Cyst...again

[silentlady]

Hello,

Two years ago I had a 3cm cyst on my right ovary. Eventually it went away. Two days ago I was told I have a 5cm cyst that had ruptured on my right ovary. This caused massive pain, nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting and diarrhea for horrible days! The pain is decreasing so the cyst should be decreasing size as well, right...? Anyways my question is: is it normal to have a cyst occurring more than once at such a young age. At this time I am 23. Also should I be worried about ovarian cancer or infertility?

Thanks,
SL

[RavenLady]

Hi SL,
  There are a few things that can cause recurrent cysts.  One is endometriosis (SP?) and the other is functional cysts gone awry (corpus luteum with attitude).  I had the functional cysts that tended to seal up after ovulation, fill with fluid and either resolve slowly via fluid leaking out and reabsorbing into the surrounding tissue or the far more painful ruptures like what you have just experienced.  I was diagnosed when I was 21 SL, tough job since that was 1978 and the ultrasound was not a common reality yet.  It was often referred to as Middelschmertz or Mid-pain and although painful and way to recurrent, I survived it and had two kids with no trouble.  As a matter of fact, I had far less painful cycles after I had kids whereas before, it was just about every month, the cycles I missed just meant the next round would be worse.  It was usually three days of pain, the first was the worst and I always felt like everything was going to fall out!  I used a heating pad for relief as none of the over the couter remedies did much for the pain (I was in the Military at the time and they are of the "walk it off" no pain meds mentality).  I have read posts from Gals in the same boat as you and their Doctors have actually given them pain meds, that's progress!  Ask for some SL!  What causes the severe pain is the fluid in your pelvic area when a cyst ruptures.  It takes several days for that fluid to reabsorb and until it does, it hurts like the dickens!  I feel for you SL as I have been there!
     I am 49 now and grew a couple of non'functional cysts on my left ovary, benign, that I had removed along with the ovary a little over a year ago.  Figures, they never caused me a bit of pain!  The dang functional cysts did!  Talk to your Dr., endo is a possibility as well as that this functional rupture may be a one time event.  If not, be prepared.  MV