Berkeley Parents Network: Ovarian Cysts

Berkeley Parents Network

Ovarian Cysts

Berkeley Parents Network > Reviews > Health & Medical > ObGyns > Ovarian Cysts

Recently diagnosed with an ovarian cyst

December 2002

was recently diagnosed with having an Ovarian cyst after having extreme lower, right abdominal pain and nausea and being admitted to the hospital to rule out appendicitis. Can someone give me information on this? I have looked online but there are so many different ideas on this that it is confusing at best. The only thing the hospital told me is that it is common among women and the one I have is ''fairly large''. I thought it strange that they gave me no further information upon discharge regarding the cyst and the only recommendation to see a gynecologist.

Does anyone have further information? I also have fairly lousy health insurance where the choice of doctors is extremely limited unless I go to UCSF in San Francisco. Does anyone have a current recommendation for a gynecologist that has dealt with them on this in Oakland or Berkeley? Thanks in advance! Concerned about cyst

I have had ovarian cysts off and on for about 25 years. The first time I had a large cyst that disappeared by itself. The next time they were rather small, but because there were several of them and I had not had children yet, the doctor decided to try to shrink them by putting me on a low dose of birth control pills - didn't shrink them but they stayed about the same size. Those disappeared during my first pregnancy. I think I've had a couple of more since then but they were small and treatment wasn't needed - I dont think I've got any now. The good news is that many ovarian cysts are not serious problems and disappear on their own AND ovarian cysts rarely become cancerous. The ''bad'' news is that some CAN grow and become quite painful or present fertility problems(and then surgery may be an option). Also, many women who develop ovarian cysts also develop fibroids (I had a hysterectomy for fibroids about 2 years ago, but was able to keep my ovaries which were problem-free) - particularly African American women. But then, I've known women with both cysts and fibroids that have successfully had children and never had surgery - all depends if they start causing pain, bleeding, or fertility problems (by the way I had 2 kids with absolutely NO problems).

I'm in Kaiser so I have no doctor recommendation. I have had ovarian cysts. When I was 30 I had one that was surgically removed--turned out to be some little balloon of liquid. In my late 30s I was getting them as a result of ovulation. I forget exactly what it was but now I take a low estrogen birth control pill to control the painful ovulation/cyst issue. I hope you get responses that give you more technical insight but at least I wanted to let you know that when I was having them, no one was acting like it was that unusual. However in my circumstance it was clearly related to ovulation and so I was never conscerned about malignancy.

I've had two ''dermoid'' ovarian cysts, which I understand to mean they are made up of solid materials (like skin, hair, etc.) instead of fluid. My impression is the fluid-filled kind are more common, so I don't know whether my experience will be relevant, but here goes. Both were removed surgically, the first in 1976 (when I was 12) and the second in 2000 during a c- section. I didn't know the second one existed until the doctors checked out my ovaries during the c-section. Although the 1976 surgery was an ordeal, my understanding is that nowadays they remove this type of ovarian cyst laparoscopically, which would be much easier. As to size, I was told the second one was 7 cm and that that was large. Both were benign, but the first one caused some discomfort. I've only had the one child, but no fertility problems on that one. Both my surgeries were at Kaiser, so I don't have any non-Kaiser doctor recommendations, although the Oakland Kaiser doctors on the second one were terrific. I hope you will be reassured. My experience is these cysts are inconvenient, and a little disconcerting, but no big deal in the great scheme of things. Good luck! Teresa

A couple of years ago, while I was newly pregnant, the ultrasound showed a large ovarian cyst on my left ovary. Since surgery was out of the question because of the pregnancy, and it was not increasing in size, I was told to wait until after birth to do anything, if at all about it. I was told that many women live with cysts such as this one for quite some time, forever even, without complications. I was also told that if it ever caused me any pain that it should be removed. I asked, what kind of pain? because I had been having unusual cramping and lower abdominal discomfort that I now realized must have been the cyst. The doctor said ''oh, you'll know. It will be really bad pain.''

So, I left thinking OK, so if I don't want surgery right away I'm just supposed to wait for this thing to bother me. Little did I know what the ''really bad pain'' was going to be. A year after my birth I was admitted to the emergency room in the most horrific pain of my life. 10 times worse that birth (and I did that without pain medication). I ended up having to have surgery a week later to remove the cyst and my now dead ovary.

It was only after the fact that I questioned why I hadn't been better warned about the potential pain and complications and loss of my ovary due to leaving the cyst in until I was in severe pain. I then much after the surgery ran across a ''list of warning signs of ovarian cysts'' in a women's health book I have stating clearly that if any unusual sharp and persistent lower abdominal pain, nausea, cramping with bowel movements or intercourse is present that a doctor should be consulted immediately. I HAD NOT BEEN TOLD to watch out for these symptoms by my doctor and if I had I would have realized that the consistent pain I went through for almost a year before the removal of the cyst was indication of a serious problem. I had just assumed that the different pains I was going through was gas or my body going back to normal after pregnancy and birth.

I am sorry for the long-winded story but maybe it helps. My point is that I too experienced an information void with my doctors and if you are having all these serious symptoms and have a large cyst, my advice is to get it removed immediately. I do not take surgery lightly, I had never had surgery before the cyst removal so my recommendation is very serious. I do not want anyone to have to go throught the excrutiating pain I did if it can be avoided. to my understanding, Large cysts like yours (and the one I had) are much different that small reoccurring cysts which can be treated in several ways.

Feel free to email if you have unanswered questions. nicole

I have an ovarian cyst on my right ovary that forms and then disappears as the egg is released with each cycle. From what I remember, there are a few kinds of cysts and mine is supposidly relatively harmless. I have just read a book about hormones and women that recommends natural projesterone cream to shrink or eliminate cysts. Apparently, many (most) women are estrogen dominant due to environmental exposure to estrogen-like substances and this throws the estrogen/progesterone balance off, causing cysts, uterine tumors and other problems. Check out the book ''what you doctor won't tell you about premenopause.''

Worried about ovarian cyst

August 2001

After several months of experiencing mild cramping in my lower abdomen, I saw a gynecologist who informed me she'd felt a small cyst on my right ovary. I am very nervous about the possibility that the cyst could be cancerous. Can anyone out there share a similar experience? I am particularly worried because I am 34 years old and have never been diagnosed with a cyst before. I have friends who've had them, but all in their 20's. I don't have a family history and my doctor doesn't SEEM worried, but has sent me for an ultrasound to rule out a problematic cyst or malignancy. She said the cyst might have formed because my period is only recently returned after over a year of breast feeding and it's possible that it would be gone by the time I have the ultrasound. Has anyone had that experience? I have to wait two weeks for the ultrasound which seems like an eternity, and knowing about other good outcomes will be helpful.

I had an ovarian cyst. It was painful, so I had it removed laproscopically. The ultrasound ruled out any bad possibilities (cancerous-looking) and confirmed why it hurt (it was bleeding). While I could have opted to not have surgery, the cyst really hurt so I wanted to end the pain. With the laproscope, removing an ovarian cyst is an outpatient procedure. I went to work the 2nd day after my surgery with no pain. I know you must be worried, but ovarian cysts can occur at any age. AND they are very rarely cancerous. Best wishes for a quick recovery from your cyst. Kellie

I'm not sure what type of cysts you have, but three years ago when I was 31, I was diagnosed with dermoid cysts on both ovaries, with one ovary being the size of an orange. I didn't really notice any symptoms, other than having to go pee alot since the one cyst infected ovary was so large it pressed on my bladder. The cysts were only discovered during a routine physical exam. In any case, everything turned out fine - they took out both cysts, both were benign (which I think is usual for dermoid cysts), and my ovaries are fine. I now have a 1 1/2 year old little boy and am pregnant with my second. Emily

I've had ovarian cysts a few times in my life - once when I was about 21 and again in my 30's. Each time they've disappeared by themselves. The first time I had one large cyst that disappeared within a year.The second round of cyst lasted some time and my ob/gyn would "keep tabs" on it to see if it was growing - it grew a little then disappeared. The third time they were VERY small and never grew. In my early 40's I had REAL problems with uterine fibroids (alot of women have cysts AND fibroids - so don't be surprised if that shows up on the ultrasound) and ended up opting for a hysterectomy BUT strangely enough my ovaries were FINE and weren't "touched". From my doctor as well as from my friends and family (ovarian cysts and fibroids are VERY common in African American women - and that's my experience) I know that ovarian cysts and fibroids are RARELY cancerous (but doctors always check it out) but CAN cause infertility problems - and sometimes "quality of life" issues: discomfort, pain, and with fibroids - unbelievably heavy cyclical bleeding. Also in some cases the cysts/fibroids can threaten other organs. Doctors may just leave the cyst alone (same for fibroids) and monitor it for growth and/or see if it disapears- if there's a possible fertility issue and you want to have kids,then laser surgery is usually a viable solution - sometimes growing cysts/fibroids are treated with the "pill" (not of course if you're trying to get pregnant). If the cysts/fibroids are VERY large, growing, and threatening other organs then traditional surgery removal or even removing the entire ovary(ies) might be indicated. BUT I REALLY WOULDN'T WORRY. It is EXTREMELY unlikely that you have ANYTHING to be concerned about. Its very likely that "nothing" will need to be done but to monitor the cysts.

I had a tiny, follicle sized ovarian cyst upon getting pregnant which was grapefruit sized by birth - pregnancy hormone mega-excitement. It had to come out, both to make sure it wasn't malignant (it wasn't) and because it was so huge, but despite its enormity the fabulous surgeon to whom I was referred, Dr. James Sakamoto, was able to do it laparoscopically. I was out of the hospital and nursing the baby that afternoon! Your cyst is probably as they described, but even if they decide to take it out to be on the safe side, if they aren't alarmed (they can tell a lot by texture and other clues)you should try not to be either. Christine

Your dr. should have explained that there are "functional" and non-functional cysts. I've had both. (I've also had surgery on both of my ovaries, once to remove a benign tumor, once to remove cysts.) Functional cysts come and go with your cycle, and are not something dr.s recommend treating -- they self-resolve. Non-functional cysts stay on your ovaries through several cycles or longer. The ultrasound should indicate whether the object is fluid-filled (cyst) or more solid, in which case it may be a tumor, possibly benign. That -- fluid or solid -- should be information you can get out of the ultrasound tech with informal questions during the ultrasound -- ask her/him to let you see the screen during the ultrasound, and ask questions about anything they freeze the screen for and measure.

If it's "just" a cyst, i.e. not a tumor, then you can a) do nothing; b) treat with hormones and then take a wait and see attitude; or c) opt for surgery to remove it. I've actually done all three, but because of other health issues I ditched the hormone treatment pretty quickly. The main problem with option "a" is if ovulation is really painful. This is sometimes a function of the size and placement of the cyst, as well as your pain threshold. The main problem with option "c" is, well, it's surgery.

Good luck. Keep asking questions. Sandy

I have had cysts on my ovaries on and off for many years now. I can tell you that while they can really hurt (I have two right now) they are not usually dangerous. If you'd like to e-mail me I would be happy to talk with you in person and reassure you! Molly

I am a family physician and see patients with this type of pain at least 5 times a day. Ovarian "cysts" can be very painfull, or a lingering pain that can last for months. They are common at any pre-menopausal age and are not dangerous. The ultrasound will reassure you that it is not cancerous. If there are chambers in the cyst or if it is larger that 5 centimeters, your physician may want to biopsy it. If it is solid, it still may be a benign tumor. Unfortunately, ovarian cancers rarely hurt. The treatment for "cysts" is advil (I like alleve 1 to 2 twice a day) or if you get them often, going on the birth control pill helps. A cyst forms on your ovary every time you ovulate. You need this cyst to make the normal hormones that make you have your periods. Sometimes the cyst just gets too big, but eventually gets absorbed or bursts. I hope you feel better soon.

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