The immediate consequence of what happens when an ovarian cyst bursts is that women may experience severe pain that usually radiates throughout the pelvic area and lower abdomen. The intensity of the pain varies with the existing condition of the ovarian cyst. Cyst infection, bleeding and composition of the cyst determine the level of pain one may experience.

Individuals who experience the sharp pain of a burst ovarian cyst must immediately rush to a hospital for appropriate treatment. This acute pain is caused by the irritation of the lining of the peritoneal cavity known as the peritoneum.  The peritoneum can be irritated by blood or the contents of the cyst.

The cyst can also have a high concentration of prostaglandins, which can cause inflammation and cause even more pain to women with ovarian cysts, both directly and indirectly.

There are some superficial similarities between the regular follicle ruptures associated with the release of an egg during a normal menstruation cycle and what happens when an ovarian cyst bursts. However, the actual differences are more substantial.

The release of an egg normally causes very little pain or bleeding. An ovarian cyst that bursts usually causes considerable pain and because ovarian cysts are much larger than eggs – up to 5 to 10 cm in diameter – a larger amount of bleeding can result.

The peritoneum is tender and sensitive because it contains so many nerve endings. Just ten ml of blood is sufficient to irritate it. What happens when an ovarian cyst bursts is that the fluid inside is released and can affect surrounding blood vessels and can cause bleeding into the peritoneum. This bleeding can cause intense pain in women with ovarian cysts.

An ovarian cyst generally resolves by itself and does not actually rupture. If it does not rupture, the fluid would be reabsorbed, which in turn makes the cyst collapse on itself. Usually, the cysts simply disappear after a few menstrual cycles have passed.

Clearly, what happens when an ovarian cyst bursts is cause for some concern among women with ovarian cysts. However, it must also be noted that the pain that follows the bursting of an ovarian cyst is rarely life threatening. Nevertheless, a woman with a burst ovarian cyst must be treated by a doctor at a hospital.

What Happens When an Ovarian Cyst Bursts? is from Ovarian Cyst Answers