Ovarian Cysts

[Salina2]

So after having my son who was born in January 2020, I started getting really irregular periods, I didn't think anything of it until I after a few months I didn't come on my period, I booked a doctors appointment and they sent me for a scan, they found I had small cysts on my ovaries and advised that I just keep an eye on it. I have been having quite late periods, this time I've had a really heavy period the first few days and noticed some clots as well. Along with that I've been feeling some sharp, dull achy pains on the left side of my abdomen which seems to be getting worse. I wanted to know if anyone had any similar situations and what the outcome was. I'm feeling very unsure of what to do and if should be worried

I'd go back and ask for some more tests and potentially another scan, cysts can grow quickly and need monitoring, if your symptoms are still in place I'd ask to be referred to a consultant to have further tests.

They need to rule out endometriosis and can only do that via surgery, they need to do your bloods to rule out anything else and then they need to put a plan in place to monitor the situation.

I'm afraid women's health and especially period health is vastly underfunded and ignored and you'll have to become fiesty and ask for all of the above, otherwise you'll simply be told to wait and see what happens!

I'm with the PP.
You have to keep on at your GP if you want a solution.
Some GP's just don't take women's issues seriously enough.

Keep a diary of events, pain, periods, clots, discharge etc etc

Go armed and ask for a referral

@dhisreadingmypostsagain thank you for your advice, so I already had a blood test when I first called the GP about my period problems.

When the bloods came back normal they sent me for a scan to see if there was anything else, that's when they discovered the cysts but I wasn't given and further information on what to do which is disappointing.

I will definitely be pushing for all of the above, thank you for advising me.

Request a scan.

I had a 'common, fluid filled cyst' spotted on pregnancy scans. I was told it would disappear after the baby was born. There was no follow up.

About 8 months later I had pain and had to wait 12 weeks for an ultrasound. Was then rushed through for CT scan and then surgery within weeks as the cyst had grown and was now a bit of a dodgy looking monster.

I needed open surgery to remove as it was part solid part fluid and they couldn't risk leaking the fluid if it WAS cancerous. Big operation, 5 days in hospital. It was 20 x 10cm when they removed it (and it thankfully wasn't cancerous).

The vast majority of ovarian cysts are harmless, and I was rushed through out of an abundance of caution (no one thought it was cancerous at all, they just couldn't be sure) but caught earlier they can be dealt with via keyhole rather than major surgery so I'd encourage you to push a scan for that reason. I was far too passive!

@RoseTintedBlue glad your ok! good to know that you was able to get the correct treatment and it wasn't cancerous, although I guess if yours was caught earlier you wouldn't have had to have such a big surgery.

I will definitely book another app with the GP and ask to be referred for another scan/bloods.

It's so shocking that they take it so lightly, I wasn't given any information on cysts or what action to take, I had to google everything (not always a good idea)

@feministbias thank you for the advice, I will 100% do that, so important to go with all the information so they can take you seriously, otherwise they really don't

Keep us posted, and as the other poster said with womens health unfortunately there is no follow up until you're in a&e with a burst cyst. Or in her case they get out of control, I hope you're ok, sounds awful ☹️

Just channel this at the GP to get your fire!!

No man ever in the world would be told he had a cyst in his bollocks, go home and zero follow up. Then when he suggests he's getting monthly pains be told to take some paracetamol and again zero follow up, and yet with women we are expected to just put up with this??

Having lived with ovarian cyst issues most of my adult life my first advise to you is to get hold of your ultrasound report. Just ask your surgery receptionist to print a copy for you.
What you need to see on the report is the sonolographer comments or something like whether you have one or two ovarian cyst or multiple cyst on ovary. These two are entirely different conditions and need to be treated differently.
If your report says that you have multiple cyst or the sonographer has pointed out that you have polycystic ovaries then ask your GP to confirm it with a blood test though in most cases an ultrasound is suffice. If it pcos then ask for treatment, if you are young then you need it as it can cause infertility or atleast makes it difficult to conceive.
If you have one or two cyst, then confirm if the cyst are simple, if the cyst is complex then your GP has to do a repeat scan and give you a referral.
If the cyst is simple but less than 5 cm then it can be left alone as there is a higher chance that it will go away on its own.
If the cyst is more than 5 but less than 7 cm then a 6 week repeat scan is required. If on a repeat scan the size of cyst is reduced and has become less than 5 then no further scan is required. If the cyst has reduced but still measures more than 5 cm then a further scan can be done at 3 -6 month interval.
If the cyst has grown in size or is more than 7 cm at first scan then a Gynaecologist referral is required.
These are all NHS guidelines, and they are for patients good to avoid unnecessary surgeries but that does not mean that your GP should just send you home to keep an eye without explaining you further steps.
I agree with previous posters that women have to take their stand to get treatment and you should to. But a GP will send you back if you don't know what you want. So ask for your report. Read about what is written, post on the forum if you need help and then go back to your GP armed with the knowledge.

I have PCOS and had several polyps removed from my womb but it took me years to find a surgeon who would remove my womb.
My pain is as so bad they thought I had an ectopic pregnancy
You have to be persistent.

Good luck