9cm Ovarian Cyst, will i have it removed?

[Jen3255]

Hi,
I just found out that I have a 9cm Ovarian Cyst on my left ovary. I was sent to the ER after a doctor notcied something on my ovary during a pelvic exam (I was having all the symptoms of an ovarian cyst but didnt relize it and the doctor did it as a last step, just in case type of thing, thankfully she did)  and was sent straight to the hospital to have an Ultrasound. The doctor asked if I could have it removed the next day but I had work so he referred me to the OB/GYN at the hospital and gave me a prescription for Vicodin. I have an appointment with her next Monday to decide what to do going forward, Im assuming I will have to have it removed since it is so large but I dont know if they will want to remove my entire left ovary? Im 22 years old and have always been healthy. I work a lot and I usually have a higher stress level. Im wondering what the procedure will most likely be and how long Ill be down from work and everyday life. I just want to know what to expect because I didnt think it would be this serious but im starting to get nervous reading all of the post ive seen. Anything helps, I want to hear the good, bad, painful... I dont like suprises! any words of advice or suggestions i would appreciate.

[selina0930]

Hello,
im 21 years old and have been suffering with ovarian cyst since I was 15, i had to get 2 surgeries done and on my 3rd surgery I had to get my left ovary removed and Drs told my boyfriend and family i  will not be able to have kids.7 months later I got pregnant with my daughter who is now 3... as of today I have a 9 cm cyst on my right ovary. Since I only have one ovary my OBGYN is debating on making me get surgery birth control pills have not worked so now its plan B ; to have a baby. Then get surgery to get my entire reproductive system takin out at age 22.....

[Jen3255]

Thank you guys so much, a lot of this helped. I spoke with the doctor today and shes planning on scheduling the surgery asap since its so large and has a risk of twisting. She said depending on how it looks and where it is on my ovary when they do the laparoscopy will determine if they will need to remove the whole ovary or just the cyst. if they do have to remove the ovary or if they arent able to drain and then remove the cyst they will have to make the extra incision and i will be out from work for a while longer. Ill keep you posted on what goes on. I just hope recovery isnt too bad
Thank you very very much again

[whiteviolet]

To my understanding, an ovarian cyst over 5 cm large is almost always removed because it causes pain and problems with other organs.  The larger it gets the more difficult it can be to remove intact, so I'm sure your gynecologist will want to remove the cyst as soon as possible. Your gynecologist will very likely do a laparoscopy, which is a small incision in your abdomen so that he/she can look at the cyst and other pelvic organs.  Your gynecologist will probably do a biopsy of the cyst at that point in the surgery.  If the cyst is a simple follicular cyst, the type of cyst that many girls and women get with their monthly cycle, he/she will remove it intact either through the same incision or through another slightly larger incision.  Your gynecologist will remove it with damaging as little of your ovary as possible.  If, however, the cyst looks suspicious in any way, he or she will make decisions about what to do right there in your surgery.  Because you are young, the chance of your cyst being cancer is much, much less.  Also because you are young, your doctor will do everything possible to remove it without damaging your ovary.  Because the cyst has either grown on or from within your ovary, a small portion of your ovary might get damaged when the cyst is removed, but as Sagittarius said above, most often ovaries with only a small amount of damage from cyst removal continue to function properly.  Your gynecologist might also recommend that you take hormones for a few months after your surgery to prevent another cyst from growing.  If you have the small laparascopic incision or even a slightly larger incision, you will probably be discharged the same day.  You will probably have bleeding (a normal response to pelvic surgery) and moderate pain for a couple of days, but you should start to feel alot better fairly soon.  Your gynecologist will probably tell you to rest alot, don't lift anything heavy, and don't take baths for about 6 weeks.  Don't drive while you are taking pain medication.  My 18 year old daughter had a simple follicular ovarian cyst (11 cm) removed from her right ovary in mid-August and had two small abdominal incisions and the doctor was able to preserve her right ovary.  She went home the same day, rested 1 week, and started school with the rest of her friends the following week.  She has had two normal periods since her surgery and is taking hormones to prevent another cyst.  She feels fully recovered now.  I had a complex ovarian cyst (12 cm) removed last week but required a complete hysterectomy because I had other problems, such as the cyst was twisted, something wrong with the lining of the uterus, and uterine fibroids.  I had a small laparascopic incision and one very large vertical abdominal incision.  I was in the hospital for 3 nights and am resting at home now.  My pain level and bleeding (again normal response to pelvic surgery) the first 2-3 days was moderately severe but controlled by medications in the hospital.  My pain level after day 3 has steadily improved and well managed at home by resting and pain medications at home.  My doctor has said that I may be able to return to work after my 4 week follow up appt., but has advised me that week 5 and week 6 should be part-time and gradual return to week.  So, it all depends on how the cyst appears to the doctor, the results of the biopsy during the surgery, the extent of the surgery, and the type of incision, as far as pain and recovery goes.  Not to worry, the most likely scenario for you will be 1-2 small incisions, a normal (benign) biopsy, and little or no damage to your ovary.  Best wishes for a quick surgery and a speedy recovery.

[Sagittarius]

And, please try to relax and to reduce stress in some way (taking naps, exercising, for example Yoga, walking on a fresh air, spending more time with people you love and fell pleasent with, taking massage...) because a lot of work and high level of stress is not good for your health! I am telling you this because I work a lot, I prepare master thesis, dealing with everyday things that life consists of and I worry too much about different things and that's a lot of stress, so it reflects on my health. There are small signs of that now, but as we get older that will get more serious and it will come on the surface...
So, take care of yourself, don't worry too much, but be well-informed and aware!
Have a nice day!

[Sagittarius]

Hello,

I had a lap done five years ago in order to remove 10 and 12 cm chocolate cysts, but also endometrioma, tumor and blood tickening, so during the lap my right ovary was removed, because there was nothing healthy left from it to be saved.
But, my case was pretty serious and that's why one of my ovaries was removed.
I your case, I suggest not to worry too much before you see your doctor, talk to him/her and make some examinations. There is no need to upset too much before you know anything.
I could tell you this, from my personal experience: My case was very serious because the doctors faced with the real problem during the lap. The previous examinations didn't show everything, so the procedure in my case was very serious. But, in other cases, there aren't any complications and if everything is ok with the ovary condition only cysts are removed and not the ovary. If one of the ovaries is removed, your "woman proceses" and reproductive process can still continue to "work" normally, so you shouldn't worry too much about that, although it's unpleasent and it's not so good feeling to be just with one ovary...
That's my experience and my opinion. I hope that it was of some help.
And I hope that everything is going to be fine in your case and that there wouldn't be any serious problems or procedures!
Wishing you all the best!
Take care!