It’s not just your posture – ovarian cysts could be the real culprit behind your backache.
Many women sense that nagging back pain but dismiss it as normal stress or getting older. Yet ovarian cysts can sometimes provoke lower back discomfort in subtle ways.
At Kaly, women’s health specialists regularly educate patients on how ovarian cysts can radiate pain signals into the back through nerve innervation.
If you’re dealing with unexplained back pain alongside pelvic or menstrual changes, the true cause may be lurking in your ovaries. In this guide, we’ll explore the mechanisms linking ovarian cysts and back pain and when to seek care for cyst-related back discomfort.
Can Ovarian Cysts Cause Back Pain?
Yes, ovarian cysts can cause back pain by putting pressure on pelvic nerves and structures, twisting the ovary and limiting circulation, or rupturing and spilling cyst contents according to OBGYNs.
Direct Pressure on Pelvic Structures and Nerves
When an ovarian cyst grows large or complex, it can put direct pressure on surrounding tissues and nerves near the ovaries and uterus. Specific structures affected include:
- Uterosacral ligaments
- Cardinal ligaments
- Pelvic floor muscles
- Nerves like the obturator and femoral nerves
This constant pressure stimulates pain receptors known as nociceptors. In response, these nerves transmit and radiate feelings of aching, cramping, or sharp pain into the lower back and sometimes down the legs.
Though the cyst itself sits in the pelvis, women sense the pain signals in the back due to this nerve involvement.
Ovarian Torsion Cutting Off Blood Flow
As an ovarian cyst enlarges, it can become heavy enough to make the ovary twist or flip over on itself. This is known as ovarian torsion. Torsion cuts off the ovary’s blood supply and triggers two sources of pain:
Directly stimulates stretch receptors in the ovarian tissue, causing them to fire off signals.
The reduced blood flow damages the ovary, releasing inflammatory chemicals that further stimulate pain receptors.
This ovarian torsion provokes severe, recurrent waves of pain. The pain often radiates from the pelvis into the hip and lower back due to the innervation of pelvic nerves in these areas.
Rupture of the Ovarian Cyst
If an ovarian cyst ruptures, it releases its contents into the pelvic cavity. This can directly irritate the peritoneum (abdominal lining) and also rapidly reduce pressure on the ovary. Both effects stimulate pain receptors, leading to:
- Severe, sharp pain in the pelvis, abdomen, and radiating into the back
- Potential internal bleeding that can worsen inflammation and pain
Find a talented OBGYN to evaluate and treat back pain stemming from ovarian cysts. Perform customized searches with Kaly!
How Common is Back Pain With Ovarian Cysts?
According to the clinical experience of our specialists at Kaly, back pain is not an exceedingly common symptom of ovarian cysts overall. However, research studies have found back pain may occur in 11% to as high as 45% of women with ovarian cysts.
One study we reviewed found that among patients with lower back pain not caused by spinal issues, 44.5% were found to have ovarian cysts visible on MRI scans. This data point suggests back pain is a reasonably frequent occurrence with ovarian cysts.
However, other studies have reported varying prevalence rates. Overall estimates range from around 11% on the low end to 45% on the high end of women with ovarian cysts experiencing some degree of back pain.
What Are Other Symptoms of Ovarian Cysts?
Other common symptoms of ovarian cysts include pelvic pain, abnormal bleeding, increased urination, pain during sex, unexplained weight gain, and breast tenderness.
| Symptom | Description |
| Pelvic or lower abdominal pain | Dull aches or feelings of heaviness and pressure are most common. This pain may also radiate to the lower back and thighs. |
| Bladder and bowel issues | Some women have problems fully emptying their bladder or bowels due to an ovarian cyst pressing on these organs. |
| Pain during sexual intercourse | An ovarian cyst may be aggravated by deep penetration, causing pain. |
| Abnormal menstrual bleeding | Cysts can lead to irregular, heavy, or prolonged periods due to hormone fluctuations. |
| Breast tenderness | Hormone changes from a cyst can spark breast and nipple sensitivity. |
| Increased urination | The pressure of a cyst on the bladder may cause a frequent need to urinate. |
| Unexplained weight gain | Fluid accumulation from a large cyst can lead to weight gain. |
When To See a Doctor About Ovarian Cyst Back Pain
Make an appointment with your OBGYN or women’s health nurse practitioner if you develop unexplained back pain that:
- Comes on suddenly and severely, which could indicate a ruptured ovarian cyst.
- Persists for more than one week.
- Occurs alongside other potential symptoms of ovarian cysts like pelvic pain and abnormal periods.
Mild back pain that goes away after a few days is less concerning. Still, we argue that severe or persistent back pain warrants medical attention. Other reasons to seek prompt care include:
- You develop a fever, chills, or vomiting.
- Your pain is not improving with over-the-counter medication.
- You have abdominal swelling or are unable to have a bowel movement.
These symptoms could point to an infected or twisted ovarian cyst requiring emergency surgery. Otherwise, your doctor can order imaging tests like an ultrasound or CT scan to diagnose an ovarian cyst as the cause of back pain. Pelvic exams also help identify ovarian cysts.
If your back aches are ovarian cysts in disguise, our specialists can certainly help – book now.
What Are the Treatment Options for Ovarian Cyst Back Pain?
Treatment options for ovarian cyst back pain include over-the-counter pain medication, heating pads, hormone regulation, cyst drainage, and surgery if the cyst is large, persistent, or suspicious.
Home Treatments for Symptom Relief
- Over-the-counter pain medication like ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) – These can reduce inflammation and ovarian cyst pain in the short term.
- Heat therapy – Applying heating pads, hot water bottles, or warm baths directly to the back and abdomen can ease ovarian cyst discomfort through increased blood flow.
- Herbal remedies – Ginger tea contains anti-inflammatory compounds that may help minimize cramping and pelvic pain from cysts.
The main limitation of home treatments is they only provide symptom relief without addressing the underlying cyst itself. But they offer an accessible first step in pain management.
Medical Treatments for Persistent Ovarian Cysts
If the ovarian cysts and resulting back pain linger for more than 2-3 menstrual cycles, Kaly doctors may then recommend additional medical treatment options:
- Hormonal birth control – Oral contraceptives or IUDs releasing progestin can prevent new functional ovarian cysts from recurring monthly. However, they don’t impact existing cysts.
- Cyst aspiration – Draining the fluid content of a large ovarian cyst using ultrasound-guided needle drainage. This shrinks the cyst size temporarily.
- Laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy – Keyhole surgery to excise persistent, complex, or suspicious looking ovarian cysts.
- Open surgery – Traditional open abdominal surgery to remove problematic ovarian cysts may be done in some cases.
FAQs
Can ovarian cysts cause severe back pain?
Ovarian cysts can cause severe back pain if they grow to an abnormally large size. Seek medical care for sudden, severe pain.
Does the size of an ovarian cyst influence back pain?
Yes, larger ovarian cysts are more likely to cause back pain. Cyst size is directly proportional to back pain severity in most cases.
Does an ovarian cyst cause lower back pain?
Yes, ovarian cysts often cause mild lower back pain by pressing on nerves specifically in those areas.
Can an ovarian cyst cause back pain on one side?
Yes, an ovarian cyst on one ovary can cause back pain on the same side due to its location. A cyst on the right ovary may cause pain in the right lower back.