Chocolate cyst removal - impact fertility?

[Sylva123]

Hi all,
I'm booked to have a chocolate cyst removed from my ovary in a fortnight. I'm worried about the removal of the cyst having a negative impact on fertility. Should I be thinking about freezing my eggs or anything like that? Has anyone had any experience?
The plan at the moment is to remove the cyst and then look at IVF in December / January, but I haven't been able to talk to a consultant to make a plan yet

[Lauren83]

It's really hard to say as there's a balance between it needing to come out to give you a better chance of success with treatment and the small chance it could have a negative effect on your ovarian reserve, it's likely if it's big enough to need removing that they wouldn't let you proceed to a treatment cycle of IVF/Egg freezing anyway as it can grown during stims and cause complications during egg collection/increased risk or infection etc. I had mine out before my first IVF but it was 15cm so I had no choice, I already had very poor ovarian reserve due to endo and it wasn't any worse afterwards

[applecrumbl3]

Hello, I had an endometrioma removed in April 2018. I then started ttc later that year which was unsuccessful til now. I have just done a cycle of ivf in which unfortunately the ovary which had had the endometrioma remover failed to respond at all. Luckily the other did. I am not sure if there would have been any option to freeze eggs prior but it would be worth asking some questions perhaps. I went to a very well regarded surgeon for the removal and think I may have just been unlucky :-/

[Sylva123]

Thank you Lauren and Applecrumbl. I have my pre op this week so I'll see if I can ask someone then. It's all so crazy, I am worried I'll have the operation and it'll be too late to ask the question, but I can't see the consultant til October. My cyst is only 4cm but they say I have to have it out. The cyst and very low progesterone are the only two things that have come up from all my tests. I am so confused and wish I could just speak to a consultant before the op

[applecrumbl3]

That doesn't sound that big. I saw Robert Richardson at Chelsea and Westminster, who is very well regarded. He put me on a back to back (ie rolling packs, no periods) progesterone only pill for about 3 or 4 months before having the operation to try to shrink the cyst, which did partially work. Might be another option for you if you don't want to risk an op? Mine was still 4cm by the time I had it out but started much bigger.

[Lauren83]

Depending where you are I can also recommend Dr Edmond Edi Osagie in Manchester, I did have the cyst drained during an exploratory lap, a 3 month course of prostap then another lap and another course of prostap before I had my first cycle

[Sylva123]

Thanks both of you. I don't think I have the option of going to a different surgeon or hospital. I'm going to try to ask some more questions tomorrow. The op is on Monday. I'm so anxious about it. X