enlarged ovary

[voss91]

Hello, I have had bad cramping before and during periods for years, and pain during sex that only occurs a few times a year.  I had my 4th child 2 1/2 years ago.  I nursed for 22 months. My cycles started up 20 months into nursing. They were very off, light to heavy, few days between, like that.  My doctor said it was my body trying to get started again, and he was probably right. After a couple months my periods did get regular time wise, but very heavy flow with LOTS of clots. Some very small (most) and some very large. Pain during ovulation period. Over the last year I have had spotting after sex, the last time I did this it went into a full period by morning with alot of flow. My doctor said all this was normal, a pap showed normal results. I decided to get a 2nd opinion  and the 2nd doctor ordered a vaginal ultrasound. I got a call 2 days ago and they want to do a biopsy. I was told the endometrium wall was thicker than it should be and I have an enlarged ovary. Of course I am scared. I have looked on the web for both, and all I find for an enlarged ovary is cancer. Nothing was said about a cyst, just the ovary is enlarged. I know I need to be patient, but I cant eat or sleep. Is there anything else that could make my ovary enlarged besides cancer? Any help is greatly appreciated.

[voss91]

Hello,  Thank you MedHelp for you answer, and Thank you two for your comments. And SPAK...I pray you got some answers.  

I am really more confused than ever.  I had my biopsy and it was fine.  I was told my one ovary is 5 mm, nothing to worry about, but my uterian(sp?) wall was 18 mm? Am I saying that right? It was very thick the doc told me.  He said that I need to go on progestrone for 4-6 months (12 days before my periods till I start my period for 4-6 months) He said I am probibly not ovulating and that is why my uterus wall is getting so thick.  "But if I am not ovulating why am I still having periods and why do I bleed so heavy and bright red?" He said this was normal for someone who is not ovulating because my body is not producing progestrine, that my wall is not shedding and it is just building up. I guess I have always thought that your wall shedding every month WAS your period.  If mine is not shedding, and I am having my period, then what causes the period?

If my wall is so thick can a biopsy get to my uterus wall, or did they just biospy my build up?  Also if 4 mm is normal for an ovary and mine is 5mm (with the other one 2.5mm) why is there nothing to worry about? How do they determine this? Can anyone shed light on this for me? I feel like giving up. Just not thinking about it anymore. Then I think..."but wonder if someone has looked over something?"
                    Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  <><

[SPAK]

IN 1999 AFTER YEARS OF PAIN, BLEEDING, TESTS TESTS AND MORE TESTS I WAS TOLD I WAS "JUST OVERWEIGHT" BY 2 DOCTORS..I AM 5FT 5 AND WEIGHED 150 AT THE TIME...I FINALLY FOUND A DR. THAT INFORMED ME I HAD CERVICAL CANCER. I WAS THE SENT TO THE CLEVELAND CLINIC WHERE A LEEP PROCEDURE WAS DONE. THE DR. THEN INFORMED ME I MUST HAVE A HYSTERECTOMY I WAS ONLY 35 AND WANTED TO HAVE ANOTHER CHILD (I ONLY HAVE 2) THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A RARE FORM ONLY 10% OF WOMEN GET. I HAD THE SURGERY AND DURING THEY FOUND AN ORANGE SIZE TUMOR ON THE OVARY WHERE I WAS HAVING THE PAIN FOR ALL THOSE YEARS..I AM PISSED OFF THE TESTS ULTRASOUNDS ETC..DIDNT SHOW THIS MY RIGHT OVARY WAS REMOVED WITHOUT MY CONSENT..NOW IT'S AUGUST 2003 AND THE PAIN I ENDURE IS CRAZY I LIVE WITH IT EVERYDAY JUST TO BE TOLD ONCE AGAIN IT'S ALL IN MY MIND..I HAVE HAD A CAT SCAN LAST WEEK AND NOW THEY TELL ME MY LEFT OVARY IS VERY ENLARGED..I FEEL LIKE I AM NOT BEING TREATED LIKE THIS IS SERIOUS...SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME WHAT IS GOING ON!!MY NEXT APPT IS IN SEPT.

[steph3]

Just to calm your fears, I have a history of ovarian cysts and enlarged ovaries - always on the right side. In fact, my right ovary is enlarged right now and I have an appointment scheduled to see about having it removed altogether. Three years ago I was having cyst-type pain, and when they did the ultrasound all it showed was an enlarged ovary, no cyst. When the surgeon went in to look at it, it turned out that there was a small cyst (a "chocolate" cyst that doesn't usually show up on an ultrasound) there after all, and endometriosis. So that's probably what I have again, and what you have. I wouldn't worry too much. I remember how scared I was when I heard the words "enlarged ovary", and whenever you researh stuff like this on the internet you'll always find the worst case scenarios, but if you look further you will also find that there are other causes besides cancer. Good luck!