Understanding Ovarian Cysts

If you’ve ever been told you have an ovarian cyst, you know how unsettling it can feel, especially if you’re not given much context about what that actually means for your health. As a functional medicine health coach, I’ve worked with many women who were left with more questions than answers after an ultrasound or a quick doctor’s visit.

Ovarian cysts are actually very common, and not all are cause for alarm. But understanding which type of cyst you have and how it ties into your cycle can help you make empowered decisions about your health (without jumping into unnecessary medications or procedures).

Let’s break it down.

Types of Ovarian Cysts

1. Functional Cysts (Most Common)
These are a normal part of your menstrual cycle. They form when your ovary either:

• Doesn’t release an egg (follicular cyst)

• Does release an egg, but fluid collects afterward (corpus luteum cyst)

Most functional cysts are small, painless, and disappear within a cycle or two. But if your cycles are irregular, ovulation isn’t happening consistently, or you have hormonal imbalances, these can show up more often.

2. Dermoid Cysts
These are benign growths that can contain tissue like hair, skin, or even teeth (wild, I know). They’re not related to your menstrual cycle and usually need to be monitored or surgically removed if they get large.

3. Endometriomas
These are associated with endometriosis, where uterine-like tissue grows outside the uterus. Endometriomas can cause significant pain (especially during your period) and may affect fertility.

4. Cystadenomas
These develop from ovarian tissue and can be filled with a watery or mucous-like fluid. They’re usually benign but can grow large and cause pressure or discomfort.

5. Polycystic Ovaries (PCO)
This is not the same as PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), although the two are often confused. In PCO, multiple small follicles are present but are not releasing eggs consistently. PCOS, on the other hand, comes with a cluster of symptoms including irregular cycles, excess androgens, and metabolic imbalances.

Symptoms to Watch For

Not all ovarian cysts cause symptoms, but when they do, you might notice:

• Pelvic pain (sharp or dull, often on one side)

• Bloating or abdominal pressure

• Pain during ovulation (mittelschmerz) or intercourse

• Changes in your menstrual flow

• Frequent urination or difficulty emptying your bladder (from a large cyst pressing on other organs)

• Unexplained fatigue (often tied to hormonal imbalance)

Red flag: Severe pain + nausea/vomiting could mean a cyst has ruptured or twisted (ovarian torsion) and this is an emergency…. like for real, go call a dr.

How to Track Your Cycle for Hormonal Clues (Without Lab Testing)

While labs can give us great data, they’re a snapshot. Your body, on the other hand, gives you real-time information every single month. By tracking your cycle, you can catch patterns that point toward hormonal imbalance, ovulation issues, or inflammation.

Here’s what I recommend tracking:

1. Cycle Length – Count from day 1 of bleeding to the day before your next period.

2. Basal Body Temperature (BBT) – Take it first thing in the morning before getting out of bed. A post-ovulation rise confirms ovulation. How? Tempdrop: https://tempdrop.refr.cc/default/u/rachelclairehhc?s=sp&t=cp

3. Cervical Mucus – Egg-white-like fluid mid-cycle indicates fertile days and estrogen peak.

4. Ovulation Pain – Sharp twinges around mid-cycle can confirm ovulation timing.

5. PMS & Mood Changes – Track symptoms like bloating, breast tenderness, or mood shifts these can indicate luteal phase health.

6. Bleeding Quality – Note clot size, heaviness, and color… these can hint at estrogen dominance, low progesterone, or inflammation.

By tracking these, you can spot trends like whether you’re ovulating consistently, how long your luteal phase is, or if certain symptoms correlate with cyst formation.

Bottom Line

Ovarian cysts are common, but recurrent or symptomatic cysts are a sign your body needs support, not just symptom suppression. Functional medicine looks deeper, addressing hormonal balance, inflammation, nutrient status, and stress resilience to help prevent recurrence and improve overall cycle health.

Ready to get to the root of your symptoms?
In my Optimal Health Program, we go beyond surface-level fixes to optimize your hormones, support ovulation, and fine-tune your supplement regimen based on your unique body… no guessing games, just results.

Learn more: https://www.rachelclairehhc.com/optimal-health-program