Hailey Bieber recently opened up on Instagram about having an ovarian cyst that she said is “the size of an apple”. Though the American model suffers neither from endometriosis nor from Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), she has gotten an ovarian cyst a few times and she expressed it was “never fun” and made her feel nauseous, bloated, crampy, and emotional.
A lot of women can relate to what Hailey Bieber is going through right now as ovarian cysts are very common, and can occur in women of all ages.
What Is An Ovarian Cyst?
We may have heard of cysts in other places, but an ovarian cyst is one of the most common types of diseases that affect women in today’s day and age. Especially those that may have hormonal imbalances. Moreover, they are prevalent in women of fertile age.
It is a small fluid-filled sac that develops in the ovary, in layman’s terms, also called a “pani ke thaili.” You can have one or many (a condition called Polycystic Ovaries – which literally translates to multiple cysts in the ovaries). The majority of ovarian cysts naturally disappear without even being diagnosed, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t cause symptoms in women. So that’s the good part. You might even get them once a month as part of your regular menstrual cycle and not even be aware. These cysts are ‘functional’ as they come and go with menstruation.
Symptoms Of Ovarian Cysts
In most cases, ovarian cysts can be painful, causing pelvic pain, heavy periods, bloating and swelling in the body, or nausea. Most of these symptoms tend to subside eventually. However, in some cases, a cyst may require urgent attention, and it may be essential to see an obstetrician/gynecologist straight away. If you have sudden severe belly pain, with fever, nausea or vomiting and weakness, or feeling faint, it would be advisable to rush to the emergency room. What happens is that sometimes cysts can rupture and may cause loss of ovarian function.
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
A type of cyst formation in women is known as polycystic ovarian syndrome/disease (PCOS/PCOD). This particular form of cyst formation is necessary to treat as it causes a multitude of symptoms such as irregular periods, weight gain, hirsutism (excessive body hair growth), depression, and anxiety. However, it can even lead to infertility. While there is no definitive treatment for this syndrome, it can be managed, and infertility can be prevented. It is essential to consult with an ob-gyn and arrange an ultrasound and blood hormone panel to assess the condition. This condition has become prevalent in women worldwide, especially in South Asia.
However, that being said, though ovarian cysts are quite common, your OBGYN can help in managing the symptoms as well as treat the disease. Thus, it is important to go for a yearly checkup regularly to monitor pelvic and hormonal health.
Disclaimer: This is general public information. Does not substitute any medical or dietary advice from your health care professionals.
The information in this article was provided by Dr. Palwasha Khan who works primarily in women’s issues – gynae/obs and dermatology.
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