ovarian cyst 7cm

[karenmkp]

I'm 51 and have had the same ob/gyn Dr. for 17 years. Now that I have been having problems for the past year I feel ashamed to tell him of my pain and constant discomfort because his response is your close to menopause its all normal.  I have had a d and c and ablation last year now I am having bleeding again and a 7cm cyst on my left ovary that is extermely painful. At my last dr visit I was told that I could do nothing and it may go away, do a progestrone pill to shrink the lining of the uterus or a radical hysterectomy.  Am I unrealistic to perhaps just want the option to remove the cyst and treat the other problem of the uterus.  I don't want to have radical surgery because of the cyst. He has done a CA 125 that was negative.  What are your thoughts?

[swalshable]

Karen my advice is to have the cyst removed laparoscopically while it is still only 7cm, mine was left to grow to 10cm and when they tried to take it through the 1.5 laparoscopic incision it burst, I spent 2 hours extra in theatre having the mess cleaned up and 3 months later had to have major surgery to remove omentum, appendix, ovary and tube. Good luck Karen and make your doctor do what he needs to do. XXX

[Debtrap]

Sorry about typos I'm on an iphone

[Debtrap]

I agree with ireneo. Did your doctor tell you what type of cyst it is? Some are functional and come and go,  others  need to be removed, since they do not go away on their own. I believe rule of thumb is anything greater than 6cm should be taken out to prevent ovarian torsion. I am 36 and have an 8cm dermoid which I they found during my pregnancy and we have been watching it for the past year. It actually is slightly smaller now but we are going to remove robotically it since it is still big and may possibly cause the ovary to
twist. So my advice to you is to see about getting it removed or even go for a second opinion. Good luck :)

[ireneo]

You don't want to hear my thoughts (grrr) so I'll just share my experience.

I'm post menopausal and a few years ago I was having some odd symptoms: bloating, trouble urinating, constipation issues. I wrote them off as old age and maybe things related to my wacky heart. I never thought of my retired ovaries. Went in for a routine pap, told her how I was doing. Next thing I knew I had to go in for a transvaginal ultrasound (ick!). I was told I had a 7 cm cyst on my left ovary and it had to come out. Also told an oncologist would be involved. I wasn't very happy about this sudden turn of events.

By the time they checked my heart and gave the OK for surgery, the cyst had grown to 10 cm. They did remove the cyst, ovary and tube and I'm doing fine now. Best news was no sign of cancer.

The fact is any cyst/tumor over 5 cm should probably be removed since the size of it can cause the ovary to flip and twist things up in there. Then you have a lot of pain and a medical emergency. So I'm going to politely (but with a big frown on my face) disagree with your doctor. Perhaps you could consider getting a second opinion.