Symptoms of Ovarian cyst

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Most ovarian cysts are small and benign (non-cancerous), and donâ€™t produce any symptoms. Larger cysts may cause problems and itâ€™s important to speak to your GP if notice any of the following:

Pain and discomfort low down in your abdomen. This may come and go, or be more lasting. Some women notice it more after sex;
You may notice changes to your periods. They may become irregular, or be heavier or lighter than normal;
Depending on where the cyst is and its size, it may put pressure on the bladder or bowels, making you need to go to the toilet more often;
In rare cases, ovarian cysts can cause abnormal amounts of hormones to be produced. This can affect your periods, and speed up or change the way your breasts and body hair grow;
If you have endometriosis (womb lining in other parts of the body) or polycystic ovarian syndrome (multiple cysts in the ovaries), youâ€™ll probably have other symptoms as well. Please see separate encyclopaedia entries on these conditions for more information.

Sometimes cysts cause more serious problems. If a cyst is growing on a stem from an ovary, the stem can become twisted. This stops the blood supply to the cyst and causes a lot of pain in the lower abdomen. It is called torsion and usually needs treatment in hospital. In other cases, the cyst may burst, causing sudden severe pain in the lower abdomen. The pain you feel depends on what the cyst contained, whether it is infected and whether there is any bleeding. This usually needs treatment in hospital as well.

Very occasionally, an ovarian cyst is an early form of ovarian cancer. However, ovarian cysts are very common and about 95% are non cancerous. Please see the separate encyclopaedia entry on cancer of the ovary for further information.