Hailey Bieber has an ovarian cyst – what you should know about the common problem

Hailey Bieber has an ovarian cyst – what you should know about the common problem

Hailey Bieber is speaking out about her health again. This time, the model revealed that she has an ovarian cyst in a recent post on her Instagram stories.

Bieber shared a photo of herself pulling up her shirt with the text "no baby" near her stomach, reports People. “I have an apple-sized cyst on my ovary,” she wrote in another text box on the photo.

Ovarian cysts can occur in patients with endometriosis, a painful condition in which the tissue that normally lines the uterus grows outside the uterus, or polycystic ovary syndrome, a hormonal problem that can cause irregular periods, according to the Mayo Clinic. However, Bieber does not suffer from any of these conditions - although she has had ovarian cysts a few times, as she stated in her recent social post. “It’s never fun,” the model wrote.

Kate Beckinsale was hospitalized due to a ruptured ovarian cyst

Ovarian cysts often cause no symptoms and resolve on their own, according to the Mayo Clinic. But for Bieber, ovarian cysts cause some physical and emotional symptoms, she shared. “It hurts and [achy] and I feel nauseous and bloated and shitty and emotional,” she wrote.

Although Bieber explained her symptoms, you may be wondering what exactly are ovarian cysts?

“Ovarian cysts are sacs or pouches in the ovary,” says Tia Jackson-Bey, gynecologist and reproductive endocrinologist, MD, MPH at RMA in New York. "Most are simply filled with fluid and come and go over the course of a monthly menstrual cycle. These functional cysts are actually follicles in which the egg grows, which is ovulated until it is released from the ovary during ovulation," she explains. "After ovulation, the same cyst space transitions into a corpus luteum, a cyst that produces progesterone in preparation for early pregnancy. If pregnancy does not occur, the cyst stops growing [and] disappears, leading to a decrease in progesterone and shedding of the uterine lining or menstruation."

Large cysts (like Bieber's) can cause pelvic pain, bloating, and a feeling of fullness or heaviness in the abdomen, according to the Mayo Clinic. In some cases, ovarian cysts can twist or rupture, which can cause severe pain and bleeding, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. Anyone experiencing severe abdominal pain or uncontrolled bleeding should seek medical attention immediately.

Ovarian cysts are common but often go undetected unless they are incidentally seen on an ultrasound or CT scan of the pelvis, says Dr. Jackson Bey. Warning signs of an ovarian cyst can be vague, she explains. These may include cramping around the time of ovulation, frequent urination/urgency, and discomfort during intercourse. You can discuss these symptoms with a gynecologist, who can refer patients to pelvic ultrasound if they suspect that cysts may be causing these problems.

In Bieber's case, her cyst is likely a functional corpus luteum and should heal, according to Dr. Dissolve Jackson-Bey with menstruation. "While these are not usually harmful, large functional cysts can be quite uncomfortable, particularly if there is bleeding from the ovary at the time of ovulation (hemorrhagic cyst) or if the cyst has caused the ovary to twist (ovarian torsion), which can restrict blood flow to the ovary," she says. “The average size of a corpus luteum is two to four centimeters (size from peanut to walnut), but in rare cases can be up to eight to ten centimeters (orange or grapefruit).”

This isn't the first time Bieber has opened up about health issues she's faced. Earlier this year, she spoke about suffering a "mini-stroke" as a result of a blood clot that moved to her brain.

It seems like she continues to find it helpful to share her stories with others. "I'm sure many of you can relate and understand excessively," she wrote in her recent post about ovarian cysts. “We got this.”