Removing an ovary due to a mass growing inside

[Mary1122]

Hi my name is Mary and i am 20 years old, I have been having issues with my period since age 17, I had my period for one year straight,and at age 18 i decided to go see a gynecologist. I was wondering if i should have a ovary removed due to a mass growing inside. I took a blood test and came out negative for tumor or cancer and i was told everything was normal and healthy but my doctor has no idea or what the mass is. I get an vaginal ultrasounds every 6 months just to keep an eye on the mass to see if it grows or not. But my period is always unpredictable and was told to go on birth control pills which were to help my period to become normal so i did and it became normal even after i stopped taking it, but my period is going back to being unpredictable again, should i get the surgery to take my ovary out or stay on pills the rest of my life to keep my period normal?

[HVAC]

Before surgery do not be afraid to get a second opinion. I have not gotten second opinions do to fear and always regretted it,

Alex

[old_before_my_time]

I agree with HVAC. If you do indeed NEED surgery, seek out a surgeon who will agree to remove the cyst (cystectomy) and save your ovary or at least enough of it to regenerate. We need our ovaries our whole lives for hormone production to keep us in good health. We don't just need them for having babies. Removal of one ovary can upset the whole hormonal / endocrine system. affecting not only fertility but also long-term health. (The same is true of men and their testicles.)

Have you gotten a copy of the ultrasound report to see what it says about the size and type of cyst? Since your doctor is monitoring the cyst, it sounds like it is not concerning. And I also wonder if you could have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). If you do then you will tend to develop many cysts on your ovaries on a regular basis. These do not need intervention. However, having PCOS is associated with insulin resistance and increases risk for some health issues. So if you happen to have that you will want to educate yourself about it.

Hope this helps.

[HVAC]

Most Ovarian masses are benign, they never turn into cancer, and many go away on there own. It is normal for women to have tumors in or on their ovaries for a few months and then the cysts rupture and reabsorb. Your lifetime risk of ovarian cancer is 1.6% which is very low unless a woman has the BRCA mutation. The BRCA mutations are passed down in some families where there is a lot of reproductive cancers. In women before 50 and in men before 60. You are even less likely to have ovarian cancer at your age. It is more likely in women over 50. Your doctor is doing the standard testing which is very good.  Many women are on birth control to regulate periods.

Yes you could have this cyst removed but there are risks with every surgery and in this case the benefit may be much less than the risk.

Many women, as did I, end up with Polycystic Ovarian syndrome. In that case you may develop and reabsorb many cysts over your lifetime. This is why they do not remove ovarian cysts. You have a good doctor who is checking you every six months.

Women's periods are very complicated. I was on the clock regular from the time I started. When I was young I had a lot of pain and PMS. I got POS. I would have new tumors and reabsorb them many times. I did get cancer but I had the genetics like Angelina Joile called BRCA so it made my chances much greater. My doctors did not do ultrasounds which was a mistake. The reason they have to do ultrasounds is there is no way to see an ovary. Pap smears and vaginal exams miss it. Also do not be embarrassed if the doctor checks your ovaries via your rear. Many doctors do not do this because it is embarrassing and there is no other way to feel the ovaries. If my doctors had done this they would have found my cancer at least two years earlier.

If you have the surgery it may not make your periods normal. I would see what your doctor thinks. Try to hang on to your ovaries as long as you can. I have a whole lot of problems with out them. Women need them. When I was younger I thought I am not having kids why do I need my ovaries? Now I know how important they are. So if you need the cyst removed  for any reason specify that you keep the ovary.

Alex