Ovarian Cysts?

megank814

Have any of you had ovarian cysts? Before I had gotten pregnant with DD (this was 2 years ago), I'd noticed a dull pain in the lower part of my abdomen each month about two weeks before I started my period. If I pushed down where the pain was, it would get much sharper. It would switch sides too, so one month it would be on the right and the next on the left, and so on. It would start mild one day, the next day or two it would be a stronger, more uncomfortable pain, then over the next day or so it would go away. When I spoke to my doctor with DD about it, she suggested cysts but never followed up with it (she wasn't the best doctor). I also didn't have a problem with the pain at all when I was carrying her, so I didn't give it another thought. The pains didn't start again until about three months before I got pregnant this time around, but they weren't as bad so I didn't pay much attention. Now though, I'm still noticing that pain every now and then. At first it was only on my left side then it started again on the right side, but not as often. I asked my doctor about it (different doctor. My original doctor lost her license just after she delivered my daughter. Comforting, right?) and she said it was probably a lymph node or bundle of muscles that gets irritated from an inflammatory process that happens when I ovulate. If that's the case, why am I still feeling the pains now? It's not once a month either. It's every few days now, so I had best not still be ovulating that often while pregnant, otherwise I'll be the next woman on the news who's carrying multiple babies of different gestational ages.

Does this sound familiar to anyone? Could it be cysts? My current doctor ruled that out because the pains are higher now but at my first ultrasound the tech took pictures of both ovaries and they were very high (almost level with my belly button). But she didn't specify why she was taking a closer look at them. Or is there maybe something else going on that I've never heard of? TIA!

*Side Note: My mother has a history of cysts and endometriosis so there is a family history.

Jess & Drew

I have PCOS, so I typically have a lot of cysts. I also have adenomyosis ( it's endometriosis only of the muscle surrounding the uterus with no other endo lesions). In my personal experience, the cysts don't really cause me pain unless one bursts. Then I have pain over a few days and it progressively gets worse then dies down. But this doesn't happen every cycle. It is rather random. Everytime they do an U/S for my baby, they also check to see if I have any cysts. If I remember correctly, I had a few at my 8 wk U/S and then at 17 weeks they had all pretty much shrank. My endo on the other hand causes sharp pains, and the pains typically flare up closer to my periods. But since I've been pregnant, I've had no symptoms of either.

These are just my personal experiences with both endo and cysts. I think everyone has different symptoms though. Do you have an u/s coming up? Could you ask them to take a peek at your ovaries?

PotomacSt

I believe looking at the ovaries is standard at the ultrasound... it doesn't mean there was something wrong with them. At my anatomy scan, the tech had a checklist of everything she was supposed to take a picture of, and both right and left ovaries were on there. If there was anything of concern they would have mentioned it.

I had a crazy run with ovarian cysts for a few years, including cysts that burst and one that was filled with blood and was 3x the size of the ovary it was attached to. Even with all that, the pain only manifested itself as really horrible menstrual cramps when I started my period, that were so bad I couldn't stand up straight and was in so much pain I'd vomit. The rest of the month, I was fine other than a non-painful heavy sensation where my ovaries were. The few times I had one burst, it literally felt like an incredibly painful burst and was very painful for hours afterwards. For me at least, it didn't sound like what you're describing, and like I said, it was always cyclical with my cycle.

I had some pain in my right ovary area during the late 1st trimester/early 2nd trimester and my doctor said that was totally normal because the corpus luteum cyst (the cyst that originally produced the egg that was fertilized and nourished it before the placenta took over) was being re-absorbed by the ovary.  That may have been part of your problem, but it would have only been on one side (the side you ovulated from)  and should have gone away by now.

I'm not a doctor, but I would say it doesn't sound like cysts to me, even if it feels similar to what you had before becoming pregnant. There are a thousand things in pregnancy that can cause pain like that, I think cysts is a very unlikely explanation.

sda6485

I have PCOS and like a PP said, they don't hurt unless one is bursting or they get irritated right before my period. However, two days after I found out I was pregnant, I ended up in the hospital with cramping and bleeding. Fearing the worst, of course. Ended up being a huge cyst on my right ovary that had ruptured. I have had them rupture before but being pregnant and one rupturing was such a horrible pain!! Ask your Dr at your next OB appt. They can see cysts on U/S. I went to 2 different hospitals before they noticed mine because my right ovary tends to hide and is hard to find. 

 

Good Luck. 

megank814

Thank you ladies! I just had an ultrasound last Friday but it was a Level II to rule out Down's so I was too preoccupied with that to ask about the ovaries. We go back in a month so I'll ask then! From what you've both said I agree that it really doesn't sound like cysts. I guess that could be good news! Who knows, with all the crazy pregnancy hormones, it's hard to tell if maybe there is some sort of inflammatory process going on and that's what's going on. So far, my current doctor has been wonderful so I should be more inclined to believe her than my original doctor. But I figured I'd at least give the cysts a passing glance since she suggested it! I don't like to rule things out unless I'm absolutely sure it's not a possibility and from what you've both said, I'm pretty sure it's not cysts so thank you!!

mrs+harlow

I have a history of polycystic ovaries with fluid filled cysts that come and go...but not PCOS.  Fluid filled cysts are pretty common with a lot of women. Mine came around the time of my period and were sharp pains...I could swear I could feel them popping. Mine were controlled with BCP. Over the last couple of years at my annual exam, though, I haven't had any at all.

Havenyou had your anatomy scan or a 12 week ultrasound? It's standard procedure during those scans that they check your ovaries and uterus. I would discuss any pains that you might think are ovarian related with your new doctor. 

nicolemarie517

i have a cyst on my left ovary that gives me a dull stitch in my side kind of pain.  i dont feel mine nearly as often you do though.  now since baby is getting bigger and rolling around RLP gives me more trouble and pain than the cyst ever has.  the pain youre describing seems about the same as what i get though. i know its a chore, but if youre youre not happy with the way your dr. is caring for you it really is important and worth it to shop around for a dr. or midwife and have someone that will listen to you and that you can really trust.  although my dr. isnt too concerned about the cyst he is keeping an eye on it. its so nice to finally have someone listen to me and not treat me like im crazy.
since your mom has a history of endo and cysts that your dr. would be more inclined to take a peek and at least rule it out.  but i know thats not how it always works. my mom has a history of endo and ovarian cysts as well, and her dr. gave her the run around too. when she finally found a dr. that would listen she was diagnosed and treated for endo right away. she ended up having a histerectomy and during her surgery they found that her lower instestines were attached to her uterus because her endo was left untreated for so long. she also lost an ovary, and she was just 40 when all of that happend. 
i went rounds for years with the nurse practitioners at my dr. office and eventually quit going for my yearly exam because they just didnt listen to me. i had my dating ultrasound at 6 weeks and they found that i did in fact have a cyst and a pool of fluid around my ovary.  i had been complaining about the pain in my side since i was 17. im now 21!!! when i say it hurts, please believe it hurts! i also recently had a nurse tell me it was not normal that was i still barfing my guts up daily at 14 weeks and the phenergan wasnt helping.  she had "never heard of anything like this" and shes been working there for 10 years...she can pound sand as far as im concerned.  i dont even deal with the nurses anymore.  if i have a question, a pain, whatever i write it down and wait for my appts with my dr because he is the only person i trust there.

aknearem

I do have a cyst on my right ovary. I have never had any problems or pains from it. The only reason the Dr found it was she thought I had kidney stones so she had a ctscan done looking for the stones and ended up finding this cyst. She said that since I was on the birth control pill I was on that it would take care of it and it would just go away. But the cyst would probably always come and go.