Ovarian Cysts And Pregnancy: How To Tell The Difference



Confusing symptoms of ovarian cysts and those of pregnancy is not uncommon. Women who confuse these symptoms are not to blame since it is even possible to get a positive pregnancy test due to cysts on ovaries. 

Most of the symptoms associated with pregnancy such as delayed or missed periods, nausea, vomiting, bloated abdomen and dizziness may also be caused by cysts. This is because of the physical and hormonal effects that cysts have on the body of a woman. 

Not knowing if you are pregnant or whether the signs and symptoms that you are experiencing are as a result of ovarian cysts may not only be frustrating but also dangerous to your health. Here is how to tell the difference.

While most of the symptoms of ovarian cysts are similar to those of pregnancy, there are some which can help a woman to know if the symptoms she is experiencing are as a result of having cysts on ovaries. Normally, a woman never experiences pain during pregnancy, unless she is experiencing pregnancy complications such as having an ectopic pregnancy. 

Sharp pelvic pain and pain on the lower abdomen which tends to increase when your bowels are full or when moving is a definite sign of the presence of cysts on your ovaries and not a pregnancy. Pain from ovarian cysts tends to be sharp and is sometimes continuous and if you are experiencing it, it is a definite sign of cysts on ovaries.



Vaginal pain and spotting is another common sign of pregnancy which does not usually occur during the early stages of pregnancy. Experiencing pain during sexual intercourse is also an indication of the growth of ovarian cysts and not pregnancy. This may also be accompanied by fullness or heaviness in the pelvic or abdominal area. These are signs of cysts on ovaries which point to the fact that the cysts may be large and thus the chances of having complications are high. 

They may also be a sign of an ovarian cyst rupture, a complication which is sometimes fatal especially when left untreated because it usually leaves a woman susceptible to infections and shock. A difficulty in emptying the bladder and an increase in the frequency with which a woman empties her bladder is also a common sign of ovarian cysts which usually occurs when cysts start to put pressure on adjacent organs.

While these symptoms may help you to differentiate between symptoms of ovarian cysts and those of pregnancy, they are never a sure way to tell the difference between the two. This is because some of these symptoms may develop during a pregnancy especially when pregnancy complications arise. The only sure way to tell the difference is through an ultrasound.