What condition should be suspected in a 24-year-old female with left-sided flank pain, irregular vaginal bleeding, and pain during intercourse?

The symptoms described—a 24-year-old female with left-sided flank pain, irregular vaginal bleeding, and pain during intercourse—point towards the presence of an ovarian cyst. Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled sacs that develop on the ovaries and can cause discomfort or pain, especially if they rupture or become large. The flank pain suggests that there may be an association with the reproductive organs, in this case, the left ovary.

Irregular vaginal bleeding can also occur with ovarian cysts, particularly if hormonal changes are involved in their development. Furthermore, pain during intercourse, known as dyspareunia, is another common symptom associated with cysts on the ovaries, as the presence of a cyst can cause pelvic pain or discomfort during sexual activity.

In contrast, while conditions like ovarian torsion, ectopic pregnancy, and uterine fibroids may also present with some overlapping symptoms like pelvic pain or bleeding, they tend to have more specific and critical clinical signs. Ovarian torsion often presents with acute, severe unilateral pain and may involve nausea and vomiting, indicating an urgent situation. Ectopic pregnancy usually results in significant abdominal pain accompanied by abnormal bleeding and may involve additional signs like shoulder pain due to referred pain from diaphragmatic irritation