Do you experience period cramps regularly? Have you ever wonder that it may not be your regular period cramps but a sign of ovarian cysts erupting? Well, do not panic just yet. Let me first explain to you what is an ovarian cyst.

Ovarian cyst is a fluid-filled sac in the ovaries. It can appear in either one of your ovaries or both of them.

Generally, ovarian cysts will not give you any pain. However, if the size of the cyst is big and it is twisting your ovaries, it may cause you to feel some pain.

Types of Ovarian Cysts

The most common ovarian cyst is the functional cyst. There are two types of cyst under the functional cyst, which are:

Follicular cyst – It occurs when a sac on the ovary does not release an egg, and the sac swells up with fluid. In short, the follicle does not release the egg but continues to grow which ends up being a cyst.
Corpus luteum cyst – The cyst occurs when the sac releases an egg and then reseals and fills it with fluid. The corpus luteum is an area of tissue within the ovary that occurs after an egg has been released from a follicle.

The Common Symptoms

People with cysts rarely experience any symptom. However, these are the symptoms that occur when you have a big ovarian cyst.

Bloating in the lower abdomen.
Vaginal bleeding in between periods.
Late periods.
Sharp pain on one side of your lower belly.
You feel pain during sexual intercourse.

Treating an Ovarian Cyst

Doctors would usually just let it be because it will usually go away by itself in 1 to 3 months.

Surgery is needed only when it is big, painful and when you are more prone to get cancer.
Your doctors might prescribe you with birth controls.

Are Cysts Cancerous?

You may worry about whether the ovarian cysts that you are having right now will turn into cancer. There are only rare cases in which these cysts turn into cancers later on.

Your chances of it turn into cancer get higher only when you are nearing menopause.

The risks of getting an ovarian cyst:

Everyone may experience an ovarian cyst once in their lifetime and not realise it, which is normal. Nonetheless, you are at a higher risk if:

You have hormonal problems. You are under a fertility drug such as clomiphene (Clomid), which is used to cause you to ovulate.
You are pregnant. The cyst that forms when you ovulate stays on your ovary throughout your pregnancy.
Endometriosis. This condition causes uterine endometrial cells to grow outside your uterus. Some of the tissue can attach to your ovary and form a growth.
You have a severe pelvic infection. If the infection spreads to the ovaries, it can cause cysts.
A previous ovarian cyst. If you have had one before, you are likely to develop more in the future.

In order to prevent and to treat it early, it is advisable for women 25 and above to get a full medical checkup once a year, especially any that related to your reproductive health.

Drink a lot of water, avoid fast food and have a healthy diet.