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What can cause recurring ovarian cysts?
I had my first ruptured cyst nine months ago. Since then I have had 9 or 10 more cysts rupture putting me in intense pain where I cannot walk for at least a day. At first all of the cysts were on my right ovary. They tried to prevent further cysts with three different types of birth control but I continued to have them and was having side effects from the medicine so I stopped taking it. After about six months of the ruptures my dr removed the right ovary and both of my tubes. He also found some endometriosis during the surgery and removed that as well. I hadn't had anything on my left ovary so they thought this would fix my problem.
About four weeks after the surgery I had the intense pain again so I went to my dr and they found a cyst on my left ovary. They were hoping it was just trauma from the surgery that caused it so they scheduled an appt for 8 weeks to check on it. For six weeks I didn't have any pain at all so I was hoping it was over. Then I started to have some smaller stabbing pains again but hadn't had the intense pain from a rupture yet. I let that go on for two weeks until my scheduled appt. I just had my appt where they did an ultrasound again and found a large cyst on my left ovary the size of an orange. According to my dr there isn't anything else to do except do a full hysterectomy. I am only 28 so the thought of entering menopause this early and having to take the hormone scares me. I told him I wasn't ready to make a decision yet so they are going to do another ultrasound in six weeks to keep an eye on the cyst.
My questions about this are:
Is there anything that could be causing the cysts that I could have checked out and if fixed would prevent the cysts from forming?
Does anyone have a situation similar to this and what did you do?
Also I would appreciate any information on what to do after the hysterectomy if I have it done.
About four weeks after the surgery I had the intense pain again so I went to my dr and they found a cyst on my left ovary. They were hoping it was just trauma from the surgery that caused it so they scheduled an appt for 8 weeks to check on it. For six weeks I didn't have any pain at all so I was hoping it was over. Then I started to have some smaller stabbing pains again but hadn't had the intense pain from a rupture yet. I let that go on for two weeks until my scheduled appt. I just had my appt where they did an ultrasound again and found a large cyst on my left ovary the size of an orange. According to my dr there isn't anything else to do except do a full hysterectomy. I am only 28 so the thought of entering menopause this early and having to take the hormone scares me. I told him I wasn't ready to make a decision yet so they are going to do another ultrasound in six weeks to keep an eye on the cyst.
My questions about this are:
Is there anything that could be causing the cysts that I could have checked out and if fixed would prevent the cysts from forming?
Does anyone have a situation similar to this and what did you do?
Also I would appreciate any information on what to do after the hysterectomy if I have it done.
COMMUNITY LEADER
I'm sorry you are dealing with this. Have you been diagnosed or have symptoms (besides the cysts) of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) such as excess body and facial hair, acne or oily skin, being overweight or tendency to gain easily, irregular periods? I have read that the cysts of PCOS don't generally cause pain or discomfort but don't know if that is true in all cases.
Hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) is a very serious surgery with long-term progressive harm even when the ovaries are not removed. The uterus and its ligaments are so important to our anatomy. The lligaments are the pelvis' support structures. When they are cut to remove the uterus, the skeletal integrity of the spine, hips, and rib cage is compromised which alters a woman's figure and causes back and hip problems down the road, problems for which there is no fix.
The uterus is a "place holder" for the bladder and bowel. Once it is removed, the bladder and bowel descend leading to future problems including prolapse as well as bladder and bowel incontinence. I have had major bowel issues as well as some bladder issues ever since my hysterectomy 10 years ago.
Many women complain of loss of sexual desire and ability to orgasm after hysterectomy regardless of whether or not the ovaries are removed. The uterus is the biggest player in orgasm for some women and, speaking from experience, clitoral orgasms are a disappointment in comparison if and when they happen. The loss of desire is a huge loss for me. And I was much older than you...49 when I had my surgery.
Our ovaries are vital to good health our whole lives. They do NOT shut down at menopause. Studies show they continue producing hormones our whole lives. Numerous studies show that their removal or loss of normal function following hysterectomy is a recipe for abnormal aging and is associated with an increased risk for a number of health problems including heart disease (the #1 killer of women), osteoporosis, dementia, Parkinson's, memory and cognitive impairment, mood disorders, sleep problems, visual changes, skin changes, sexual dysfunction (those are the ones I recall off the top of my head). You can find the studies in PubMed by searching for "bilateral oophorectomy long term health." There is also a gynreform website that I believe has a comprehensive list.
Hysterectomy is grossly overused with only about 10% being necessary. Many women have ovaries removed unnecessarily too despite a woman's lifetime risk of ovarian cancer being LESS THAN 2%.
My surgery was 10 years ago at age 49 and not a moment goes by that I don't regret it big time. I am still shocked how quickly I aged in a matter of months.
Please do your research and seek out a doctor (not necessarily a gynecologist) who admits to the importance of our organs and does not profit from removing them. It's possible you have some sort of endocrine / metabolic abnormality (such as thyroid, pituitary, adrenal) that needs to be addressed. Have you worked with a primary care physician or an endocrinologist (maybe even a reproductive endocrinologist)?
Wishing you the best in getting help that restores your health versus creating a whole new set of problems. Please post back and let us know how this all goes.
Hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) is a very serious surgery with long-term progressive harm even when the ovaries are not removed. The uterus and its ligaments are so important to our anatomy. The lligaments are the pelvis' support structures. When they are cut to remove the uterus, the skeletal integrity of the spine, hips, and rib cage is compromised which alters a woman's figure and causes back and hip problems down the road, problems for which there is no fix.
The uterus is a "place holder" for the bladder and bowel. Once it is removed, the bladder and bowel descend leading to future problems including prolapse as well as bladder and bowel incontinence. I have had major bowel issues as well as some bladder issues ever since my hysterectomy 10 years ago.
Many women complain of loss of sexual desire and ability to orgasm after hysterectomy regardless of whether or not the ovaries are removed. The uterus is the biggest player in orgasm for some women and, speaking from experience, clitoral orgasms are a disappointment in comparison if and when they happen. The loss of desire is a huge loss for me. And I was much older than you...49 when I had my surgery.
Our ovaries are vital to good health our whole lives. They do NOT shut down at menopause. Studies show they continue producing hormones our whole lives. Numerous studies show that their removal or loss of normal function following hysterectomy is a recipe for abnormal aging and is associated with an increased risk for a number of health problems including heart disease (the #1 killer of women), osteoporosis, dementia, Parkinson's, memory and cognitive impairment, mood disorders, sleep problems, visual changes, skin changes, sexual dysfunction (those are the ones I recall off the top of my head). You can find the studies in PubMed by searching for "bilateral oophorectomy long term health." There is also a gynreform website that I believe has a comprehensive list.
Hysterectomy is grossly overused with only about 10% being necessary. Many women have ovaries removed unnecessarily too despite a woman's lifetime risk of ovarian cancer being LESS THAN 2%.
My surgery was 10 years ago at age 49 and not a moment goes by that I don't regret it big time. I am still shocked how quickly I aged in a matter of months.
Please do your research and seek out a doctor (not necessarily a gynecologist) who admits to the importance of our organs and does not profit from removing them. It's possible you have some sort of endocrine / metabolic abnormality (such as thyroid, pituitary, adrenal) that needs to be addressed. Have you worked with a primary care physician or an endocrinologist (maybe even a reproductive endocrinologist)?
Wishing you the best in getting help that restores your health versus creating a whole new set of problems. Please post back and let us know how this all goes.
1 Comments
Thank you for your response! On my first US they said my left ovary looked polycystic, but when I asked about PCOS they said that I don't have it.
I went to my primary physician and asked to have my thyroid and hormones checked. He wouldn't check my hormones because he said my period would be abnormal if something was wrong with my hormones. He did check my thyroid because last year they said it was enlarged but not enough to do anything about. They said my levels are normal, but when I compare them to the levels they took last year some of them have decreased and are at the low end of "normal".
I also found some interesting articles linking a deficiency in iodine with an enlarged thyroid and cysts on the ovaries. After asking about five times for that test my dr finally agreed to run it even though he said that an iodine deficiency is unheard of in the USA. I just got the results back and my levels were low. Haha, I proved him wrong!
I found a dr in my area that believes in treating the cause instead of the symptoms and likes natural remedies as well, so I am going to get an appt with him and have him check my hormones to make sure they are okay. I am also going to talk to him about the iodine deficiency. From what I have read everything I am going through could be fixed with the iodine supplement, so I am very interested to see if it works! I will try to keep you updated when I get new news :)
I went to my primary physician and asked to have my thyroid and hormones checked. He wouldn't check my hormones because he said my period would be abnormal if something was wrong with my hormones. He did check my thyroid because last year they said it was enlarged but not enough to do anything about. They said my levels are normal, but when I compare them to the levels they took last year some of them have decreased and are at the low end of "normal".
I also found some interesting articles linking a deficiency in iodine with an enlarged thyroid and cysts on the ovaries. After asking about five times for that test my dr finally agreed to run it even though he said that an iodine deficiency is unheard of in the USA. I just got the results back and my levels were low. Haha, I proved him wrong!
I found a dr in my area that believes in treating the cause instead of the symptoms and likes natural remedies as well, so I am going to get an appt with him and have him check my hormones to make sure they are okay. I am also going to talk to him about the iodine deficiency. From what I have read everything I am going through could be fixed with the iodine supplement, so I am very interested to see if it works! I will try to keep you updated when I get new news :)
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