Cyst found on ovary while pregnant

[Banaaaaaanarama1]

Hi all!

I am at 7+5 on my second pregnancy (unplanned, oops, but that's another story...!) and anyway similarly to during my 1st pregnancy at about 6 weeks I went to have a private early viability scan done.
For a good few months prior to this pregnancy I had been feeling as if there was something to the left of my bellybutton just under my ribs, never had it checked out though as I concluded it must just be an aftereffect from my 1st pregnancy.
So when l was at the scan I asked whether they could see any cysts or anything, and the nurse said that actually yes, on my left ovary she could see a 4cm cyst! I was quite surprised. I have had no prior knowledge of ever having had a cyst.
Talking to the scan technician about it she said its perfectly normal to see and that I fact they rarely saw women without some kind of cyst on/around their reproductive organs.
I asked her whether it was dangerous, would it get in the way of the pregnancy/harm the baby and she said normally as baby gets bigger cysts tend to shrink down, and that if they don't they can just be surgically aspirated.

I'm not particularly worried, just wondering if anyone has been through anything similar and could shed some light

Did they say it was a corpus luteum cyst? I had an early scan and they mentioned this, but seems normal as it’s where you’ve ovulated from? I’ve had 2 scans since and no one has mentioned it since.

Could they identify the cyst? Usually it’s a functional cyst and they’re commonly seen in early pregnancy. They go away on their own.
They should monitor though.

@hatscats They didn't actually, but I did do some research (Dr Google, lol) about cysts during pregnancy and did read that early on that could be what it is, something along the lines of a sack that keeps on releasing progesterone to prevent miscarriage? I wonder if it was because its from the side I ovulated from 🤔 when I used to get my period I would always have wicked pains only on the left side.
Good to know about your experience anyway! She did say that it'd be monitored at future scans (my 12 weeks is due ages anyway anyway, haven't even had the letter scheduling it yet) but interesting that nobody has mentioned it to you again at your 2 scans. Who knows 😅

My friend had one discovered at an early pg scan. It was bigger than yours and they said they’d monitor it but nothing to worry about.At her next scan it had gone. I’ve had breast cysts aspirated and the doctor told me to think of them as like spots on your skin: they come and go.

@TheVanguardSix I don't think she named what kind of cyst it was specifically but I could check my notes to see. She did say that it was something very common that she'd seen a lot, for which reason it didn't raise a huge concern

@Greenpop21 that's good to know! Thanks for sharing. I like it when doctors explain things in that way...makes it a lot easier for you to rationalise in your own head!

I had the same, it was 5cm and the consultant said it was small 😲 I had no idea before band, the monitored it in pregnancy but they said it was hormonal. After I had the baby (vbac) i had a scan and they couldn't see anything. They said it's common for people to push them out when giving birth!

I had a 7cm cyst identified at my early pregnancy scan. Hasn’t caused any problems and at my 12 week scan it had almost gone. I did have some bleeding early pregnancy which they did say may have been due to the cyst but they were unsure. Now 37 weeks and had no further problems. X

@ballsdeep they said mine was small too 😂 I was like uuuummmmm...really? looking at the size of it next to tiny baby 😂 omg push it out during birth!!! The female system really is incredible 😆😆😆

@Babypuponboard ah great to know, deffo feeling less alone with it now! I suppose a lot can be put down to hormones just raging all over the shop! Wow 37 weeks, fabulous! Not long to go now, delighted for you 💐☺

I know! She said it was the size of a tennis ball 😲😬 and then said it was small!! Incredible.

I had one that burst

Caused an insane amount of pain, but it was fine

@ballsdeep lol!! The way they explain it all chilled...and you're there like umm.. okay 😆👌🏻

I had one that was ... wait for it ... over 20cm!
My surgeon said it had probably been there many years. I unfortunately had a miscarriage (unrelated) but it was so large and heavy (think they drained 3 odd litres from it during surgery) it made my uterus look love heart shaped (bicornuate) - I had it removed after I found my pregnancy was no
Longer viable. All ok now, went in to have more pregnancies ( not all successful but that's a different story) and two children

@Soubriquet ohh wow! How did you know it burst!? I was actually wondering about this, where does all the stuff inside go when it bursts 😲

It gets reabsorbed by the body

Probably just gets absorbed by our amazing bodies!

Ha ha

@custardbear wow!!! Thanks for sharing your experience. I'm sorry to hear about your miscarriages 💐.
20cm, must have been intense! Could you physically feel it before they identified it with a scan?
I'm glad to hear that you're all okay in good health etc after it anyway. Wild what our bodies are capable of!

Hi OP, in my first pregnancy (12 years ago mind!) they found a 16cm cyst at my 12 week scan. They operated to take it out at 16 weeks and it then measured 30cm! The surgeon actually said he was excited about it. Although I had a natural birth, they removed the cyst as if it was a c-section! I actually have a c-section like scar!

I have a simple cyst on my right ovary about the same size! I already knew it was there though cos of my history but it had grown some, They're just going to keep an eye on it, especially considering my history of a cyst in my left ovary that went rogue and grew to astronomical proportions!
But at my 20 week scan it wasn't even mentioned so baby's hiding it or it's shrunk by itself. No pain or anything so they're not worried!
Congrats on your pregnancy

I was a bit large in the tummy and felt uncomfortable laying downwards but I think as it grew slowly over time you kinda get used to it as it's slowly changing you rather than waking up one morning and feeling different iyswim

I felt so thin when it was removed!

I had a cyst on my left ovary last year. They found it on the 12 week scan. They told me that it could dissolve by itself by 20 weeks. In my case it didn't. It grew to around 20cm. I ended up having to have a c section so they removed it at the same time. I had no issues with the pregnancy, no complications or pain and discomfort and I got to keep my ovary. I was worried at the time but everything was completely fine. Good luck!

I had one too I think they said it was medium sized and after I gave birth it was gone. try not to worry it’s very common for them to go

@c1JSU wow! I'm glad it went all okay for you in the end. Excited, lol! I guess it's what they spend all their time training for and are passionate about 😆