Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDescribing Ovarian Cyst PainSigns of a Ruptured Ovarian Cyst: When to Go to the EROvarian Cyst Pain From Associated ConditionsHow Do You Know What Ovarian Cyst Pain Feels Like?How to Relieve Ovarian Cyst Pain At HomeTreatment for Ovarian Cyst Pain
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Describing Ovarian Cyst Pain
Signs of a Ruptured Ovarian Cyst: When to Go to the ER
Ovarian Cyst Pain From Associated Conditions
How Do You Know What Ovarian Cyst Pain Feels Like?
How to Relieve Ovarian Cyst Pain At Home
Treatment for Ovarian Cyst Pain
This article discusses ovarian cyst pain symptoms and when you may need medical attention.
LaylaBird / Getty Images.
Many small or average-sized intact ovarian cysts are painless. But if a larger ovarian cyst bursts open (or ruptures), you may notice intense pain immediately. Why some cysts rupture and others don’t is unclear to experts.
A functional ovarian cyst (the most common type) will often shrink and disappear after a fewmenstrual cycleswithout any treatment.Typical functional cysts might cause pelvic pain or pressure that can feel similar toperiod crampsbut usually won’t compare to the possible severe pain of a ruptured ovarian cyst.
Feeling
Serious ovarian cyst pain might feel:
This pain may also start as a dull ache or pressure. You might also feel pain even more intensely duringsexual intercourse.
Location
Ovarian cyst pain commonly happens along the lower abdomen, but you may also feel it in the lower back depending on the exact location of the cyst. This pain might feel strongest on one side of the body.
Other Symptoms
Other symptomsof a ruptured ovarian cyst include:
Though having an ovarian cyst isn’t always a cause for alarm, if it ruptures (breaks open), the situation can be painful and potentially serious. That’s because a burstovarian cystcould lead to infection,torsion (twisting of an ovary), or bleeding, which might be life-threatening if not treated as soon as possible.
Experts recommend seeking medical attention right away if you experience the following:
Ovarian cysts commonly develop during childbearing years due toovulationand pregnancy.But you can also experience ovarian cyst pain linked to associated conditions, such as:
When you notice symptoms of what you think might be ovarian cyst pain, getting a confirmed diagnosis is important to treat it properly.
Though there are no at-home tests for self-diagnosing ovarian cysts, common signs to discuss with a healthcare provider include the following:
A routine assessment at a healthcare provider’s office might include:
Many ovarian cysts don’t have any symptoms and may not require medical treatment. But if you are experiencing mild to moderate pain, a healthcare provider may recommend a couple ofat-home treatment optionsto help ease your discomfort, including:
If your pain isn’t going away or is worsening with these home remedies, let your healthcare provider know so they can consider other treatment options.
Your healthcare provider may recommend the wait-and-watch approach, depending on factors like age, symptoms, and the size of the ovarian cyst.Instead of jumping straight to treatment, your provider may want to keep track of any changes in the cyst’s size or appearance via pelvic ultrasounds and routine exams.
Treatment for ovarian cystpain will vary based on several factors, including age, symptoms, and the size of the cyst. Options may include:
Ovarian cyst pain can range from mild to severe and has the potential to impact a person’s quality of life. Experts recommend that healthcare providers thoroughly explore all treatment options with patients to ensure their personal and work life isn’t greatly affected.
Summary
Ovarian cysts are common; many are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms. But for ovarian cyst pain that is severe or long-lasting, speak to a healthcare provider. They can recommend appropriate medications, hormonal treatment, or surgery. Seek medical attention immediately if your ovarian cyst pain is severe, doesn’t seem to be getting better, or comes with signs of infection or low blood pressure like lightheadedness, rapid heartbeat, vomiting, and fever.
15 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Ovarian cysts.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Ovarian cysts.Office on Women’s Health.Ovarian cysts.American Academy of Family Physicians.Ovarian cyst.Johns Hopkins Medicine.What risks are associated with a ruptured ovarian cyst?University of Rochester Medical Center.Management of ruptured ovarian cyst.Penn Medicine.Ovarian cysts 101.Cedars-Sinai.Ovarian cyst.Brigham and Women’s Hospital.Deep ovarian endometriosis (endometriomas).MedlinePlus.Polycystic ovary syndrome.Shen F, Chen S, Gao Y, et al.The prevalence of malignant and borderline ovarian cancer in pre- and post-menopausal Chinese women.Oncotarget. 2017;8(46):80589-80594. doi:10.18632/oncotarget.20384Farghaly SA.Current diagnosis and management of ovarian cysts.Clin Exp Obstet Gynecol. 2014;41(6):609-612.Bates CK, Carroll N, Potter J.The challenging pelvic examination.J Gen Intern Med. 2011;26(6):651–657. doi:10.1007/s11606-010-1610-8Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance.Ovarian cysts.Almas I, Nisar-Ur-Rehman, Azhar S, et al.Perception and awareness of patients regarding ovarian cysts in Peshawar, Pakistan: a qualitative approach.Contemp Oncol (Pozn). 2015;19(6):487-90. doi:10.5114/wo.2015.56657
15 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Ovarian cysts.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Ovarian cysts.Office on Women’s Health.Ovarian cysts.American Academy of Family Physicians.Ovarian cyst.Johns Hopkins Medicine.What risks are associated with a ruptured ovarian cyst?University of Rochester Medical Center.Management of ruptured ovarian cyst.Penn Medicine.Ovarian cysts 101.Cedars-Sinai.Ovarian cyst.Brigham and Women’s Hospital.Deep ovarian endometriosis (endometriomas).MedlinePlus.Polycystic ovary syndrome.Shen F, Chen S, Gao Y, et al.The prevalence of malignant and borderline ovarian cancer in pre- and post-menopausal Chinese women.Oncotarget. 2017;8(46):80589-80594. doi:10.18632/oncotarget.20384Farghaly SA.Current diagnosis and management of ovarian cysts.Clin Exp Obstet Gynecol. 2014;41(6):609-612.Bates CK, Carroll N, Potter J.The challenging pelvic examination.J Gen Intern Med. 2011;26(6):651–657. doi:10.1007/s11606-010-1610-8Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance.Ovarian cysts.Almas I, Nisar-Ur-Rehman, Azhar S, et al.Perception and awareness of patients regarding ovarian cysts in Peshawar, Pakistan: a qualitative approach.Contemp Oncol (Pozn). 2015;19(6):487-90. doi:10.5114/wo.2015.56657
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MedlinePlus.Ovarian cysts.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Ovarian cysts.Office on Women’s Health.Ovarian cysts.American Academy of Family Physicians.Ovarian cyst.Johns Hopkins Medicine.What risks are associated with a ruptured ovarian cyst?University of Rochester Medical Center.Management of ruptured ovarian cyst.Penn Medicine.Ovarian cysts 101.Cedars-Sinai.Ovarian cyst.Brigham and Women’s Hospital.Deep ovarian endometriosis (endometriomas).MedlinePlus.Polycystic ovary syndrome.Shen F, Chen S, Gao Y, et al.The prevalence of malignant and borderline ovarian cancer in pre- and post-menopausal Chinese women.Oncotarget. 2017;8(46):80589-80594. doi:10.18632/oncotarget.20384Farghaly SA.Current diagnosis and management of ovarian cysts.Clin Exp Obstet Gynecol. 2014;41(6):609-612.Bates CK, Carroll N, Potter J.The challenging pelvic examination.J Gen Intern Med. 2011;26(6):651–657. doi:10.1007/s11606-010-1610-8Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance.Ovarian cysts.Almas I, Nisar-Ur-Rehman, Azhar S, et al.Perception and awareness of patients regarding ovarian cysts in Peshawar, Pakistan: a qualitative approach.Contemp Oncol (Pozn). 2015;19(6):487-90. doi:10.5114/wo.2015.56657
MedlinePlus.Ovarian cysts.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Ovarian cysts.
Office on Women’s Health.Ovarian cysts.
American Academy of Family Physicians.Ovarian cyst.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.What risks are associated with a ruptured ovarian cyst?
University of Rochester Medical Center.Management of ruptured ovarian cyst.
Penn Medicine.Ovarian cysts 101.
Cedars-Sinai.Ovarian cyst.
Brigham and Women’s Hospital.Deep ovarian endometriosis (endometriomas).
MedlinePlus.Polycystic ovary syndrome.
Shen F, Chen S, Gao Y, et al.The prevalence of malignant and borderline ovarian cancer in pre- and post-menopausal Chinese women.Oncotarget. 2017;8(46):80589-80594. doi:10.18632/oncotarget.20384
Farghaly SA.Current diagnosis and management of ovarian cysts.Clin Exp Obstet Gynecol. 2014;41(6):609-612.
Bates CK, Carroll N, Potter J.The challenging pelvic examination.J Gen Intern Med. 2011;26(6):651–657. doi:10.1007/s11606-010-1610-8
Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance.Ovarian cysts.
Almas I, Nisar-Ur-Rehman, Azhar S, et al.Perception and awareness of patients regarding ovarian cysts in Peshawar, Pakistan: a qualitative approach.Contemp Oncol (Pozn). 2015;19(6):487-90. doi:10.5114/wo.2015.56657
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
