When an Ovarian Cyst Becomes an Emergency

By Vanessa Manfredini | Biomedical Scientist and future Nutritionist

Today I want to open my heart and share with you an experience that deeply marked me. I went through internal bleeding caused by an ovarian cyst. And you know what scared me the most? At first, no one was quite sure what was happening. 💛

I'm telling this because if my story can make one woman more attentive to her body's signals, it will have been worth it. Come with me, as I tell my story. 🌿

"Knowing your own body and its warning signs can make all the difference."

A pain that felt like appendicitis 🤕

It started with a very strong abdominal pain. So intense that, during that exam where the doctor presses and suddenly releases (the so-called decompression), it hurt even more. The first suspicion was appendicitis, as the symptoms were so similar.

But the doctor took a precaution that made all the difference. He remembered: "she's a woman, she has a uterus, it could be something gynecological." And he investigated that angle too. ➡️ This careful observation changed the course of the diagnosis.

The confusing beginning: a positive pregnancy test 😯

Among the tests, the pregnancy test came back, the famous bHCG. And it was positive. From then on, doctors began to suspect an ectopic pregnancy (one that occurs outside the uterus, a serious situation). I was using a copper IUD at the time, which made everything even more intriguing.

The ultrasound then revealed the hemorrhage. And I went straight to emergency surgery. Only later, with the analysis of what was removed, came the confirmation: the origin of everything was a hemorrhagic cyst. ➡️ The reason for that positive bHCG is something that still intrigues me today, and that only a detailed medical investigation could explain.

After all, what is an ovarian cyst? 🔬

Don't worry, because this part is reassuring: ovarian cysts are very common, especially in women of childbearing age, and the vast majority are harmless. Many are "functional," meaning they are part of the ovary's normal functioning and disappear on their own within a few weeks.

A curiosity I learned on this journey: a cyst, by itself, does not usually cause a positive pregnancy test. But the combination of positive bHCG, severe pain, and an ovarian mass, with no sign of pregnancy in the uterus, leads doctors to investigate a possible ectopic pregnancy. That's why the investigation followed this path in my case.

When it becomes an emergency ⚠️

That's what happened to me. When a hemorrhagic cyst ruptures, it can cause bleeding inside the abdomen. This is considered an emergency and, in some cases, requires surgery, as mine did.

Important: a cyst is not the same as SOMP 💡

Since I talk a lot about women's health here, I want to make it clear: the functional cyst I had (which ruptured) is different from SOMP, the former PCOS. SOMP is a hormonal and metabolic condition, while a functional cyst is an event that can happen in isolation. They can even coexist, but they are not the same thing.

What I learned from all this 🌱

That our body talks to us all the time, and that listening to these signs is an act of self-care. That strong and sudden pain is not "fussiness" or something to ignore. And that seeking help quickly can, literally, change the outcome.

"Taking care of yourself starts by listening to yourself and not doubting your pains."

Did this content resonate with you? 💚

Tell me in the comments: were you aware of these warning signs? Share this post with a woman you love. Information saves lives, and taking care of each other is also self-care. 🌹