Dermoids--Surgery or not?

[Cris715]

Earlier this month I went to a new OB/GYN for a routine checkup and we discovered I had dermoids.  He wanted to operate immediately.  When I heard I would lose an ovary and maybe both I worried.  I am 38 and have a son and daughter, but I think I'm still young and want to keep the door open to having at least another child.  The doctor suggested that I can get a second opinion so I made plans to.  Then he dropped me as a patient which just heightened my anxiety.  I had a CT scan and took the report to a second doctor and he said that I might have had these dermoids my whole life and that he would recommend waiting to do surgery since I don't have severe pain.  I do have sharp pains in the ovary area just not severe.  But I am afraid they will rupture and I will lose both ovaries or worse.  And just the thought of having these things is messing with my mind.  I just don't know what to do.  The bigger dermoid is 6 cm and the other one is really small.  Please send any advice on this matter.

Thanks!
Cris

[MarieMichele]

I just wanted to add to my comments, after reading further into older posts by others.  Dermoids can rupture and if they do, they disperse their solid elements into your abdomen.  That can be teeth, hair and other solid components.  It could lead to a nasty surgical clean up.  I am not trying to scare you.  Just want you to have more things to consider when making a decision to pursue or delay any surgical options.

[MarieMichele]

Dermoids are not like other types of cysts. They are mostly solid and cannot go away on their own. If you go to Google Images and do a search for dermoid ovarian cyst, you may be a bit shocked at how ghastly looking they can be.  So I don't think rupture is likely. The greater risk would be twisting/tortion of the ovary tube, which could lead to emergency surgery.  Or they may grow further, or just stay the same, and not cause much more trouble than you already have.  But they will haunt you one way or the other and you may want surgery at some future date and time.  That larger one might interfere with the ovary's ability to function/release eggs.  Or it might not.  Might complicate a pregnancy, too.  Or not.  Sorry for the good news/bad news, but that's how unpredictable life with a cyst problem can be.  They reduce quality of life, and it varies by person just how much.