Is there a relationship

[Anna-maria74]

Along my personal journey, and the multitude of people I have spoken to suffering from ovarian cysts, I have noted an astonishing correlation between ovarian cysts and IBS, NOT including mis-diagnosis of ovarian cysts. I admit that studying psychology means I tend to notice relationships in just about everything but could there not be a relationship between ovarian cysts and stress/anxiety - also being the main cause of IBS.

Just a thought!

Anna x

[Annekathryn Goodman, M.D.]

I think that pelvic pain is commonly from bowel disorders. Ovarian cysts can also cause pain if they enlarge or twist. So frequently these two diagnoses can be mixed up. Here is an interesting article

Article New SpringerLink BETA VersionExplore this article today!

Digestive Diseases and Sciences Publisher: Springer Netherlands ISSN: 0163-2116 (Paper) 1573-2568 (Online) DOI: 10.1007/BF01536421 Issue:  Volume 35, Number 10 Date:  October 1990 Pages: 1285 - 1290
Original ArticlesIrritable bowel syndrome in women having diagnostic laparoscopy or hysterectomy Relation to gynecologic features and outcomeGeorge F. Longstreth1, 2    , David B. Preskill1, 2 and Lee Youkeles1, 2(1) Departments of Medicine, and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Southern California Permanente Medical Group, San Diego
(2) The Department of Biomathematics, Center for the Health Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
Received: 30 August 1989  Revised: 29 March 1990  Accepted: 5 April 1990  Abstract  We identified irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in 47.7% of 86 women having diagnostic laparoscopy for chronic pelvic pain, 39.5% of 172 women having elective hysterectomy, and 32.0% of 172 controls age-matched for the hysterectomy group (P=NS). Constipation and pain subtype IBS were more common in hysterectomy patients than controls (P < 0.05). In laparoscopy patients, dyspareunia was more common in those with IBS than in those without it (P < 0.05). In the hysterectomy group, more IBS patients had chronic pelvic pain (P < 0.005), and abnormal menses (P < 0.01). Chronic pelvic pain was more frequently the only prehysterectomy diagnosis in IBS patients (P < 0.05), and IBS was present more often when pain was a reason for hysterectomy (P < 0.01). One year after laparoscopy, IBS patients gave lower overall status ratings (P < 0.01) and lower pain improvement ratings (P < 0.05) than non-IBS patients. In women who had a hysterectomy for pain, there was less pain improvement one year later in those with the pain subtype of IBS than in non- IBS patients (P < 0.05). IBS is associated with gynecologic symptoms and affects the symptomatic outcome of diagnostic laparoscopy and hysterectomy.