ovarian cyst ?

Dawn - posted on 04/12/2010

Just watch how you are feeling. Little ones are very normal and come and go. However, they can get huge. I ended up with a 30 pound (not a typo) ovarian cyst when I was 21. Obviously, it had to be surgically removed. HOWEVER, I was not seeing a doctor for it or being monitored...I just thought I was gaining weight and my periods were irregular (for about a year and a half).

Just keep on top of it. It sounds like your doctor is thinking the b/c and a little time should do it, and normally it will. But, if you don't feel better and/or are noticing other symptoms that could be related, don't explain them away or ignore them. TELL your doctor :).

Carrie - posted on 04/11/2010

The two major reasons for ovarian Cysts are because your egg that is released doesn't break open to release the egg. Then the sac keeps growing. This takes a few months to go away. OR, more likely, it's when the egg is released and the sac seals back off and doesn't dissolve. Then, fluids build up inside. (They can get like 4" big.) Most of these go away after a few weeks. They can grow really big, too. Either kind can twist at your ovary and cause pain or "rupture" and cause pain.

The suggestion of birth control is to stop you from ovulating, which means the egg won't be released. If after a few months on birth control, your pain goes away, you know what happened. (It's an easy way and inexpensive way to figure it out.)

If your pain doesn't go away, then your doctor may want to figure out if its a different kind of cyst. *If you have pain during sex and/or period, then you usually have endometriomas (where the outer lining of your uterus attaches to the ovary and forms a growth). *Then, there are cysts formed when your eggs keep maturing inside your ovary, repeating with each cycle (Polycystic ovaries). Being 21 and having a 7-month old, I'd say you didn't have a lot of trouble conceiving, which probably means its not this kind of cyst. Then, there are cystadenomas and dermoid cysts - these can become large and cause pain and form for various reasons.

Overall, I'd say your doctor is dead-on for the way you are being treated.

Ovarian cysts are not unusual at all. Generally, the only time women get U/S are when they are pregnant, which means, no cysts. They are finding more and more, though, if they do U/S of non-pregnant women, most of them have some form of ovarian cysts.

Andrea - posted on 04/11/2010

I had a dermoid cyst at 12 years old and it had to be removed surgically. Two years ago I had a simple cyst and I was put on the birth control pill in hopes it would dissolve and it did in a month. It depends on what kind of cyst you have as to what treatment you could have.

Kathy - posted on 04/11/2010

Ovarian cysts form when you ovulate. If your ovary is overstimulated, you get large cysts. The normally shrink on their own. Sometimes they burst which is quite painful but usually harmless. Your body absorbs the extra fluid and the doctor can do an ultrasound to make sure the ovary isn't damaged. While the cyst is large, they are painful and cause abdomin and lower back pain, bloating, and odd periods. For now follow your doctor's advice. I don't take birth control and I get ovarian cysts on and off. I have had one burst. They usually just get to a certain size then shrink. Someday I will convince a doctor that I need to have my ovaries removed so I don't have to keep going through the pain and migraines thanks to my periods. Good luck to you

Angie - posted on 04/11/2010

I get cysts all the time. Sometimes mine are filled with blood and those are the most uncomfortable. I'm blessed that nothing has needed to be done with them. I will admit that when one ruptures it is pretty uncomfortable for about half hour or so. Just keep checking in with your docor to make sure it's only a cyst. I find that applying heat when they're at their worst helps more than anything else.

Anne - posted on 04/11/2010

Hello, it sounds like you have what I have which is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. I am also on birth control which controls my periods as well. If I am not on birth control my periods last for months. And yes, I did say months! I was diagnosised with it shortly I gave birth to my son back in 1997. I didn't have the pain you described but because of this I have been unable to get pregnant easily and when I have been pregnant they both ended in miscarriages with the latest one being four years ago which I had to give birth and bury my son. As for a cure there isn't one and I was told by a doctor I do have cysts on my ovaries which cause the bad cramping. If it continued then he would do an ultrasound to see how bad they were. I haven't had that heppen yet and that was a little over two years ago. I have had Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) for 13 years. There are other health issues with this too and you might want to do some research on it if this is what it is. I am not sure about how I contracted this either. I hope this helps.

Summer - posted on 04/11/2010

i have them they come an go as they please they make my periods hurt worse an cramping badly.. they also told me to do birthcontrol an then do a ultrasound after a few months ive had them for over four years. it just makes it uncomfortable for me to have sex sometimes an cramping pain wise it gets bad.. ive learn to kinda deal with it.. heating pad tylenol... which barely helps.. but i hope it gets better for you honey.