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Ovarian Cancer (Expert Forum)
Birth Control Pills and Ovarian Cysts
Answered by
Annekathryn Goodman, M.D. - Gynecologic Cancers, Complex Gynecologic, Surgeries, Palliative Care, Acupuncture
Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center
Boston - MA
Birth Control Pills and Ovarian Cysts
by britt8, Jul 19, 2006 12:00AM
I had a baby born in September last year. I had bloodcount done in May, came back me being anemic and I'm on iron supplement. Also, I had history of hypothyroidsm in the past, surgery done and back to normal even during pregnancy. Stopped breastfeeding for about a month now.
I had 5 weeks of bleeding that started in April, 3 weeks clear and then over 2 weeks of heavy bleeding and spotting again. That's how I found out I have ovarian cyst, 3cm. left ovary in May. Started taking birth control pill (alleesee) in June so this is just fairly recent. I was in between heavy and moderate bleeding the last 2 periods but took Ibuprofen since I was hunched over in pain. My questions are: What is a reasonable amount of time to be on the pill in the hopes that it will help get rid of the cyst and for it to be effective in reducing/stopping dysmenorrhea? One of my concerns is that I'll be on the pill longer than I should be and then find out later that my cyst would turn out to be malignant. The surgery is also a concern because of my baby and returning back to work. Another concern is that the clottings from my period lately looked like "old blood" almost brownish-pale as opposed to the very bright red that I had them in the past. Would it have something to do with me still being anemic? I've been on iron supplement for about 2.5 months now and have been trying to eat healthier food that is rich in iron.
Thank you very kindly for your input. It's very much appreciated.
I had 5 weeks of bleeding that started in April, 3 weeks clear and then over 2 weeks of heavy bleeding and spotting again. That's how I found out I have ovarian cyst, 3cm. left ovary in May. Started taking birth control pill (alleesee) in June so this is just fairly recent. I was in between heavy and moderate bleeding the last 2 periods but took Ibuprofen since I was hunched over in pain. My questions are: What is a reasonable amount of time to be on the pill in the hopes that it will help get rid of the cyst and for it to be effective in reducing/stopping dysmenorrhea? One of my concerns is that I'll be on the pill longer than I should be and then find out later that my cyst would turn out to be malignant. The surgery is also a concern because of my baby and returning back to work. Another concern is that the clottings from my period lately looked like "old blood" almost brownish-pale as opposed to the very bright red that I had them in the past. Would it have something to do with me still being anemic? I've been on iron supplement for about 2.5 months now and have been trying to eat healthier food that is rich in iron.
Thank you very kindly for your input. It's very much appreciated.
Doctor's Answer
by Annekathryn Goodman, M.D., Jul 20, 2006 12:00AM
, Jul 20, 2006 12:00AM
Hello,
You had a baby and then breast fed for about 7 months. Now you are having irregular bleeding. A small cyst was found on your ovary.
When a woman breast-feeds, this turns off your normal menstrual cycle. As a result most people do not have periods while they are breast-feeding. When you stop breast-feeding, it may take your body a few months to start cycling regularly. What that means is that you have the normal feedback between your brain and your ovary. Your brain produces hormones (gonadotropins – FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) and LH (luteinizing hormone)) that signal the ovary to ovulate. The ovary makes hormones (estrogen and progesterone) that tell the brain it is working.
So it is common to have bleeding that is irregular and may not look like normal menstrual blood. There are definitely other things that can happen after childbirth such as an infection inside the lining of the uterus (endometritis) or the retention of a bit of the afterbirth. This can cause abnormal bleeding, pain, and fever. I do have enough information to comment on that for you.
The ovarian cyst might be your ovary’s first attempt to ovulate after 7 months of slumber (while you were breast feeding) or it could be something else. Time will tell. The standard approach is to wait a few months and see what your bleeding pattern is and to get a follow up ultrasound to look to see if the cyst is still there.
The most common cyst is a follicular cyst. In the setting of all the physiological changes and anatomic changes that you have undergone with childbirth and breast-feeding, it is not unusual to have an abnormal ovulation. The follicular cyst is the cyst before ovulation. If ovulation does not happen because of the reasons I stated above, the follicular cyst can persist; get bigger, and maybe hurt. Because of their thin walls, these cysts easily rupture and cause transient pain. It is thought that the gonadotropins may stimulate the follicular cyst to get bigger. The birth control pill suppresses the gondatropins and in that way may shrink the cyst. Additionally the Pill will help you “cycle” regularly and give you a monthly period (and also provide good birth control until you want to get pregnant again)
So it is standard to recommend an oral contraceptive pill for 1-3 months and re-evaluate with a repeat pelvic ultrasound..
Best wishes
You had a baby and then breast fed for about 7 months. Now you are having irregular bleeding. A small cyst was found on your ovary.
When a woman breast-feeds, this turns off your normal menstrual cycle. As a result most people do not have periods while they are breast-feeding. When you stop breast-feeding, it may take your body a few months to start cycling regularly. What that means is that you have the normal feedback between your brain and your ovary. Your brain produces hormones (gonadotropins – FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) and LH (luteinizing hormone)) that signal the ovary to ovulate. The ovary makes hormones (estrogen and progesterone) that tell the brain it is working.
So it is common to have bleeding that is irregular and may not look like normal menstrual blood. There are definitely other things that can happen after childbirth such as an infection inside the lining of the uterus (endometritis) or the retention of a bit of the afterbirth. This can cause abnormal bleeding, pain, and fever. I do have enough information to comment on that for you.
The ovarian cyst might be your ovary’s first attempt to ovulate after 7 months of slumber (while you were breast feeding) or it could be something else. Time will tell. The standard approach is to wait a few months and see what your bleeding pattern is and to get a follow up ultrasound to look to see if the cyst is still there.
The most common cyst is a follicular cyst. In the setting of all the physiological changes and anatomic changes that you have undergone with childbirth and breast-feeding, it is not unusual to have an abnormal ovulation. The follicular cyst is the cyst before ovulation. If ovulation does not happen because of the reasons I stated above, the follicular cyst can persist; get bigger, and maybe hurt. Because of their thin walls, these cysts easily rupture and cause transient pain. It is thought that the gonadotropins may stimulate the follicular cyst to get bigger. The birth control pill suppresses the gondatropins and in that way may shrink the cyst. Additionally the Pill will help you “cycle” regularly and give you a monthly period (and also provide good birth control until you want to get pregnant again)
So it is standard to recommend an oral contraceptive pill for 1-3 months and re-evaluate with a repeat pelvic ultrasound..
Best wishes
Member Comments (3)
by britt8, Jul 19, 2006 12:00AM
ps. i'm sorry if my questions seem trivial. i'm just trying to take this one situation at a time. thanks again.
by akg, Jul 21, 2006 12:00AM
your questions are not trivial at all! My goodness, your body has just gone through one of the biggest changes a body can go through. I hope all works out. take care
