Birth Control Pills for cyst

[snickles1977]

I've posted before, but can't find original post. Quick rundown is: Went to doctor about back pain I had been having for about 7 years. He did a papsmere which I had not had one since my daughter was born in 1997. He didn't feel anything, but there was blood under the microscope in my urine. (Hematuria, I believe)... so he scheduled me for a CTscan... thinking I had kidney stones.. Made sense to me. Anway, to make a long story short, there was nothing on my left side (which is where all the pain is), but there was a 12cm X 6cm cyst on my right ovary. About a week later, he scheudled a transvaginal ultrasound. Which was about a week after my period ended. Still the same cyst and there was also a 4cm cyst beside it. He called me yesterday to put me on birth control pills. What is the chance that the birth control pills will shrink this cyst? My hope is a good chance as I have already had a c-section and abdominal hernia surgery and don't want to do anymore. Is this cyst considered small, medium or large? Any advice will be helpful. I've only talked to my doctor on the phone and am unsure of what kind of cyst it even is. Thanks for all the help.

[Floweringhosta]

I have a 4 cm cyst.  Took 3 months of BCP.  Still have 4 cm cyst.  I went to an online service called justanswer.com and the doctor on that service sent me to a reference and also stated "In the past, combined oral contraceptives were often prescribed to premenopausal patients during this time, but it is now accepted that these agents only prevent the development of functional cysts and do not supress them."    I challenged my gynecologist with this and he just shrugged and said "you're right" but it is still a recommended action.   If you google ovarian cysts and birth control pills, you may find out more.   I think the BCPs should help prevent developing additional cysts.  The cysts that you currently have may go away on their own, but the BCPs will most likely not cause them to go away.  In part, I believe the round of 3 months of BCPs is to 1) prevent further cysts, 2) give the patient something to do so that when you go back in 3 months for another check up, the doctors will at least know that the cysts didn't go away on their own,....

[AuroraCind]

A 12x6 cm cyst is fairly large, from what I know. As for whether or not the birth control pills shrink it, I think it depends on what kind of cyst it is. I can tell you my experience, which is of course, just mine and not necessarily what will be with you. I have 8.5cm cyst. I was put on birth control pills and came back for another ultrasound a month later. There was no change and I'm having it surgically removed.
My best friend had a 4cm cyst, she was already on bc pills and came back 5 weeks later and the cyst was gone, but a new one had formed on the other ovary at about 2 cm.
I really think it depends a lot on what type of cyst it is. See if you can get a copy of the lab report and read it for yourself. Or call your doctor back and ask more questions.
I'm guessing you're going back for another ultrasound after you've been on the bc for awhile?