Anyone with experience of an ovarian cyst?

[BoohPear]

When I had my 12 week scan, the sonographer found an 8cm cyst on one of my ovaries. It didn't change throughout my pregnancy and now dd is 7 months I have the option of either leaving it alone or having it taken out and I don't know what to do.

I am getting no pain or any symptoms from it so my initial reaction is to leave it alone and the hospital will do 6 monthly scans to make sure its OK. However there is a chance it could burst at some point, or grow bigger or interfere/cause problems if I have another baby.

I'm just a bit scared of basically volunteering to be cut open when I could live with the cyst forever and it might not cause problems, there is also the possibility I could loose my ovary if they can't get the cyst off by itself. Plus I'm starting a new job in December when I come back off maternity and the operation would likely be in January and it just seems a bit much.

Has anyone else had a large cyst removed or left one be? I just don't know what the best option would be.

It was discovered that I had a cyst when I had my second cs, nothing had shown up in the many scans I'd had! They removed it there and then, I wasn't given a choice since I was lying on the operating table with my abdomen already open. It was quite a painful operation but I was told that was because the anaesthetist obviously hadn't been able to prepare properly for it. Afterwards was fine, no different from recovering from my previous cs.

I had two large cysts removed about 9 years ago. Laparoscopic keyhole surgery by an excellent surgeon. Mine were approx 10cm diam. They can cause issues - and I wouldn't leave it if you want another pregnancy in near future. I think you would need to push your GP for a referral for surgery. The NHS don't seem to be bothered unless causing you a problem, but a large cyst is very unlikely to resolve itself and under keyhole it can be drained of fluid and removed in such a way to safeguard the remaining ovary tissue. Is usually a day case, with a week or two recovery (very light activity).

I was skiing after 6 weeks; my fertility was saved, and have since had two healthy normal pregnancies/children.

One of mine had been there for years and I'd had all sorts of issues/chronic pain and hormonal because of it without realising due to misdiagnosis.

I had another large one this year - 8.5 cm - which was painful, but actually seemed to resolve itself so a second surgery was cancelled. I believe this is extremely unusual though.

Check out your options - I would get it removed if possible. Needs to be biopsied to ensure it's benign, also. Has your ultrasound shown it to be a very simple fluid-filled bag?

Have a serious chat with your GP x

BoohPear I could've written your OP word for word a year ago.

I chose to have mine removed. My thoughts were if the cyst did start growing it could entangle even more round the ovary and make removal of the ovary more likely. Also it wasn't causing me any pain but again, if left, this could change and there was the (small) chance that i'd end up have to have it removed but in an emergency op - which by my reckoning would be worse than a planned one.

As I knew I wanted more children I wanted it removed in the safest possible way and at the earliest opportunity.

The op itself was fine. I was in hospital for 2 nights although did need lots of help at home for weeks afterwards.

Thank you everyone. I'm already under a consultant who is happy for me to have surgery so thankfully don't need to pester the gp! I've never had to have an op before which is the main reason I'm fretting I think, plus I hate hospitals!

I'm going for another scan on Saturday to see if its gotten bigger and will have another word with my consultant.

I think you will notice a benefit after it's been removed. Don't worry & best of luck for the future x

I went into hospital for treatment for a prolapsed uterus The treatment was laparoscopic and rather than discover a prolapsed uterus, they discovered that I had a grapefruit sized cyst which was wrapped around my left ovary which was then pushing my uterus down and compressing my bowel. They collapsed the cyst and had to remove the cyst, my ovary and part of my fallopian tube.

The prolapsed uterus symptoms and my bowel issues went away immediately!

I would suggest that you have it removed before it causes you any problems. I had 10 years of symptoms which were misdiagnosed as IBS, and presumably, only one working ovary for much of that time.

I had a 15cm cyst which I didn't know about until it twisted, causing untold agony! Had to have it removed in emergency surgery- keyhole- from which the recovery was a doddle compared to the pain I experienced beforehand.