If an ovarian cyst ruptures, it can cause mild to severe symptoms. In most cases, a ruptured ovarian cyst isnt life-threatening and the cyst fluid will dissipate and heal without any intervention. However, there are instances in which a ruptured ovarian cyst becomes an emergency. The risks associated with a ruptured ovarian cyst include:

• Internal bleeding: Some ruptured ovarian cysts can cause a lot of bleeding, which can cause less blood flow to your organs and, in rare cases, death.

• Infection: If an infected cyst ruptures, it can trigger sepsis, a life-threatening immune response to harmful bacteria.

• Ovarian torsion: Blood flow to the ovary is reduced or cut off when the weight of a cyst causes the ovary to turn over on itself one or more times. If this happens, surgery is necessary to restore blood flow.

The symptoms of a ruptured ovarian cyst can include sudden pain or discomfort in your low back or belly, especially on the side where the cyst burst, nausea, vomiting, and feeling of heaviness or fullness in your pelvis. If you experience any of these serious symptoms, you should seek medical attention immediately.

The management of a ruptured ovarian cyst depends on the severity of the symptoms. Mild cases can often be managed with pain medicines. However, if you have severe symptoms, you may need care in the hospital, including IV pain medicines, fluids or blood replacement due to internal bleeding, and, in rare cases, surgery. The surgery may be minimally invasive or a standard open procedure, and all surgery has some risks.