An ovarian cyst is a fluid-filled sac that develops on the ovary. If an ovarian cyst ruptures, it can cause serious symptoms. Here are some things that can happen if an ovarian cyst ruptures:

• Mild symptoms: Most of the time, a ruptured ovarian cyst causes no symptoms or only mild symptoms, such as pain in the lower belly. Mild symptoms can often be managed with pain medicines.

• Severe symptoms: In some cases, a ruptured ovarian cyst can cause more severe symptoms, such as extreme pain in the lower belly and bleeding. Uncontrolled bleeding can be life-threatening, and severe cases may require surgery.

• Infection: If an infected cyst ruptures, it can trigger sepsis, a life-threatening immune response to harmful bacteria. Women with infected cysts are treated with antibiotics and sometimes require hospitalization for surgical drainage of the cyst.

• 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.

If you experience symptoms of a ruptured ovarian cyst, such as sudden and severe abdominal pain, fever, vomiting, feeling cold with clammy skin, fast breathing, lightheadedness, or weakness, you should seek medical attention right away. Depending on the severity of your symptoms, you may need to be hospitalized or undergo surgery.