What are the symptoms?

Chocolate cysts may cause symptoms in some women. Other women may not experience any symptoms.The size of the cyst also doesn’t necessarily affect the severity or presence of symptoms. This means a woman with a small cyst may experience symptoms, while someone with a large one may not. Cysts can range from 2 to 20 centimeters (cm) in size.

When symptoms do occur, they’re similar to those of endometriosis. They can include:

• painful, crampy periods
• pelvic pain not related to your menstrual cycle
• irregular periods
• pain during sex
• infertility for some women

If a chocolate cyst ruptures, it can cause severe, sudden abdominal pain on the side of the body where the cyst is located. A ruptured cyst can be a medical emergency.