Ovarian cysts and TTC

erinfrank8

So we've been trying for over a year (I'm 25, husband 26) with no luck. My doc sent me for bloodwork last week and my progesterone came back low. I also went in for an ultra sound and they found a pretty significant cyst on my left ovary. Now my doc wants me to go back on birth control for 3 months hopefully to shrink the cyst then try clomid in the fall. Thoughts? It seems a little counter productive to go on birth control when we are trying to conceive. Has this worked for anyone else? Or has anyone else been diagnosed with a hemorrhagic cyst while TTC? Thanks for your advice ladies!

BunnyBerry

I had the same thoughts about birth control - what a wacky step backward when TTC!! I had 2 large hemorrhaging cysts a year ago and just let them slowly go away on their own, but now that we are getting treatment I think I would love to use BC if it could shrink them faster so we can move on.

We are also looking at IVF this summer if needed and my first thought was, no way would I want to go on BC for a while instead jumping right into an IVF cycle! But when I read about the different protocols, I saw there was a really important reason for it - to make sure you have many follies all starting together at the same size, so one or two don't pull ahead of the pack and ruin your chances for a large number retrieved. So I guess I need to look at BC as "ovary reprimanders" or something that is helping us toward our BFP??

I'm sorry you've had to try so long! I've read that large cysts can produce hormones that act as birth control, so I wonder if there's any way to know if that may have been happening to you and once they're taken care of maybe you can conceive more easily?

Good luck!!

ChristieH917

Late last year, I had a large cyst on my right ovary. I had to have that removed before I could proceed with any fertility treatment. I had it removed in January, where it was so large that the OB had to take my ovary and tube on that side. Back at the RE, the HSG showed that my one remaining tube was damaged during surgery. He told me that IVF is now my only option. I start birth control pills next month. To top it all off, I have a cyst... again.  I am hoping to start my first IVF cycle in June.

The birth control should help with the cyst.  A few months of birth control is must easier than surgery and recovery.  I was out of treatment for over 4 months with surgery.  I would highly recommend a reproductive endocrinologist as well.  The RE knows how to deal with the cysts and still help you get pregnant.  

Pintobean39

I had 2 large cyst on my left ovary after my last medicated cycle.  My RE put me on BC for 2 weeks and it went away.  He said I could have not done BC but it would be faster to get rid of the cyst on BC.

malerina

It seems like it depends which type of cyst it is. You can ask for a hormone test to see if your cyst is producing estrogen or progesterone, because if it does it can mess with ovulation.

If you are ovulating on your own and the cyst is "quiet", I agree, it doesn't make sense to go on bcp, because pills don't make it shrink any faster, they just prevent new cysts.

and yes, get a referral to RE, since you have tried for more than a year, because OBs don't focus on fertility and don't have time for such cases anyway.

Mommalawyer

NariaDreaming said:

A lot of women here end up on BC short term to shrink cysts. 

Are you working with an OB? If you are I would suggest switching to a reproductive endocrinologist. 

This.

erinfrank8

Thanks for the advice ladies. In my bloodwork my progesterone came back low the cyst is preventing me from ovulating. Hopefully the BC does its job and three months from now we can try again. A friend also gave me a name for an RE so I'm definitely going to make an appointment and see if the protocol differs at all from what my OBGyn has us doing. I also have an HSG next week.... And who says trying to have a baby is the fun part?!

kaynix21

I had an ovarian cyst that ruptured two months back and it was the worst pain I have ever, ever been in. Ever. So if I could have gone on BC to shrink mine and maybe not deal with the pain and recovery ( I was down and out for like a week I was in so much pain).

But that's just me. Not all of them rupture. But I understand feeling like it's a step backward.

GL to you and def get with an RE. We waited like a year and a half before getting an RE so the sooner the better.