Corpus Luteum Cyst?

MarknCalsMommy

So when my midwife called back last week to follow up after my US, she mentioned that I have a cyst on my ovary but that it would likely resolve on it's own..  After reading the labs (by email) they said it was likely a corpus luteum cyst.  I of course googled it and apparently we all form a corpus luteum at the start of each ovulation, and it's dissolved either when we get our period, or in early pregnancy.

So I brushed  it off and went on.  Today I decided to read the 3rd month in What to Expect When You're Expecting and they happened to mention it.  They said that sometimes the corpus luteum forms a cyst (which is seems to have done) but usually it's dissolved by 6 or 7 weeks.  Hmm...I'm 9.  It also said that it will probably need to be monitored, because occasionally it needs to be removed by surgery...which is usually safe after 12 weeks.  Well, now I'm starting to worry....the email said it was 4 cm in diameter, that's 4x as big as baby!  And that doesn't sound like something that will dissolve soon...

I guess there is nothing I can do about it, and for all I know I've had them every time I have been pregnant (I never have had an US before 20 weeks before).  I'm just wondering if anyone else has been told they have one, and what happened.

 

cindybaf

My doctor found one on my left ovary today too. But I'm much earlier along than you are. Is it giving you any pain? If not then I would let the midwife/OB worry about whether it needs to be removed and when. You have enough to worry about!!! Good luck and I hope it resolves soon!

sandy02

From what I was told is that they should resolve around the end of the first trimester, up until that point it is the cyst that is regulating your hormones and maintaining the pregnancy until the placenta forms and kicks in.

Abc15379

Yup, I had one that showed up via u/s at 8.5 weeks. I actually knew I had it before that, it was really hurting so I asked the u/s tech to check and there it was. My midwife just said to take Tylenol and wait for it to go away. It finally stopped hurting around 12 weeks-ish, and at my NT scan it was smaller. At my 18 week u/s, it was gone.

MrsHA7

I have a huge one as well on my right ovary. My doc said it should be fine, and resolve on its own around 11-12 weeks when the placenta takes over. As pp said, she told me it is what is supporting the pregnancy at this point and that every woman gets this cyst in some form (it's partly b/c u/s technology has been used earlier and earlier in pregnancy that know we know how big they can actually be early in pregnancy). HTH! I wouldn't worry at this point though.

yodasmistress

sandy02:

From what I was told is that they should resolve around the end of the first trimester, up until that point it is the cyst that is regulating your hormones and maintaining the pregnancy until the placenta forms and kicks in.

This.  The corpus luteal cyst is what tells your pituitary to keep pumping out progesterone and estrogen to sustain the pregnancy until the placenta takes over.  

CityGirl07

I have one on each ovary (which dr said is unusual...great!). She saw them at 7w and they were still there at my NT scan at 11w. I asked and the tech said they aren't always gone by 11w and not to worry.

mn*plumm

A Corpus Luteum Cyst is just fine, especially at that size.

 With my last pregnancy I had a Clomid cyst that was 7.4 cm and was leaking fluid that was collecting in my stomach. It was painful and I could barely move. If my pregnancy would have continued I would have had to have surgery after 12 weeks.

memclar

sandy02:

From what I was told is that they should resolve around the end of the first trimester, up until that point it is the cyst that is regulating your hormones and maintaining the pregnancy until the placenta forms and kicks in.

Ditto this. At my ultrasound at 8 weeks the tech found one and said it was a really good thing and it was supporting the pregnancy and would dissolve soon.