Pop star Miley Cyrus has spoken candidly about a harrowing health scare she endured while filming her NBC New Year’s Eve special in 2023, disclosing that she performed live on stage despite suffering from a ruptured ovarian cyst.
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In a recent episode of The Zane Lowe Interview Series podcast, the 32-year-old singer described the episode as “extremely excruciating”, admitting it pushed her to the brink of walking away from music altogether.
“I had a medical emergency,” Cyrus explained. “I had an ovarian cyst rupture. We weren’t entirely sure what was happening at the time, but we went ahead with the performance. It was deeply traumatic, because it was extremely painful. I did the show anyway, but it was really, really tough.”
A ruptured ovarian cyst can cause sudden, sharp pain in the lower abdomen, and in some cases may result in nausea, vomiting or internal bleeding.
Cyrus also reflected on how the ordeal affected her mentally. “I had dinner with Lorne [Michaels], and he said something that stuck,” she recalled. “He told me, ‘Everyone gets six months to feel sorry for themselves – and then we rebuild.’”
She continued, “By the time Christmas and New Year’s rolled around, my time was up. He said, ‘You wouldn’t believe how many artists have sat in this chair saying they’re quitting music. Everyone goes through something traumatic.’”
Cyrus’s revelation came shortly after television presenter Lorraine Kelly opened up about her own experience with a ruptured ovarian cyst. Speaking on her ITV morning show Lorraine, the veteran broadcaster revealed she underwent surgery to remove her ovaries and fallopian tubes after suffering a cyst rupture mid-flight earlier this year.
“Do you remember I mentioned back in January I was flying home from India and had awful pain?” she told viewers. “It turned out a cyst had burst – an ovarian cyst – and there was some internal bleeding. When I say discomfort, and I’m usually stoic, but it was awful.”
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According to the NHS, ovarian cysts are fluid-filled sacs that develop on the ovaries and are particularly common before menopause. Many are harmless and resolve naturally within a few months, often without any symptoms.
However, complications can arise when a cyst ruptures, becomes particularly large, or twists, potentially leading to severe pain or other medical concerns. Appearing on Lorraine, TV medic Dr Hilary Jones provided further insight:
“There are different types of ovarian cysts,” he said. “Before menopause, functional cysts can form during ovulation. These sometimes fill with fluid and grow.
“After menopause, we tend to see cysts known as cystadenomas – usually benign, but they can become large and, occasionally, pose a cancer risk. In some cases, it may be wise to remove the ovaries and fallopian tubes as a precaution.”
Most ovarian cysts don’t cause symptoms, but in the event of complications such as rupture or torsion, they may produce the following signs:
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Sudden or severe pelvic pain
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Pain during or after intercourse
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Bloating or abdominal swelling
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Frequent urge to urinate
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Difficulty emptying the bladder or bowels
Medical professionals advise that if you experience sudden, intense abdominal or pelvic pain, you should seek urgent medical attention, as a ruptured cyst may require immediate treatment.
