pelvic pain & cyst on both ovaries

[boys2mom]

Hello -   almost a year ago (December) I started having severe pelvic pain on the right side to the point that I was nausous (sp?) by 5pm and needed to stop moving (house work).  Went to my general doc who found a quarter sized cyst on my right ovary.  I have seen my gyne a couple times since then and found the cyst has gone down in size, she explained that some cysts come and go with a women's cycle and it would not be unsual if I experiencea this every other month.  My question is I have now had the same pelvic pain and nausea for 3 months straight.  Some days are severe others are managable.  I'm tired all the time and I feel bloated.  When do I stop going for ultrasounds and maybe request the cyst be removed and biopsied?  I had a hysterectomy (still have my ovaries) on Aug 9, 2006.  I also have a very long family history of various types of cancer, so I am concerned but do not want to be parnoid.
Thank you for your time.    Carolyn

[Annekathryn Goodman, M.D.]

Dear Carolyn,
I agree with Saville's sage advice. Why did you have a hysterectomy last year? Why were your ovaries left in at that time? Do you have a copy of the operative note? Is there mention of what your ovaries looked like at surgery? What types of cancer have other family members had?

If you are having pain that is related to the ovaries you have 3 choices:
1-Try a birth control pill to suppress cysts of ovulation and see if the pain gets better

2-have a laparoscopy to look at your ovaries and take out the right ovary

3- go back and have both ovaries and tubes removed if you have the kind of family history that puts you at increased risk of ovarian cancer (family history of breast, ovarian, uterine, colon cancers)
best wishes

[saville]

I am not a physician.  However, I have been reading about cysts and ovarian cancer non-stop after I was diagnosed with complex cycts last week.   Simple cysts that come and go with your cycles are "normal" and generally do not cause concern of cancer.   However, a complex cyst (has mass to it) is a matter of concern, and usually has to be removed.  (Even with a complex cyst, odds are against it being cancer).  

In my case, the physician ordered a MRI which gave the physician more detailed information about my cysts.  You can also gave a blood test called a ca-125 test which can test for tumor markers. Most importantly, if you don't feel like you are getting good advice or taken seriously, get another opinion.  I did, and it was the smartest thing I ever did.

There are many medical conditions that can cause nausea, bloating, and pelvic pain, including bladder infection or stones, irritable bowel syndrome, etc.  The ovarian cyst may be a "red herring," i.e. unrelated to your symptoms.   You may just need a complete work-up by your doctor.