Ovarian cysts and IVF

Chickencrazy3356 · 2023-04-17T20:07:14+00:00

Hi ladies ive just had my mock transfer today before starting our first round of IVF. I’ve got low ovarian reserve and my AMH is 3 (I’ve just turned 30) after my mock transfer my dr scanned me and I’ve got one follicle (which she said is more of cyst) on my left ovary measuring 33mm and one on my right measuring 20 but not any “normal”. I found out about the left side about 2 months ago at my first scan and since then it’s just kept growing. im starting Norethisterone Next Monday and the dr has said to try this for 2 weeks and if it’s not gone look at other options as it will delay the cycle. I just wondered if anybody else has had a cyst and does it delay your cycle and why is there anything I can do to get rid of it. im completely new to the IVF world and feeling quite overwhelmed by it all !

Landlubber2019 · 17/04/2023 21:32

Ok I never had IVF, however I was the proud owner of a cyst on my left ovary and struggled to conceive for 5 yrs. The cyst was removed following open surgery (as the keyhole was unsuccessful) and I got a first + pregnancy test 6 weeks later.

I hope this gives you hope xxx

graygoose · 18/04/2023 01:43

Hi, I have had a cyst on my right ovary since my mid twenties (am now 35) and am 6 weeks pregnant through IVF.
It’s a chocolate cyst around 3mm and I was on the pill for many years to manage my endo and this cyst. I had a hysteroscopy the month before my FET and was told I could remove the cyst at the same time but it would diminish my ovarian reserve so I said no. Cyst hadn’t affected me so far (it’s only on one ovary and is not the sole cause of our infertility). I was also put on norothisterone after the procedure until my FET.
I’m not sure if it makes a difference what kind of cyst you have or the size but it didn’t make a difference for me, at least as far as implantation went.
Your cyst does sound quite a bit bigger if it’s 33mm but if you’re unsure it’s worth having a conversation with your doc. Mine basically said I can remove it if I like in a “might as well” kind of way which I didn’t think was enough justification for key hole surgery.
Hope that helps, good luck OP!

MMM2022 · 18/04/2023 08:07

I had a cyst discovered during ivf pre checks etc and it didn’t effect anything. They said it was functional or something and got bigger at certain times of my cycle. It disappeared during pregnancy and came back after.

KimmyC123 · 15/05/2023 20:10

I don’t have an answer for you, but wanted to share my experience.

I had a left side ovulation cyst identified in some fertility tests in Oct 2019. Since then, I have experienced no issues, but have failed to conceive after several years trying. So this year I decided to try IVF privately, as I am too heavy to qualify for it on the UK NHS, and have just turned 39 😱

My cyst was spotted in my initial ultrasound, and I was told it is rather large and looked to be causing that ovary to produce less follicles than the right side. But at the time I was told it shouldn’t stop us proceeding.

I have a very irregular cycle, so had to do a course of Provera to induce a bleed. After the course, I experienced spotting so attended pre-IVF ultrasound on the 12th. Sadly my uterus wasn’t quite ready, and the Ultrasound tech was concerned about my Ovulation cyst. The plan was for me to come back for another Ultrasound on the 15th and hope my bleed had come in and cyst reduced in size.

My bleed came on the 14th and I went for my Ultrasound today hoping to be able to start IVF this evening. My uterus was looking good, but the Dr that did my Ultrasound today told me the cyst was slightly larger than it was in the 12th.

The plan is to test my blood to see if the “follicular” cyst is producing hormones that would cause the IVF to fail, and they have given me a suppressant injection in the hope that it will reduce the size within the next 2 weeks.

Assuming my bloods are OK, and the cyst reduces, I should be starting IVF in a fortnight. If the cyst is producing hormones and/or does not decrease, I will need to have. Procedure to remove/lance the cyst. What I don’t know is how long the procedure, if needed, might delay things 🤷🏻‍♀️

Anyway, I hope everything works out well for you!!

Original poster

Chickencrazy3356 · 23/05/2023 21:25

KimmyC123 · 15/05/2023 20:10

I don’t have an answer for you, but wanted to share my experience.

I had a left side ovulation cyst identified in some fertility tests in Oct 2019. Since then, I have experienced no issues, but have failed to conceive after several years trying. So this year I decided to try IVF privately, as I am too heavy to qualify for it on the UK NHS, and have just turned 39 😱

My cyst was spotted in my initial ultrasound, and I was told it is rather large and looked to be causing that ovary to produce less follicles than the right side. But at the time I was told it shouldn’t stop us proceeding.

I have a very irregular cycle, so had to do a course of Provera to induce a bleed. After the course, I experienced spotting so attended pre-IVF ultrasound on the 12th. Sadly my uterus wasn’t quite ready, and the Ultrasound tech was concerned about my Ovulation cyst. The plan was for me to come back for another Ultrasound on the 15th and hope my bleed had come in and cyst reduced in size.

My bleed came on the 14th and I went for my Ultrasound today hoping to be able to start IVF this evening. My uterus was looking good, but the Dr that did my Ultrasound today told me the cyst was slightly larger than it was in the 12th.

The plan is to test my blood to see if the “follicular” cyst is producing hormones that would cause the IVF to fail, and they have given me a suppressant injection in the hope that it will reduce the size within the next 2 weeks.

Assuming my bloods are OK, and the cyst reduces, I should be starting IVF in a fortnight. If the cyst is producing hormones and/or does not decrease, I will need to have. Procedure to remove/lance the cyst. What I don’t know is how long the procedure, if needed, might delay things 🤷🏻‍♀️

Anyway, I hope everything works out well for you!!

I’m so sorry your going through the back and forth I can’t imagine how stressful it is, I completely know how you feel you get all excited to hopefully start and can’t because of the cyst ! I’m due my baseline scan again 2nd June but have been told if it’s not gone I’ll have to have it drained but that’s another delay when I just want to get started, I’ve got low ovarian reserve and they think going into early menopause I’m 30 but have been told time is not on my side. I’m really hoping everything works out for you and your cyst goes away on its own so it doesn’t delay anything for you xx

OP posts:

Original poster

Chickencrazy3356 · 23/05/2023 21:27

graygoose · 18/04/2023 01:43

Hi, I have had a cyst on my right ovary since my mid twenties (am now 35) and am 6 weeks pregnant through IVF.
It’s a chocolate cyst around 3mm and I was on the pill for many years to manage my endo and this cyst. I had a hysteroscopy the month before my FET and was told I could remove the cyst at the same time but it would diminish my ovarian reserve so I said no. Cyst hadn’t affected me so far (it’s only on one ovary and is not the sole cause of our infertility). I was also put on norothisterone after the procedure until my FET.
I’m not sure if it makes a difference what kind of cyst you have or the size but it didn’t make a difference for me, at least as far as implantation went.
Your cyst does sound quite a bit bigger if it’s 33mm but if you’re unsure it’s worth having a conversation with your doc. Mine basically said I can remove it if I like in a “might as well” kind of way which I didn’t think was enough justification for key hole surgery.
Hope that helps, good luck OP!

Congratulations on your amazing news thank you for replying it’s made me feel much more positive !

OP posts:

Original poster

Chickencrazy3356 · 23/05/2023 21:28

Landlubber2019 · 17/04/2023 21:32

Ok I never had IVF, however I was the proud owner of a cyst on my left ovary and struggled to conceive for 5 yrs. The cyst was removed following open surgery (as the keyhole was unsuccessful) and I got a first + pregnancy test 6 weeks later.

I hope this gives you hope xxx

that sounds a lot of stress you had to go through with your removal but I’m really pleased you got your positive test it has given me a lot of hope so thank you for sharing

OP posts:

Econi · 27/03/2025 00:46

Hi lovely ladies, I am going through the same problem. After 4 miscarriages due to some genetic issues, we finally decided to go with IVF with PGD. My last period we were going to start the first cycle of IVF, unfortunately I was told I have a functional cyst in my left ovary and I was given microgynon tablets for 10 days to get rid of the cyst. I started taking the tablets on the 2nd day of my period and today is day 15 of my period and I still have bleeding. Normally my periods are very regular, and I had so many scans for miscarriages previously , never told I have a cyst. I am so stressed that this will affect becoming pregnant on top of all these issues. And I am stressed that I have been bleeding for 15 days. I will go for scan tomorrow and find out what is going on.
I would love to hear your experience, did you get the IVF done at the end. What happened with cyst?