Fibroids & ovarian cyst

[Givemestrengthwiththeex]

Hi,

I’m probably writing this a little prematurely. I had an ultrasound appointment yesterday and I wasn’t expecting any results as I was told they would be sent to the referring gp. But as I attended a university hospital, the guy was learning so was being talked through what he could see. So they spoke to me at the end with a very quick summary of their findings, and my gp will talk to me about what happens next. I have to wait a week or so for that appointment.

I have a cyst on my left ovary, which she said they will more than likely monitor again in four months. Because they can go away on their own. And I have two fibroids, one small one that she said wasn’t worth focusing on too much because of my age and the fact I have never conceived... it’s pretty normal (34). Then I have one large one. My right ovary and cervix are healthy.

Now, I took everything she said with a pinch of salt. I can constantly feel my left ovary cramping so I knew I had an issue there. And fibroids to me sounded like they would be little growths. So didn’t stress me out too much either!

After doing a bit of google research on fibroids, I see that a large one is described as the size of a grapefruit to a melon!

I’m quite slim, size 10/12 but I’ve always had this big distended stomach which has looked pregnant for about three years now! I’m always congratulated by strangers and asked how far along I am! So I’m guessing it could be that this fibroid really is very large!

My partner and I are TTC. Have been for a while with no luck at all. Again, I’m guessing this is why.

I’m just wondering a few things, should I stop trying? I don’t want to cause any more damage to myself or my mental health!

Has anyone had experience of an ovarian cyst just going away by itself?

I’m assuming I will probably need surgery to remove this large fibroid. Has anyone had the same? And did you manage to conceive after this?

Thank you for anyone that has taken the time to read. I’m sure I will get more answers soon anyway, but a week is a long time when you have been putting effort in to conceive already and it’s all that you want in life now :(

Hi @Givemestrengthwiththeex. I have 3 fibroids and am 35. Fibroids can be quite large but it's rarer in younger women. I would have also expected them to tell you if yours was large. But I'd also have expected them to tell you in more detail anyway.

The impact of fibroids on fertility is more about their location than their size. Most fibroids are outside of the womb or in the lining. However, submucosal fibroids are inside the womb and they are strongly linked to infertility. They are also often quite easy to remove and once removed fertility would be back to normal. Intramural fibroids are in the lining of your womb. If you have those they can affect fertility but tend to less so than submucosal. It's largely about whether they indent your womb lining or interfer with your lining in less visible ways - eg. Steal blood supply.

I'm having an op to remove my fibroids as one is submucosal. I would ask your doctor for a follow up if you're not already getting one.

Hello @Givemestrengthwiththeex

I've had a cyst come and go within 2 months. I was told it's normal for them to come and go between cycles, most of the time women are never unaware of them, unless they're having investigation scans and they often go after a period.

I also have a large fibroid, but it's up high away of the womb, so they have said it will not affect fertility. I didn't know about it before i had my first IVF check up scan. From what i know, if the fibroid gives you menstrual type symptoms, then it's closer to the womb and may need removing to help conception.

I don't think you need to stop trying naturally, the fibroid will not harm an embryo as such, it just makes it less likely to implant, but as it's natural conception, you have nothing to lose at least from trying. I've definitely read of people conceiving after surgery to remove them. Hope you can get it all sorted soon.

Hi! Thank you for your responses. Yes I have a follow up appointment in a week and another scan in 4 months time. It’s up to my gp whether he thinks it’s worth referring to a gynaecologist. I hope he will, I have suffered with periods since I was a teen anyway, I just chose to put myself on birth control until this point which stopped my periods, but I never stopped painful bloating cramps completely, it was just more livable and I have another “more serious” condition that kind of stopped me from wanting to get other issues looked at. Silly really!

They did say one fibroid is small, the other is large.

I get bad PMS anyway, but over the last few months they’ve been more like pregnancy symptoms. I’ve been getting bad nausea which has affected my appetite, I’m constantly exhausted even though I’m furloughed right now, my breasts are constantly tender and my nipple are tingling, I’ve had weird cramps and dull aches I’ve never experienced before, even as low as my butt cheeks, weird cravings too, plus every symptom you can imagine, apart from the actual baby. Now I know it’s probably just hormonal issues so I feel at least a little bit calmer that I’m not completely falling apart and we know what it is now. But I’m desperate for this follow up to see what’s what in better detail! All the best with your op! Xx

@Givemestrengthwiththeex - I hope that your GP does push for you to be refered.

I had a large fibroid removed - about the size of a tennis ball. I knew my periods were bad but given that I've had horrible periods since I was 11, I never had a normal period to compare them to. the periods since my op have been bliss - so much lighter, a pad change 3 x daily compared to hourly prior to op, even at hourly I still leaked.

I've had mine removed due to size and potentially causing issues with IVF - but I wish I spoke up sooner as my periods in 2020, pretty much kept me housebound for 2-3days per month due to pain and bleeding.

Good luck!