All ovarian cysts have the potential to burst and this represents the worst outcome for many women that have this condition. This article will go into what happens when an ovarian cyst bursts open and what you should do next.

Severe pain that will usually radiate from the lower abdomen to the pelvic area is what women will most likely experience when an ovarian cyst bursts. The degree of pain felt by each person is affected by what happens when the ovarian cyst bursts. There are many contributing factors such as any infection of the cyst, any bleeding of the cyst, and what elements made up the cyst.

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.

An ovarian cyst can grow to a size of between 5cm to 10cm in diameter, and what happens when an ovarian cyst bursts is not the same as when a regular follicle bursts. The release of an egg during normal menstruation is rarely associated with any pain and bleeding is very slight. Therefore, while ovarian cyst bursts are at times compared to follicle ruptures, the two have some distinctly different characteristics. Ovarian cysts that burst can cause extreme pain and more bleeding.

What happens when an ovarian cyst bursts is that fluid is released and can cause significant bleeding as a result of the presence of many nearby blood vessels. Ten ml of blood is enough to irritate the peritoneum because it has so many nerve endings. This causes severe pain in women with ovarian cysts. In comparison, a blood donor may take 5 to 20 ml of blood and feel no real pain except for the prick of the needle. The peritoneum is known to be very tender.

The normal outcome of an ovarian cyst is that it resolves by itself and does not actually burst. If it does not burst, the fluid is reabsorbed which causes the cyst to be reduced and eventually collapse on itself. Thus you can expect a cyst to simply disappear after a few menstrual cycles have passed.

Of course women should be concerned about ovarian cysts because of the consequences should one burst. Although the pain can be intense, it is important to note that it is not life threatening. Should you suspect that an ovarian cyst has burst however, it is equally important that you seek medical help or go to a hospital.