Bloating
Bloating is a common symptom of an ovarian cyst. Ovaries are small, egg-shaped structures in the abdomen that regulate the female reproductive cycle and produce eggs. During ovulation, one of the ovaries releases an egg into a fallopian tube. If an egg is not fertilized, cell growth begins on the surface of the ovary and forms a fluid-filled sac or cyst. The development of cysts affects different women in different ways, but common symptoms include abdominal pain, bloating, and swelling in the pelvic area.
Bloating is a common symptom of ovarian cysts because they cause fluid retention and inflammation. One way this can occur is by stretching out the omentum—a fat layer covering some organs in the abdominal cavity. When this happens, fluid can be trapped under the omentum, causing swelling and pressure on other organs like the bladder and intestines. The increased pressure causes bloating.
Bloating is also a result of water retention by other organs like the kidneys and bowel due to inflammation associated with ovarian cysts. Inflammation stimulates stress hormones that increase blood flow to damaged areas, similar to blood pooling. The good news is that ovarian cyst treatment is usually successful, so keep track of their symptoms so they can get them checked out by a doctor when they’re at their worst.
