Help; Growth on ovary spotted at dating scan - what does it mean?

[yousaidit]

Hi everyone, i hoping someone can help me here: I went for my dating scan today (due 13 Oct! ) and after the scan the lady called me back to point out that on my notes she had stated that she had spotted a growth on my right ovary just under 3cm long. Now, she did say that the hospital would have a lookm at it on the 20 week scan, and i haven't been told to see the docor, neither was a dctor called in while i was being scanned, so i'm presuming she wasn't fibbing when she said that it was probably nothig to worry about, instead it might be pregnancy related, and i think she might have said it could have been 'a nothing' (?). However, in view of the above, things start to nag at your mind, don't they, and i'm fretting just a teensy bit! Can any one shed any light on my mysterious growth? Ta!

Could be a cyst?

I think it is quite common for them to see normal ovarian cysts that come and go when you have the first scan - also they sometimes see the remains from where you ovulated the egg that became the pregnancy. Will you have a 12 week scan - get them to look then?

Sounds like an ovarian cyst - very common in the early stages of pregancy, and doesn't sound that big either - I had one which was about 5cm at approx 7 weeks and was told that they would only worry about it if it got to 10cm. Even in that scenario, they can still remove it without any risk to the pregnancy. Did she record it in your pregnancy notes? I would speak to your midwife about it to put your mind at rest.

Thanks everyone, have got an app with midwife already booked for about 2 weeks, it's a 20min app rather than a 10min one, so i'll mention it to her: I've also had a nosy on the nhs web site (quite useful, managed not to be a terrifying trip into convincing myself i was dying!) and it matches up to the suggestiions it might be cyst (i trust mumsnet before nhs!!) so fingers crossed!

Probably a cyst , if they were worried they'd be seeing you sooner. I've known a few people have them - one went spontaneously during pg , other was drained a few months after baby arrived.

Ah now ...am not an expert about ovaries and growths thereon, but have had two very large cysts removed from my poor ovaries before going on to have DD, so have a little experience of cysts..............

one was a luteal cyst - now I believe this is to do with becoming pregnant (I'd had a miscarriage). When the egg is fertilised the follicle on the ovary, from which said egg emerged, develops into the corpus luteum, which provides hormones to the body to support the early stages of pregnancy until the placenta develops and takes over. In the majority of cases, the corpus luteum shrinks away when no longer needed, but sometimes they can stick around and enlarge to varying degrees. They are generally harmless. What the sonographer saw on your scan may be one of these. If it is, they are quite common and may go away by itself, or may need removing if it becomes troublesome (excellent keyhole technique). This may be after you have your LO (congratulations, btw!) or if it looks problematic, I have known a lady who had a large one removed while she was pregnant with no ill effects.

Cysts are far more common than any other issue. I remember when I first saw mine on a scan with no previous knowledge and no doctor handy to explain, I immediately thought cancer, but that is way down the list of probability. They will monitor at your next scan and see if it's got bigger/smaller.

Pleeeeeese don't fret, it's most likely to be absolutely nothing to worry about at all.

So that's the lowdown on luteal cysts. I'm sure others will be along with other info.

Look after yourself and LO x

ta mylovelymonster (and lizs!) i didn't have dating scan with dd as i was a bit late infinding out so chances are this could have happened before and sorted itself without me knowing as i wasn't scanned til about 18 / 20 weeks. The scanning lady didn't seem concerned and didn't advise me to see anyone before hand so i'm thinking it's hopefully a cyst! Thanks for the post though, and my what impressive medical knowledge you have n the area of cysts and ovaries!!

anyone advise me? the sonographer advised me at 12 wk scan had 1cm cyst on ovary, but said nothing to worry about - had 6 week check yesterday and mentioed it to gp and she has referred me for scan....scarec now1

Like the previous posts have said, it's really common to have cysts - I had a 7x5cm one in my first pregnancy, and a 14mm corpus luteal cyst in this pregnancy. I think your GP is just erring on the side of caution and making sure you don't have something like polycystic ovaries for example. Did you have any symptoms prior to your pregnancy?

unlikely to be PCOS as you don;t get large cysts.

I think because of the growth hormones you produce during pregnancy any cysts (and ovarian cysts are quite common) will tend to grow more I beleive.

They won;t do anything unless it becomes a problme so will just monitor it.