Symptoms of Ovarian Cysts and Ovarian Cancer

Medically Reviewed By William C. Lloyd III, MD, FACS
Woman with pelvic pain
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Ovarian cysts in premenopausal women are common and noncancerous in the vast majority of cases. They usually develop during the normal process of ovulation. It’s rare to for these cysts to be cancerous in this group of women. Cancerous cysts become more likely after menopause as women age. However, ovarian cancer is still a relatively rare cancer, accounting for about 3% of cancers affecting American women.

The symptoms of ovarian cysts and ovarian cancer are very similar. This makes it very important to see your doctor in order to get the right diagnosis.

Symptoms of Ovarian Cysts

Most ovarian cysts do not cause symptoms. When symptoms develop, they can include:

  • Bloating

  • Menstrual irregularities

  • Nausea or vomiting

  • Pain on one side of the lower abdomen. The pain ranges from dull to sharp and may worsen with certain activities, such as sex or bowel movements. It may also come and go.

  • Pressure in the abdomen

See your doctor for a diagnosis if you have any of these symptoms.
If a large cyst ruptures, it can be a medical emergency because it can cause heavy bleeding. The bleeding can be internal, so you may not see it. Seek immediate medical care or call 911 if you have symptoms including:

Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer can be hard to detect. The ovaries lie deep in the abdomen, making it virtually impossible to find tumors in early stages. There are also no reliable screening tests. Symptoms usually don’t develop until ovarian cancer is in advanced stages and they tend to be vague. Symptoms can include:

Other conditions share many of the same symptoms. See your doctor if any of these symptoms persist for more than two weeks. Whatever the cause, seeking early treatment offers the best chance for successful treatment.

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  1. Can Ovarian Cancer Be Found Early? American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/cancer/ovariancancer/detailedguide/ovarian-cancer-detection
  2. Ovarian Cancer. American Society of Clinical Oncology. http://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/ovarian-cancer/overview
  3. Ovarian, Fallopian Tube, and Primary Peritoneal Cancer. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/types/ovarian/patient/ovarian-epithelial-treatment-pdq
  4. What Is Ovarian Cancer? American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/cancer/ovariancancer/detailedguide/ovarian-cancer-what-is-ovarian-cancer
  5. Ovarian Cyst. American Academy of Family Physicians. http://familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/diseases-conditions/ovarian-cyst.html
  6. Ovarian Cysts. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. https://www.acog.org/-/media/For-Patients/faq075.pdf?dmc=1&ts=20160513T1539408180
  7. Ovarian Cysts. Office on Women’s Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/ovarian-cysts.html
  8. Ovarian Cysts. U.S. National Library of Medicine. https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001504.htm
Medical Reviewer: William C. Lloyd III, MD, FACS
Last Review Date: 2021 Feb 18
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