Ovarian Cysts in pregnancy

[stickybean]

Hi Everyone,

Happy New Year!
I made my first mumsnet post yesterday after discovering i was pregnant on xmas day.
I am about 6 weeks.

I have PCOS and haven't had a period for 6 months, in fact the only reason i tested was because i was about to start clomid, so i am thrilled.

At the scan yesterday(which i had due to pain on my right side) they could see 2 'very large' cysts on my right ovary. About 5 centimeters.
They didnt seem overly concerned but have asked me to go back in 3 weeks to check them.

I was just wondering if anyone had any experience of this. My mum and SIL both had emergency surgery on ovarian cysts (not whilst pregnant) i am concerned about them twisting around each other or bursting, but also happy that the pain is the cysts and not the baby.

Would love to hear if anyone knows anything about this. Thank you for reading this message, sorry it's a bit long!

Stickybean

I had an ovarian cyst removed in March 2007 when I had laparoscopy as part of fertility treatment.

I was told these are incredibly common and usually cause no problems. I am 34.

Congratulations on BFP

No personal experience but several friends had these cysts during pregnancy, when hormones fuel their growth. Most shrink back down after birth. They will monitor you during pregnancy & you might need a c-section at the end, but it is not really a dangerous condition.

Congratulations on your pregnancy & good luck

Thank you both for your replying (smile)

Hi I had a 10 x 10 cm one seen on my 12 week scan. As it was so large the consultant said it was best to remove it and I had it removed at 17 weeks.

Was a scary time but my 'baby' is 8 now )

BTW, I do have PCOS too but the larger cysts are different to that.

Hi EmmaJW1976,

Thanks for replying, they did mention possible removal if it got significantly larger.
Did you have it done under a local or general anaesthetic? Can you have a general when pregnant?

Yes it was a general.

They mentioned about draining it first but said it was probably fill back up and so I'd be back again. The Consultant then said that if I was his wife he'd want me to have it removed!

They told me the anaesthetic wasn't a problem for the baby, the only risk was rooting around down there so close the baby. They waited until 16/17 weeks so the pregnancy was properly established and risks were lower.

They said that rather mess around inside my body they lifted the ovary out and did it outside my body (not that I really wanted to know this!).

I managed to get to hear the baby's heart beat the next day but had to wait 3 weeks for a scan which seemed forever!

The only bad thing was not being able to have any pain relief afterwards because of being pregnant, just Paracetamol. It was painful but I didn't care because me and my baby were just fine!

I think I was in hospital for 5 days but that was no longer than anyone else having the same done. When I had my Caesarean they managed to cut the same scar again. But I have had a normal birth since with no problems.

Good luck, I know how scary it is but I'm sure you'll be fine. Let us know how things go.

Hijacking thread, sorry.

Sally, what other symptoms did you have? I think I have one. Had one 14 years ago and it popped but this one is stubborn. I'm waiting for an ultrasound. Don't fancy surgery. How long did yours take to shrink?

I had two large cysts during my pregnancy with DD1. I had no symptoms and they were only discovered at my first routine scan. I had frequent scans after that to make sure that they weren't growing throughout the pregnancy and I was told that if they twisted they would do emergency surgery. I had them removed after the birth and as far as I know they haven't recurred.

Thank you so much everyone for your responses, i feel so much better. Mumsnet really is an amazing resource, i can see myself being on here a lot if all goes well with this pregnancy.

I am going back for a rescan on the 17th so see what they are doing, my gut feeling is that they will be bigger because i can feel them aching, but that could be just because i know they are there.

Either way, its great to know others have had them sorted and gone on to have healthy babies.

I'll keep you posted...