Actually - it does not worry me more as I like to be informed and people sharing their experiences really helps.

Hormone therapy has not been mentioned so I shall look into that.

It is interesting what you have written as a friend of mine tried for a long time to conceive and her problem was caused by scaring and adhesions.

Hi smackerjack,

I can't help you much with the cyst but I just want to reassure you about the general anesthesia. I had 3 operations under general anesthesia and it went all well. The recovery is a bit longer then the local and keep you brain fuggy for a while. But the procedure is pretty safe. I am sure the doctor will run all the test before to make sure she is fit for it.

Best of luck to your daughter.

Hm well I've heard cases of people I know getting surgery for ovarian cysts and it so happens that the cyst wasn't even where they thought it was. It happened to my sister actually a couple months ago after she had her baby. And yeah it can be tricky to spot them, Just be careful you should really get another opinion, and decide what you want to do. Cysts are very common though, so I assume that things will go just fine.

I have 3 large cysts (largest 15cm by 41/2cm) which grew from a tiny bit of ovary that had adhered to the urethra, it was too problematic to remove during the op. They were discovered about 8 years ago during an MRI for a different problem. I have them checked out yearly to measure growth and if I have any unusual discomfort or pain, I have a blood test.

I had two different opinions, one doctor wanted to operate immediately, the other wait and see. I chose the latter option, as I know another op just produces more adhesion's and lesions. The most reassuring aspect is that I can go immediately for a blood test, no going to GP, no waiting in hospital departments, just strait into my gyne and the results within minutes.

If I was in England I might have made a different decision.

Do they know what type of cyst it is?

Hormone therapy will only work on certain types of cysts so it's worth finding out if that's an option or not.

Scarring and adhesions is a risk of course but so is the risk of the cyst rupturing and causing infection which will could also lead to these issues.

I had a 'chocolate' cyst (a blood filled cyst that ressembles chocolate hence the name) removed laparascopically when I was about her age and everything was fine. I have the opposite problem regarding blood pressure and mine tends to drop really low under general anaesthetic but if the anaesthetist is aware she has a problem they will monitor her closely should she decide to go ahead with the op.

I think she needs to find out more about the cyst before making a decision.

I had a 7.5cm cyst. I was offered keyhole surgery with GA or the more traditional surgery under epidural-type anaesthetic. The traditional surgery leaves larger scars, but you don't need a GA. I opted for keyhole and GA. One and a half years on, the scars are barely noticeable and I've not had a re-growth. As they found other problems and had to remove half the ovary along with the cyst and we'd had problems trying for our first I assumed I was safe... Nature's little joke. I am now 34 weeks pregnant with no 2, so it won't necessarily mean that she'll have fertility problems, but it is worth asking what the doctors think.

I had no pain with mine apart from the first week when it formed and only had it removed when the doctor ordered me to as it was starting to change shape and texture.

Recovery was about 2 weeks, the most painful thing is the gas trapped in your shoulder from the operation and wasn't allowed to lift more than 5 kg for 2 weeks. I wasn't working as I was at home with the baby, but I have a friend who had the same op and was signed off work for 2 weeks.

Hi All,

My close friend had a cyst operated and removed in one of her ovaries. We were in grad school then and she developed high fever with several lumps on her throat. Doctors initially guessed she may have some cancer. She was terrified since she was not even 23 then. Later before they performed the surgery doctors asked her to sign a document that if upon opening up they find the cyst bigger than expected they would remove her organ. We were so afraid for her and luckily it wasnt too big. Now she is back to normal and is almost finishing her Phd.

Guess its a common surgery these days.

AS

I have a cyst that is currently ca 10cm; even this is considered too small to consider removal. The gyne says that unless the cyst is there for more than 3-6 months, and unless one is in pain - as in serious pain, not just discomfort - then cysts are not removed. The doc says that most go away of their own accord.

Instead, I have periodic ultrasound checks.

Now, part of the reason for not taking action may be my age - in a younger woman planning to have children a different approach might be considered.

Does your daugher's insurer offer a second opinion service? Mine does - and for pretty much all gyne surgery it is recommended to get a second opinion. The appointment/tests done through this service are covered fully by the insurer, regardless of one's franchise.

Even if she doesn't have this coverage, it would be prudent to get a second opinion - as you can see, there are rather large differences in treatment approaches.

All the best to your daughter.

A catch up - My daughter had a visit to see the gyni but three weeks ago she was admitted to hospital in severe pain. As it was the middle of the night she was seen and examined but did not have a ultrasound. I was unaware of this as I was away and knowing what a worrier I am she did not tell me. As the pain ceased she was allowed home and given an appt to have another scan.

She had the ultrasound today and the cyst is no longer there - so it appears that when she was in so much pain that it ruptured. She has not had any pain since that night but when I am back in the UK will visit the GP with her.
Phew - I feel so relieved..

Thanks for the update. I am happy she didn't have more complications.

Great and timely tread for me. I found out 8 months ago I have a cyst, 6cm, seemingly not attached to the ovary but right next to it. My doctor wanted to 'watch it' at first and now, after 8 months, would like to remove it because it hasn't decreased in size. It only pains me now and then like a cramp.

He said he wanted to to this in his office because he had the equipment. I didn't think that much about it, but after this thread I'm definitely getting a second opinion and thinking even about just leaving it alone.

Luckily, my brother is a OB/GYN in the States and told me I was crazy to do it in his office because you never know what you will find and you want to have all the equipment and staff necessary if there is a problem.

Good comments and I started me thinking I need to investigate and take this more seriously.

I had an ovarian cyst at about the same age as your daughter. Is she already on birth control pills? Perhaps discuss the different possibilities with the doctors on hormone treatment first. My cyst went away after pill hormone treatement for 4 months.