• Fatigue

When you experience one or more of this symptoms you should seek medical attention right away to get an accurate diagnosis. Once you are diagnosed, here are a few things you can do to help reduce the symptoms and treat endometriosis naturally:

• Avoid or reduce your intake of harmful chemicals.  Studies show that constant exposure to chemicals like dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) can contribute to the occurrence and severity of endometriosis.  Avoid using items that contain these chemicals like plastic food containers and plastic water bottles.  Another way to minimize your intake of harmful chemicals is to go for organic meat, dairy, and poultry when consuming meat.  Commercially grown and harvested animal fat, high fat dairy products, red meat, and fish have significant levels of dioxins and PCBs due to exposure to pesticides and chemicals.

• Eat foods rich in omega 3 fatty acids.  Omega 3 fatty acids have anti inflammatory properties that can slow the growth of endometrial tissue.  Omega 3 can be found in fishes like salmon, tuna, marlin, anchovies and sardines.  You can also get your omega 3 from fish oil capsules, nuts or flaxseed oil if you don’t like fish.

• Add more vegetables and fiber on your diet.  Vegetables have antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, enzymes and nutrients that can help detoxify the body and reduce inflammation.  Vegetables also help in the proper metabolism of estrogen, which can help alleviate symptoms.

•  Reduce stress. Stress and anxiety can exacerbate the symptoms.  A healthy body and mind will alleviate the symptoms and can accelerate endometriosis treatment.

Endometriosis treatment, natural or otherwise, works best when done under the supervision of your doctor.  So make sure to consult your doctor as soon as you experience the symptoms and to work with your doctor in creating a treatment plan that works best for you.

Changing your diet and your eating habits is just one of the ways you can effectively manage endometriosis. The ideal endometriosis diet should help reduce the symptoms of the disease and minimize the chances of recurrence. A carefully planned diet for endometriosis can also bring other health benefits and improve your overall health; benefits like:

• Improved mental alertness
• Increased energy and stamina
• Improve sleep and sleeping habits
• Increased body metabolism
• Regulate bowel movements
• Regulate body weight

We are what we eat and a healthy diet will yield a healthy body. It is widely known fact many medical conditions and illnesses do improve when you make healthy changes to your diet. Endometriosis is one of those diseases that responds well to a healthy diet. A healthy diet is actually quite easy to plan and easy to follow. There are just a few things you need to remember when designing a healthy diet for endometriosis:

• Freshness. Get the freshest food you can find and consume it while it’s fresh. As much as possible avoid processed food full of preservatives. Eat as much raw fruits and vegetables as you can and cook with fresh ingredients. To minimize your exposure to harmful chemicals, buy organic produce as much as possible.

• Variety. Eat a wide variety of foods every day. Changing things up every once in a while to keep your diet fun and exciting. It also provides your body with the most variety of nutrients. Make healthy eating more fun by trying out new dishes and experimenting with fresh, new exciting ingredients.

Ideal Plan For An Endometriosis Diet

Consult a nutritionist when you are planning a diet for endometriosis. Your nutritionist can help guide you in making a diet plan that can help manage the symptoms of endometriosis and support treatment. The specifics of an endometriosis diet plan would vary from case to case, but most doctors and nutritionist would recommend that you add these foods to your diet.

• Vegetables rich in B vitamins. The liver needs an ample supply of B vitamins to degrade estradiol to estriol. Estradiol is a form of estrogen linked to the development of endometriosis. When it’s converted to estriol, it binds to fiber and can be easily excreted out of the body. Foods that are rich in fiber and B vitamins help in breaking down circulating estrogen and may help alleviate endometriosis symptoms. Eating vegetables rich in B vitamins like broccoli, cauliflower, watercress, cabbage, sprouts, radishes and horseradish can also help improve the function of the brain and the immune system. These vegetables are also rich in magnesium which relaxes muscles of the bowel and uterus which helps minimize endometriosis pain.

• Iron rich foods. One of the symptoms of endometriosis is heavy menstrual periods, which can lead to iron deficiency anemia. You can replace the iron lost due to menstruation by eating foods rich in iron like liver, green leafy vegetables, dried apricots, beetroots, and plain chocolate.

• Omega fatty acids. Omega fatty acids have components that slow the growth of endometrial tissue. Omega fatty acids can be found in oily fishes like salmon, tunas, marlin, also in extra virgin olive oil, various nuts and seeds

• Fiber. Fiber keeps your digestive system healthy and is very helpful in excreting excess hormones and chemicals that are linked to endometriosis. You can get fiber from fresh fruits and vegetables, oats, rice, rye, corn, wheat, buckwheat and millets.

• Water. Go for the recommended daily water intake, 2 liters or about6 to 8 glasses. Water helps flush out the toxins that contribute to the symptoms of endometriosis.

Also known as key-whole surgery, laparoscopy is a relatively minor operation.  The surgeon creates a small incision then inserts a lighted viewing apparatus called a laparoscope to assess the disease.  Mild to moderate forms of endometriosis are first prescribed hormone therapy if the patient is presenting symptoms.  If hormone therapy doesn’t work, that’s when the doctor would recommend laparoscopy for endometriosis.

Preparing for Laparoscopy for Endometriosis

Preparations for laparoscopy may vary from case to case, depending on the doctor’s recommendations and hospital protocol.  But for most cases, patients have to make the following preparations:

• Diet and drink.  It is usually recommended that patient should not eat or drink anything at least 8 hours before a surgical procedure.  Make sure to ask your surgeon whether this rule applies in your case and what foods or drinks you can take, what you can’t take, and how much food or drink you’re allowed to consume.
• Allergies.  Make sure to prepare a list of anything you’re allergic to, especially food or drugs.  It’s better if you also include your family’s medical history and list of allergens.
• Person to call in case of emergency.  Laparoscopy is a very safe procedure; however, unexpected complications have been known to happen.  Make sure to provide the hospital with a list of people that they should contact in case anything happens.
• Transportation.  Laparoscopy is still surgery, so it’s not recommended that you drive yourself home after the procedure.   Make sure you have someone, a friend or a family member, to drive you to the hospital and back home after the procedure.
• Questions.  Prepare a list of questions you want to ask your doctor before and after the procedure.  It’s your body and you’re entitled to have all the information you need.  You can ask your doctor what you should expect during laparoscopy and what you should to do to take care of yourself after the procedure.

What Happens During Laparoscopy

First, the patient is placed under anesthesia.  The procedure starts by inserting the laparoscope into the pelvis through a small surgical incision.  The balloon at the end of the laparoscope is then inflated with gas (carbon dioxide or nitrous oxide).  The inflated balloon pushes the abdominal wall from the organ to give the surgeon room to operate and see the affected organ clearly. Additional incisions might be needed to move internal organs for a better view and make the operation easier.  This procedure usually lasts for 30 to 45 minutes.

The end of the laparoscope also has other tools that allow the surgeon to perform various techniques like cutting and removing the affected tissue (excision) or disintegrating it with a laser or electric current (electrocautery).   Using these tools, the surgeon removes the endometriosis scars or implants on the uterus.  The length of the operation depends on what techniques are performed and the area of the endometriosis implants to be removed. After the surgery, incisions in the abdomen are stitched together properly to minimize scaring.

Outcomes Of Laparoscopy For Endometriosis

Laparoscopy is very effective in treating endometriosis and it has very good treatment outcomes.  Compared to invasive surgery, laparoscopic surgery has less tissue trauma, minimal scarring and smaller incisions and, most importantly, faster recovery time.  Like endometriosis hormone therapy, surgery relieves pain, but it’s not a 100% guarantee.  1% to 3% of women who have undergone laparoscopy will continue to experience endometriosis pain.

Recurrence is also a major concern with endometriosis.  45% of the women who had laparoscopy for endometriosis may experience a recurrence within a year after the procedure.  Fortunately, studies show that hormone therapy after surgery can prevent the pain from returning and prevent recurrence of endometriosis.

One of the main concerns with regards to endometriosis is the preservation of fertility.  Studies have proven that removing mild endometriosis improves fertility. Laparoscopy for moderate cases of endometriosis also improves a woman’s chances of conceiving.  Severe cases of endometriosis treated with laparoscopy will require a fertility specialist, and possibly in vitro fertilization, if the woman wants to become pregnant.

• Produce human chorionic gonadotropin. Human chorionic gonadotropin or hCG is a hormone that the body produces during the early stages of pregnancy.  It’s also the substance that home pregnancy tests detect to diagnose pregnancy.  When an ovarian cyst produces hCG, it can produce a false positive in pregnancy tests.
• Delayed and irregular menstrual periods.  Ovarian cysts can affect a woman’s hormone levels which can alter her menstrual period.  Missed periods caused by ovarian cysts can be mistaken as a pregnancy symptom.
• Produces pregnancy symptoms.  The presence of hCG and changes in estrogen and progesterone levels due to ovarian cysts can also produce pregnancy like symptoms such as dizziness, lethargy, headaches, nausea and vomiting.
• Bloated abdomen.  Ovarian cysts can grow in size to the point where it can produce a bloated abdomen.  The swelling of the abdomen can be mistaken for a baby bump, especially if he woman also has the symptoms listed above.

An ovarian cyst disguised as a pregnancy is often diagnosed right away, as early as the first “prenatal” check-up.  Doctors can easily distinguish between an ovarian cyst and pregnancy using blood pregnancy tests and an ultrasound.

The circumstances wherein an ovarian cyst resembling a pregnancy may be rare, but ovarian cysts are actually more common than most women think. Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled sacs that grow in the ovaries of women. They can be as small as a pea or can grow larger than an orange.   Most cysts don’t cause any symptoms and go away on their own.  And since most cysts don’t produce any symptoms, they’re usually diagnosed accidentally, though routine check-ups or while undergoing an ultrasound for other conditions.

Ovarian Cyst Symptoms

When an ovarian cyst starts to produce pregnancy symptoms or other symptoms like abdominal discomfort, it can be a cause for concern.  Other symptoms you have to watch out for include:

• Pelvic pain – a steady or staggered mild to severe pain in the lower back area and may extend down the thighs
• Pain on the lower abdomen, pain arises when the bowel is in pressure or in movement.
• Dyspareunia – (pain during intercourse) specifically on the pelvic area
• Feeling of fullness or heaviness in the abdominal and/or pelvic area.
• Pressure on the bladder that can cause frequent urinating, and difficulties emptying the bladder
• Nausea and vomiting
• Vaginal pain or vaginal spotting.
• Infertility

Large ovarian cysts are prone to rupturing, bleeding, or pain.  It can produce complications like sepsis and infertility if left undiagnosed and untreated.

Ignoring ovarian cyst symptoms can be dangerous and potentially lead to serious complications.  You’ll need to see a doctor right away, especially if you have ovarian cysts with symptoms and you’re also experiencing:

• Severe pain in the abdomen, pelvic or lower back area
• Pain accompanied by fever or vomiting.
• Extreme discomforts that becomes disruptive to everyday activities

These symptoms usually indicate a ruptured cyst and would require immediate medical attention.

Ovarian cysts can also happen during pregnancy.  In most cases these cysts are harmless and would disappear on their own in a few weeks without treatment.  There are some cysts that do persist and have to be treated with medication or surgery in order to save the pregnancy.  Worst case scenario, the pregnancy may have to be terminated in order to save the mother’s life.

Regardless of whether you have just an ovarian cyst or pregnancy, it’s best to have yourself regularly checked by your doctor.  Treating an ovarian cyst early and taking care of yourself during your pregnancy are the best ways to stay healthy and prevent serious health complications in the future.

What causes an ovarian cyst rupture?  An ovarian cyst rupture happens when a large enough cyst burst either on its own or due to external pressures.   These external pressures can be

• an injury to the abdomen,
• intercourse, 
• exercise, 
• pregnancy, or 
• neighboring organs of the ovary exerting pressure on the cyst.  

The symptoms of an ovarian cyst rupture often start to show the cyst is about to burst.  Often times, an ovarian cyst rupture and its symptoms are the only way a woman would even be aware that she has an ovarian cyst.

 Symptoms of Ovarian Cyst Rupture

The most common symptom of an ovarian cyst rupture include:

• severe pain in the abdomen
• bloating
• vaginal spotting
• weakness
• fatigue
• fever
• increase or decrease in blood pressure
• clammy skin

An ovarian cyst rupture is very dangerous because it makes a woman prone to infection and the rupture itself can cause significant internal bleeding and shock.  Immediate medical attention is required in order to manage the symptoms and to treat the rupture itself.  Without immediate treatment, the patient can die from internal bleeding or shock.

So is there a way to prevent an ovarian cyst rupture?  The only way an ovarian cyst rupture can be prevented is if an ovarian cyst is diagnosed and removed before it grows any bigger.  Unfortunately, most ovarian cysts don’t produce any symptoms or if they do, the symptoms are either too mild to cause alarm or they’re often mistaken for pregnancy.  If an ovarian cyst is diagnosed, doctors would first monitor the growth of the cyst before choosing to remove it either through medication or surgery.

 Treatment For Ruptured Ovarian Cysts

The only way to treat a ruptured ovarian cyst is to remove the cyst and the affected ovary surgically.  There’s too much damage for it to be treated medically or through laparoscopy.  All the affected organs and the fluid from the cyst have to be removed in order to prevent infection.  Salpingo-oophorectomy is a surgical procedure often used to treat a ruptured cyst.  It involves removing the cyst, ovary, and the fallopian tube.

Surgical treatment for ovarian cyst rupture also has serious complications.  If both ovaries are affected, a woman can become infertile permanently.  If only one ovary is affected a woman can still conceive, but it will be more difficult.  There’s also the risk of post-surgical infections and there’s also the possibility that a woman’s menstrual period will become irregular.  Her menstrual flow could become lighter and there still could be some vaginal bleeding or spotting not related to menstruation.

It doesn’t have to come to the point where you’ll experience a ruptured ovarian cyst or its symptoms.  If you feel that’s something isn’t right about your body, go see your doctor and have a physical exam.  Be conscious of what happening in your body and be aware of any changes.  Being informed and taking charge of your health is your best defense against ovarian cyst rupture or any type of illness.