Ovarian cysts are fluid filled sacs situated within or on the surface of the ovaries.
The ovaries are two small walnut sized organs situated one on either side of the female reproductive system.
Situated within the ovaries is a sac called a follicle in which the egg is enclosed.
At some point in the menstrual cycle of a woman, the mature follicle releases an egg for possible fertilization.
The empty follicle forms a body called corpus luteum, which produces large quantities of progesterone and estrogen in preparation for pregnancy.
At times, the egg is not released and at times even when it is released, the follicle, empty or not closes up and forms into what is called an ovarian cyst.
Often, the cyst disappears without treatment and in fact a woman may not know she has it.
However, in some cases the cyst enlarges and twists.
This is referred to as twisted ovarian cyst or ovarian torsion.
In other cases it bleeds into itself and ruptures.
Because the symptoms of cyst ruptures are similar to some other medical conditions, prompt medical attention is not always sought.
If not promptly treated, these ruptures could result in some serious complications.
Some of the complications of ovarian cyst ruptures are: Hemorrhage - When the cyst ruptures, it will leak blood into the abdomen.
In this case, the source of the bleeding is from the cyst itself and therefore different from abdominal hemorrhaging, which is much more serious.
Adhesions - This is scarring that could result when an ovarian cyst ruptures.
The ovaries may be twisted too and the scars could hinder fertility if they are on the surface of the ovaries because it could hamper egg production.
Sepsis - When the ovarian cyst ruptures, fluid from the cyst leaks into the abdomen with blood and this could lead to sepsis, a serious medical condition which refers to whole body inflammation.
Left untreated, sepsis can be fatal.
Peritonitis- This is a medical condition in which the mucus membrane which lines the abdomen along with the organs in the abdomen gets inflamed, in this case by the fluid leaked when the cyst ruptures.
Chronic Pelvic Pain -This is another complication that could result from ovarian cyst ruptures.
Restriction Of Blood Supply To The Ovaries - When an ovarian cyst twists, it could restrict or cut off flow of blood to the ovaries and this in turn could cause ovarian necrosis (death of the tissues of the ovary).
When the ovarian tissue dies, it cannot produce an egg and therefore fertility becomes jeopardized.
The twisting could also cause production of clots in the blood vessels of the ovary.
Again, inflammation can also result leading to septic shock and at times death.
The complications resulting from ovarian cyst ruptures are dangerous and far reaching therefore medical attention should be sought as soon as the symptoms are noticed.