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Last Updated on November 22, 2022 by Shabnam Sengupta
In most cases, ovarian cysts are not dangerous. They usually go away without any treatment. However, sporadically, they can cause complications and be dangerous to a woman.
What exactly are ovarian cysts?
The ovaries are almond shaped organs present in a woman’s reproductive system. They perform the function of releasing eggs as a part of a woman’s menstrual cycle. They also release sex hormones, namely, estrogen and progesterone.
An ovarian cyst is a sac filled with fluid or semisolid material that forms on or within one or both of your ovaries. They are common and most of them are painless and harmless (benign). In the majority of cases, they don’t cause symptoms. Mostly, they are diagnosed during a routine pelvic exam or imaging procedure.
Are ovarian cysts dangerous?
Ovarian cysts are generally harmless, and they can even disappear without treatment. However, sometimes , they can become twisted or rupture, causing serious symptoms, such as severe pain and an emergency.
You need immediate medical attention if you experience symptoms, such as sudden, severe abdominal or pelvic pain, fever, vomiting
Also, in general, ovarian cysts do not cause any symptoms. But if a woman has a large ovarian cyst, there can be pelvic pain which can be dull or sharp in nature and present in the area below the belly button, pressure or heaviness in the abdomen and bloating. Rarely, ovarian cysts can also develop into ovarian cancer. The risk of this is higher as age increases and if there is a family history of cancers linked to BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic mutations.
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