According to World Health Concern, more than 80% of women experience period pain, while 5% to 10% have dysmenorrhea that impacts their daily activities. There is still confusion for women in understanding ovarian cysts and period pain, and knowing which is normal and which is not.
Severe, debilitating pain that causes issues in completing even daily activities, accompanied by fever, vomiting, and nausea, should not be ignored.
Primary dysmenorrhea, a condition common in teenagers and young women in their early 20s, results from uterine contractions during menstruation. Such cramping usually starts just before or with the onset of your period and lasts for 1–3 days. Research shows that 50%–90% of menstruating people have some kind of period pain, and 5% to 10% have severe pain that disrupts normal functioning.
Secondary dysmenorrhea, on the other hand, is a result of underlying pathologies such as endometriosis, fibroids, PCOS, or ovarian cysts. Such pain is more severe, prolonged, and at times accompanied by other symptoms such as heavy bleeding or dyspareunia.
Ovarian cysts are sacs filled with fluid either on or within the ovary. The majority are completely benign and a normal occurrence during the menstrual cycle. In fact, 10% to 30% of women will have at least one cyst throughout their lifetime.
About 4% to 7% of women aged 24 to 40 show such cysts on ultrasound, and up to 46% of women in bigger populations may develop them at some time in their lifetime.
The most common type, functional cysts, happen every month, like follicular cysts (when a follicle fails to release an egg) or corpus luteum cysts (after ovulation), and typically go away on their own in 1–3 cycles.
Ovarian cyst pain-
Period cramps-
Doctors are still lacking in understanding the chances of cysts because of the lack of knowledge of the symptoms. They cause similar signs, like period pain like pelvic pain, bloating, and pressure. But there are some signs that you can notice, like pain on one side, which occurs outside the menstrual window, sudden or severe pain (happens when the cyst ruptures or twists).
Some point which considers normal pain-
According to experts, “Most cysts are benign, but painful symptoms can cause severe issues. That is why proper diagnosis and regular monitoring are important”.
If you are facing challenges related to period issues or any other reproductive health concern, your first step is to seek medical attention. They can detect the problem and can treat you timely manner.
To detect the size, type, and appearance of the cysts, a transvaginal ultrasound is conducted. If the size of the cyst is> 5cm, then further processing is conducted. Although several women face these challenges, only 1% of the ovarian cysts detected are cancerous. The chances are very low, but delaying treatment is never the solution.
Mild pain in the middle of the cycle and menstrual cramps are normal and usual. Conversely, pain due to ovarian cysts, particularly sharp, pinpoint, repetitive, or ongoing, can be a sign of something significant. About 10–30% of women will develop a cyst at some time, and most of them will go away without any treatment, but others will require assessment and treatment.
If you’re unsure whether your symptoms are normal or worrying, consult a healthcare provider, especially if pain persists beyond your menstrual window or disrupts your well-being. Aveya Fertility Centre provides one of the best services to treat women, because the female body faces a lot of challenges, and period pain should not be the one that adds to the issue in the list.
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