How long does it normally take for an ovarian cyst to go away by itself?

[beaglesaresweet]

talking about a simple follicular cyst, which when first scanned was 5cm and then after a month between 6 and 7cm, andstayed that size after further two months. No idea how long has it been there as they have no way of telling.
Is there any way to cause it to 'collapse' as they put it - any hormone-supporting herbal stuff even? They keep saying it's simple and 'not looking nasty' and not twisted but it's not small and who wants an op?

I had one that gave me major pain after the birth of my last child. No surgery , no intervention . I forgot about it in less than a year as it gradually stopped killing me. Now i would have taken large doses of vit c - but check that for yourself.

thanks, amarmai. Can I ask what size was it? Did doctors suggest you should have a procedure and you just didn't want to do it, or they didn't even suggest? When you say the pain stopped - do you know if it's collapsed? Or can you live with one for years safely if pain stops? Also how frequently did you scan it? glad to hear you have no more pain.

no scans just the gp saying so. Don't remember going back -life was too chaotic-40+years ago. So if the dr was right , and i am still kicking,my usual approach of get it diagnosed then wait for my body to heal itself seems to be working so far. BUT i am not suggesting you follow my life plan.Do what you feel comfortable doing.

I don't want anything invasive - who does, really? I wanted to know how long to give it for the body to heal itself, that's the essence of my question - it's been a few months, but if your took a year that's encouraging (i.e. no need to rush into anything yet).

I cannot advise you how long to wait for healing . Gp can do that.

So in you case GP was happy to wait for nearly a year it seems, so that's something. Mind you it was so long ago - now they use scans much more actively - and they make you worried too by talking about sizes/types etc!

I waited 10 months from first (crippling) torsion to having the cyst and attached ovary removed. I was only aware how much pain it was causing once it stopped. Even with stitches still healing, I felt so much better. My consultant told me that since it had not reduced in size in 4 months between scans, it was unlikely to disappear without surgery.

thanks, reallybadday. Oh no, mine is probably 4 month too though it's stopped increasing two months ago - though I assume you didn't discover it straight away before the torsion - so overall it could have been more like 6+ months. Was this a while ago? now there is theory that it's abslutely unnecessary to remove the ovary as the keyhole procedure usually works, but they used to be more radical before. I hope you were ok after this?

Morning beagles, sorry I should have explained better last night but I was falling asleep.

I only discovered the cyst after the torsion. The GP referred me for a scan after I described the pain at a routine appointment and she surmised that what the most likely cause. The scan showed a 5cm cyst that didn't seem too concerning and it was agreed to repeat the scan 4 months later and include an internal scan.
The repeat scan showed that the cyst had not changed size much but had moved position and the internal showed that it was most likely vascular (had a blood supply). I then had another few months on a waiting list for a gynacologist referral.
The consultant explained that she thought it best to remove the cyst and the attached ovary because of the vascular aspect and also because I am older and not planning any more children. Had I been younger, I think she would have recommended further monitoring before committing to removal of the ovary.
So after another 2 months I had laparoscopic surgery and both cyst and ovary were removed. I was very worried about surgery and more about being kept in but I was home by 3pm the same day. I went back to work after a week but still a bit tired and sore for a while after. That was earlier this month and I'm recovering really well, thanks.

beagles, you do really need to trust the advice you get from your GP/ consultant as every case will be different.
In my case, removal was definitely the best option. I'm older and my family is complete. I had pain in the site of that cyst for months but I honestly wasn't aware how much it was affecting me until after it was gone.
What does your GP say? Mine was really supportive.
Have you had blood tests done?

thank you really, very helpful!
GP doesn't say much as so far they are just observing the scans - I don't think mine has a blood supply so they refer to it as 'simple'. But it's still largish and Im really hoping it will just go away, they say it can collapse but no one is saying how long is normal for that. I think as it's been 3 months, they may send me to the consultant, still to see my gp soon.
I was mainly asking whether removal ofthe ovary affected your hormones a lot (as of course it can do) - but of course if it's only been a month you wouldn't really know. But pleased to hear that you aer recovering from discomfort and tiredness. They don't really recommend removing any organs even if you don't plan more children (I don't) as it can affect a woman I assume moods/libido etc. But obviously if blood supply involved, that's necessary. Do you mean internal vaginal scan or actualy internal insidethe cyst scan?

It was a vaginal scan. They were planning to biopsy the cyst if it looked dodgy but I have no results yet if they did. I was pretty woozy when discharged so I don't actually know until I see my GP again next week.
Fortunately as I still have one ovary, I am not expected to have hormonal issues. There was a concern that I may need a full hysterectomy once they looked during the laparoscopic procedure but luckily that wasn't the case.
If your blood tests are clear and you are not in pain, then monitoring might be the way to go.

thanks really, so glad you got away with one ovary removed as the cyst looked bad, really hope it all settles fast.
can I also ask, did you have any symptoms after the scan, i.e. an untimely period straight after? And also, was your cycle normal or disrupted while you had the cyst?

No symptoms after the scan that I was aware of, beagles. My cycle was fairly erratic though so I probably wouldn't have noticed. I really hope it settles down now!
Honestly, the procedure wasn't too bad at all if that's what you're worried about. It took me longer to get over than I expected (stupidly thought I'd be back at work 4 days later) but the actual time in hospital was only 7 hours.
If you need to chat after you see the GP/consultant, feel free to PM me.

thank you, really. What about the general anaesthetic? wasn't that scary, and how did you feel when you woke up?

and thanks, may well PM after the app.

I was pretty scared about the GA but the anaesthetist was very reassuring. Apparently I had a long chat with the nurse in recovery about my DD - I only know because another nurse told me later. I don't remember it at all I was so determined to go home that I fought the wooziness to eat, drink and go to the loo so they would discharge me.

Yes, anaesthetic was a bit worrying and it did take me a few days to feel less fuzzy. I just remember being really thirsty when I woke up.

thanks, craze and really. What about getting up (and going to the loo) - was that painful? not sure if there are many stitches but how long do they heal for?
I just don't understand why is there no injections route? something on the lines of hormonal contraceptive to make the cysts go- just so backward really, this field! it's either nothing at all or the op. And it seems when they burst, the medics also can't do anything but give you antibiotics to prevent infection?

It was painful to move for the first week and uncomfortable for a few weeks afterwards when I bent or stretched. You are sent home with strong painkillers.
I had three lots of stitches and they have not quite disappeared after 2.5 weeks but the wounds look healed.
I don't know why there's no alternative to surgery. I am quite glad that it was removed though as I was quite concerned about it bursting or another torsion.

It took mine over 2 years. Was scanned every 4 months just to be on the safe side ( privately) as was post-menopausal.

They won't remove it unless it's growing fast or pressing on other organs. Mine was 5cms across. I didn't know I had it until I had a routine scan. The fluid in them is just absorbed into your body and they usually disappear. They are VERY common and many women have them and know nothing about them. The only reason to go for surgery is if they carry on growing, are complex cysts or look odd in some way. The cyst is a by-product of ovulation- think of it like a blister after a burn. There is no treatment (hormonal), they tend just to disappear.

Glad that you feel it was a good thing to do, Really, hope you have no discomfort at all soon! did they give you any meds to prevent infection?

pink, thank you - do you mean it went by itsekf after 2 yrs! that's good news to me, as someone previously told me that if it doesn't go in a few months, it will never go by itself. Yes, I know that some women aer none the wiser htat they had a cyst (lucky them!). I have slight discomfort, esp during periods, but also it has got larger by 1.5 cm, but seems to have stopped in the last two monthsm, I'm praying that it stops there and goes. Also, do you know if they advise surgery if the cycle is affected? It's the first time mine got disrupted- jhust after the scan, not sure if it's just the scan or is it the begiinning of out-of whack cycles. I am though at that age that it could be happening anyway, but pretty sure it's to do with cyst (or the long scan).
Does anyone know whether if the cyst goes by itself, it would cause a period straight after? and when it went by itself, pink did you feel any symptoms/discomfort?

pink, you must have been so relieved when a scan showed it gone! I also meant to ask, did it go smaller first and then disappeared or always stayed at 5cm for 2yrs?

Hi beagles Will try to answer some of your questions. I was scanned every 4 months or so- which was about 5-6 times over 2 years. The cyst stayed the same size all of that time. I think ( this was a few years back) that it got ever so slightly smaller - in fact I think it was 3.5cms not 5 now that I think about it again. Yes, it went of its own accord. These cysts are filled with fluid so it is gradually absorbed into the body - unless they burst which may cause pain. I was told that if I had any pain to go to A&E because a twisted cyst is evidently agony. You could maybe google and read about simple cysts? Plenty on the web.
As far as I know they should not affect your cycles. Cysts are fluid filled sacs that occur after ovulation and sometimes when ovulation is disrupted in some way. The rest on the surface of the ovary.
This has quite a lot of info.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/ovarian-cyst/Pages/Introduction.aspx