Question about ovarian cyst

I had a hysterectomy June 2007, leaving both ovaries and my cervix.  I have been having problems with pain in my right flank and pelvic area for months.  Sometimes the pain burns down into my right hip and thigh very bad.  I had an ultrasound and it showed a simple cyst on my left ovary and a 5.0 x 5.1 cm complex cyst on my right ovary that appears to have hemorrhaged within itself.  I am not afraid of cancer as my dr. was just in there in June.  But should this type of cyst be followed up?  Can this cause the symptoms that I am having?  Can a cyst be both complex and hemorrhagic or is it only complex due to the blood?  I am just tired of not feeling good.  Any input would help. Thank you.

[Keith Downing, MD]

Hello,

The cysts could be and are most likely absolutely benign.  However, they should be follow up to see if they are enlarging, resolving or staying the same.  Without examining you it would be hard for me to speculate whether those cysts are the source of your pain.  

Cysts can appear complex for multiple reasons, in your case it is because of the blood and probably collapse of the cyst wall.  It is very likely that complex cyst is a corpus luteum.

Best regards,

Dr. Downing