Photo courtesy: Life and Style Magazine
Model-beauty-mogul Hailey Bieber took to the socials to bare her belly and reveal her battle with ovarian cysts. Her post lit up the internet, as women everywhere said they could relate.
“Shining a light on painful gynecological issues helps other women to come forward and talk about them,” said Allyson Brooks, M.D., FACOG, Ginny Ueberroth Executive Medical Director Endowed Chair, Hoag Women’s Health Institute. “It’s important that if you are experiencing pelvic or abdominal pain that you speak to your gynecologist right away.”
What do you need to know about ovarian cysts?
Ovarian cysts are a pain. Literally. Most of the time when cysts form on a woman’s ovaries, they’re no big deal. But large ones, like the one that Hailey Bieber is contending with, can cause pain that ranges from a dull ache to a sharp pain just below the belly button to one side. Cysts also bring with them feelings of fullness, pressure, heaviness and bloating.
Ovarian cysts can be dangerous. Most ovarian cysts resolve on their own without surgical intervention. Birth control pills work to suppress ovulation and can help prevent the development of ovarian cysts. But please see a doctor if you are experiencing sudden, severe abdominal or pelvic pain, vomiting, fever or signs of shock (i.e. cold, clammy skin; rapid breathing, lightheadedness or weakness).
Ovarian cysts can be caused by a few things. Endometriosis, a condition that affects 11% of women, can cause ovarian cysts, as can polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), a condition that affects the fertility of 5 million women in the U.S. But sometimes cysts just form because an ovarian follicle failed to release its egg one month, or didn’t discharge all of its fluid, leaving it to swell up.
“At Hoag, a multidisciplinary team of pelvic health experts work together to treat a variety of gynecological issues, including ovarian cysts, pelvic pain, endometriosis, painful menses and fibroids,” Dr. Brooks said. “Getting the care you need, when you need it is important for your health. I am grateful when celebrities like Hailey Bieber discuss their issues. It helps other women seek the care they need, too.”
To book an appointment today with a Hoag OBGYN, visit www.hoag.org.
