Ovarian cyst 

Introduction 

Ovarian cysts

An ovarian cyst is a fluid-filled sac of tissue that develops inside an ovary. Find out about the symptoms it can cause, long-term effects and treatment options.

Reduced breast cancer risk

Having an ovarian cyst can be upsetting, particularly if it is causing symptoms.

The good news is that researchers have found that women (particularly in black women) with ovarian cysts have a lower risk of developing breast cancer. The reasons for this are unclear.

An ovarian cyst is a fluid-filled sac that develops on a woman’s ovary. Ovarian cysts are very common and they do not usually cause any symptoms.

In most cases, they are harmless and usually disappear without the need for treatment.

However, if the cyst is large or is causing symptoms, it will probably have to be surgically removed. See ovarian cysts - treatment for more information.

Ovarian cysts can affect women of any age.

The ovaries

The ovaries are two small, bean-shaped organs that are part of the female reproductive system.
Every woman has a pair of ovaries that sit either side of the womb (uterus).

The ovaries have two main functions:

  • they release an egg approximately every 28 days as part of the menstrual cycle
  • they release the female sex hormones, oestrogen and progesterone, which play an important role in female reproduction

Types of ovarian cyst

There are two main types of ovarian cyst:

  • Functional ovarian cyst – (the most common type). These are harmless cysts that are short- lived and formed as part of the menstrual cycle.
  • Pathological ovarian cyst – these are much less common and occur as the result of abnormal cell growth (most pathological ovarian cysts are not cancerous).

See ovarian cysts - causes for more information about the different types of ovarian cyst.

How common are ovarian cysts?

Ovarian cysts are very common. It is estimated that virtually all women who still have a monthly period, and 1 in 5 women who have been through the menopause, will have one or more ovarian cysts.

Ovarian cysts that cause symptoms are much less common, affecting only 1 in every 25 women at some point in their life.

Fertility

Ovarian cysts usually do not affect a woman's ability to conceive.

Even if the cyst is larger and needs to be removed, this is usually done using laparoscopy, which preserves a woman's fertility.

Last reviewed: 23/03/2011

Next review due: 23/03/2013

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Comments are personal views. Any information they give has not been checked and may not be accurate.

lxj3nkins said on 08 February 2012

after reading the info and everyones stroies id thought id share mine.
in august 2011 i started to notice i was getting lots of random pains in my lower abdomen and that my periods although they have always been pretty irregular they where now going crazy! after ignoring it for a few weeks and taking pain killers when it pained i started to get sent home from work alot because i was doubled over in pain and you cant massage at work when your that sore! i finally went to see my new gp after moving to london a few month before it all started and he gatve me metofolic acid? rubbish. i was back after a few days in pain again, and he decided to schedual a US the snographer said she would pass the results to my gp. the next day i was rushed to a&e and seen a gp there who gave me pain relife injections and told me i had a cyst as he could check the notes from the scan i had. let alone 2 days later i was in a&e again where another dr told me i would need to stay overnight to see they gynae team. they scanned me again the following morning and found i had a ruptured cyst and several others. this was november. in december i was rushed in again by my own gp to find i had another rupture. at this point now while im writing i know within a few days i will be back as after having a month were iv only had aches in my left ovary area i am feeling sick dizzy and the pressure and ache is worsening like the last twice i ruptured. i have seen the gynae just 2weeks ago who said they hope it could die off as i havent had a problem in a while, well she spoke way too soon as i might see her again by the end of the week. but they really do just push you from pillar to post i am on reduced duties at work by my gp because of the swelling and cant do some aspecs of my job like massaging, ive just turened 21 and having to go through this and all the drs want to do is keep an eye on me! my next appointment was ment to be 3mth from end of jan, my appt is in may? dont the nhs do math?

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User641512 said on 04 February 2012

can someone please tell me if you have an ovarian cyst and you go for a ultra sound can they tell you on the same day if you have a cyst or do you have to wait for the results?

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Beano97 said on 15 January 2012

I went back to my doctors numerous times as I had periods lasting from 10 days to 6 weeks from 2008. I was told there was nothing wrong even tho I explained they were extremely heavy. Finally in aug 2010 I was sent for an internal, it was diagnosed I had a cyst of 30mm on my right ovary. was told I would be referred to a gynaologist. I recieved a letter with an app Dec 2010 who after I told the history was thi would be sorted shortly. I had another internal in jan 2012 then was told the cyst was still there but it would be a case of returning in 4 months - I am having to take pain killers to function & even tho my doctors constantly say nothing is wrong, I am anemic.

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weechris said on 04 January 2012

I have been having pain in the right ovary area for the best part of a year now. I was sent for an ultrasound scan by my GP and also had a Ca125 blood test done. The ultrasound was clear and the Ca125 test was normal. I have had breast cancer, so have been concerned about spread to the ovary which can be common. I was more relaxed when the tests were clear, but recently I have been experiencing more severe pain in the same area, which, in recent days has spread to the left side. The pain also radiates to my back. I also experience a sharp pain on my right side when I lean on that side. Obviously, my big worry is that my previous breast cancer has spread to my ovaries, but, having said that, I have been experiencing this pain for about a year now with no further symptoms, so I do take heart from that. I know I have to go back to my GP and get a definite diagnosis, but am obviously worried about this. Has anyone else been in my situation and can give me some reassurance?

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mubin said on 31 December 2011

hi i am 30 years old.i have very horrible story can any one help me i had in 2008 a brain tumour i was operated for that two times but tumour is still there .then in 2009 i was discovered with ovarain cyst in my left ovary it was almost 20 cm .then it was operated with laporoscopy but i had to many problems all blood was gone and my homoeglobin come on 2 .then again after two months later i discoverd a cyst on same ovary in my left ovary then again i was operated this year in march they also remove ovary and tube.now i had a big cyst on my right ovary what to do again plz can any one help me plzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

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mubin said on 31 December 2011

hi i am 30 years old.i have very horrible story can any one help me i had in 2008 a brain tumour i was operated for that two times but tumour is still there .then in 2009 i was discovered with ovarain cyst in my left ovary it was almost 20 cm .then it was operated with laporoscopy but i had to many problems all blood was gone and my homoeglobin come on 2 .then again after two months later i discoverd a cyst on same ovary in my left ovary then again i was operated this year in march they also remove ovary and tube.now i had a big cyst on my right ovary what to do again plz can any one help me plzzz.

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lin1313 said on 16 December 2011

I have had 5 ruptured ovarian cysts in the last 4 years- i have had no symptoms other than extreme and sudden central pain around my uterus. I then end up with the shakes, nausea and weakness. I have been rushed to A&E every time-knowing myself from experience that it is internal bleeding! I am left in A&E to go through the same process every time involving blood tests, urine samples, blood presure checks all of which show no signs that i am bleeding! The staff do not listen to me! It is only when they finally do an ultrasound that they spot the ruptured cyst and the bleeding into my abdominal cavity. One of the occasions i was left for 8hrs before they did a scan and i had lost 2.5litres of blood. I had to have 2 blood transfusions and they expected me to be gratefull to them after my op for saving my life!! NHS do not take me seriously. I am terrified, i'm only 27 and have 3 children to care for. Why don't the just listen to their patients and do the god damn scan.
The last episode i had i was told 'they don't do scans at the weekend' so i would have to wait until monday. Lucky me that it was only a small bleed around the back of my uterus.

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pammieg80 said on 14 December 2011

WOW! So glad i found this page! didnt realise so many people suffered from ovarian cysts! Well, i thought i'd share my story - i was admitted into hospital 6 years ago for severe abdominal pain and i was in for 5 - 6 weeks before a scan was done and they figured out i had a complex cyst - 11cm x 10cm x 8cm - i was booked in for an op to remove it (laparotomy as its too big for laparascopy) and that got cancelled because somebody else needed an emergency op .... so they decided to re-book me in for 3 months later, and do regular scans in the meantime to make sure it didnt grow much bigger, regular CA125 bloods were done as well. the cyst went from complex to simple, and shrunk slightly to 11 x 8 x 5 cm, and 5 YEARS on they are still 'monitoring' me - at my last scan, i was told that there is 'sediment' in the cyst?! (i have no idea what that means) i never used to get symptoms from it, however, my periods are now lasting 11 - 14 days with a 1 or 2 day break, and i get shooting pains in my lower groin area, i am due to see my consultant again in January and am going to make a point of asking if it can be removed - according to my Dr, she receives letters after each appointment saying i have requested it be monitored - where in fact, they say that they will monitor it and automatically re-book me in for another scan/blood/consultant appointment!! Has anybody ever been left for a similar amount of time... from what everyone else is saying, i should have had this out yonks ago!! i am definitely going to ask for it to be removed at my next appointment in January!!! Am hearing too many scary stories and i have a 10 year old daughter to think about as well!!

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catd87 said on 07 December 2011

After reading other peoples comments I thought I would add my experience- I have complained of pain in my stomach for over a year- after I was sent to see a gyne doctor(a horrible experience may I add) I was told that the problem wasnt gyne it was by bowels- I went to see a specialist that told me that my pains were not coming from my bowels to go back and see gyne. I gave up going to my doctor and whenever I had pains I applied heat pads to my stomach to help with pain!! Low and behold 2 weeks ago I was admitted to hospital with appendicits! When I came round after the surgery I was told it wasnt my appendix at all it was actually an ovarian cyst that had ruptured! The care I got from the surgical team was first class I really could not complain!
My understanding was that someone from the gyne team was to come and speak to me about my experience but no one came and I was sent home again, I ended up in hospital again 2 days later with really bad pain, the hospital couldnt decide if I was to go to surgical or gyne ward... I was finally sent to surgical after 5 hours waiting and was told someone from gyne would come see me... I left hospital after 2 nights and still spoke to no one from gyne.... Im feeling fustrated because Im not sure of what I can do to prevent this from happening again- Ive been told by friends and family to go on the combined pill as it stops ovualtion process! I feel from speaking to others there is not enough after care or information given to those affected by ovarian cysts... I did'nt even get a follow up appointment I was just sent on my way!! I really feel the NHS should offer better aftercare and more information for this as it seems to be very common.

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User106466 said on 04 December 2011

i was in pain for 2-3 years but doctor wouldnt listen to me. I got rushed into a&e several times and yet again they never did a thing. Finally a few months back of me demanding my doctor for a scan to see whats happening i was dignosed with a cyst it was only 4 cm at this time. I had my operation on the 23rd august 2011 and as soon as i woke from it i had no pain i was up on my feet within half hour my life was back too normal. Oh no it wasnt a month later id gone back to gp and said im not well i cant walk eat sleep i was in agony so went for another scan i now have a 7cm cyst thats bulging full off fluid and i have being ill ever since. I saw the consultant on wed 30th november 2011 i now have 2 wait 3 months to see if the cyst goes it self i think that is disgusting nhs are useless im in pain as i type this but i have to suffer. Also my surgeon was a nasty man he was shouting at me alot off the time and wouldnt tell me what he done to me whilst operating but i found out hed removed the full ovary and put the coil in the wrong place now because the coil was in the wrong place i now have back problems because i never had the hormone i needed im only 21 i could be in a wheelchair in less than 10 years im now looking to go private for a hysterectomy as thats what nhs want to do but not till middle of next year but im not waiting and suffering. Nhs are horrible they need to treat people better as its recently being told in hull daily mail hull are the worst hospitals around!!!

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Clarkey77 said on 29 November 2011

I too had a cyst experience back in 2008 that hopefully will give some of you hope..... I have definately been there and have the scars and baby to prove a positive outcome (eventually!) ......To cut a long story short a 'cyst' (suspected peritoneal cyst) was identified when I was 12 weeks pregnant, measuring around the size of a house brick. I was monitiored with the plan of draining the cyst after the baby was born. However for the next 8 WEEKS! I was in and out of A&E, in absolute againy (labour was a walk in the park in comparison!) signed off sick from work, pretty much overdosing on several painkillers and even morphine did nothing to soothe my agony. I cried every day I could barely walk some days, I think I was actually depressed I felt so so low. On the final A&E triip my CRP levels read over 147 which indicated an infection. So what followed was one emergency scan, phone call to husband at work, one signed consent form indicating I may lose my 20week baby, an epidural and emergency surgery under GA. They removed a foul smelling disgusting 1.36kg twisted ovarian cyst, ovary and fallopian tube leaving me with a 10inch scar running vertically down my tummy but the agony had gone. My baby was unharmed (and I conceived a second child in 2010). What I guess I am saying is a) my cyst was believed to be fluid and would disappear, IT DID NOT, b) I under communicated my agony, I should have screamed the place down! and c) I accepted all expert advice and opinion, I should have sort more and more and questioned it! My experience threw me, I have never had health problems, I'm generally fit and did not have problems conceiving. PLEASE go back to the specialists and get more opinions, more scans and advice so you do not have to endure the agony that I went through. Good luck and post again if I can help with any questions you have...:o)

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SARB78 said on 21 November 2011

I woke up on Monday 4 weeks ago in absolute agony, with vomiting and acute pain on my right side abdo and leg. I was taken to A&E by ambulance to Whipps Cross. Initial diagnosis appendicitis but soon ruled out once my symptoms got worse and more localised. I saw 6 different registrars who told me different things, surgery, no surgery, pain relief. I didn't know if I was coming or going. I had 1 ultra sound which revealed a cyst on my right ovary 8cm by 10 cm and a smaller on my left. I was discharged a few days later having had no other scans or tests and given a follow up appointment for the end of February 2012. I have been off work for nearly a month, unable to walk very far, in pain, no appetite, and having terrible side effects from the very strong pain relief. I have no faith in this particular gynaecology department and for my own sanity have taken the last resort of paying a lot of money to see a consultant within the next few days. We women are not treated accordingly. I'm 33.

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User613489 said on 06 November 2011

I think it's disgusting how the NHS don't seem to care about ovarian cysts, i am 19 years old and i had an ultrasound last monday and they gave me no info i had to go to A&E the next day because of the pain and they suggested i took a magnitude of pain killers including codeine, i am at college and the painkillers send me to sleep i can't concentrate at my college and have to rely on family members to help me with my son because the pain is really bad. They say if there is symptoms they will remove cysts but thats a lie i have to wait 6 weeks to have another scan. They were meant to give me a scan 4 months ago but they never bothered. All the NHS can be bothered to do is wait all the time no caring about the consequences it could be doing to someone's health.

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Soleo said on 05 November 2011

I have had 3 ovarian cysts. The first one grew to hold 2 litres of liquid before it was diagnosed. The second one I got a year later and had 1litre of liquid. Both were removed surgically, too big for keyhole. at the time of the second op they found another one on my other ovary. I was recently diagnosed with a fourth ovarian cyst, which is so unlikely to happen. I decided I wanted to try anything I could so as to not have surgery again. I read an article on the net that said Chickweed tincture would shrink it. I bought some and have been taking it religiously for 8 weeks. I have also been wearing a piece of Zoisite crystal in the top band of my pants every day and night, as this is used to treat ovarian problems. It may sound hippy-dippy but I was willing to try anything to get this cyst to shrink!
Well, I had a rescan yesterday and my cyst has shrunk from 6cms to 2cms, which has never happened to me before. I wanted to share this information as I am now totally convinced that there are natural, non-invasive ways to treat ovarian cysts and maybe this could work for someone else too.

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cmilnedunn said on 28 October 2011

I just wondered if any of you have had a blood test CR125 ? This is an ovarian cancer marker but its not 100% reliable and is just a protien marker - you should insist on having it ir to know your results. I had it twice now and am having a a total hysterectemy with my overies and tubes out on 14th november 2011.

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jayjay82 said on 13 October 2011

I was diagnosed with an ovarian cyst in November 2008, it measured 16cm x 10cm and was wrapped around my left ovary. I underwent keyhole surgery in March '09 and was unfortunate to lose my left ovary and tube during the surgery due to damage from the cyst.
Then yesterday (Wed 12th Oct) I was told that I now have a 5cm x 4cm cyst on my remaining right ovary after months and months of pain which has been ignored and put off as something else. I will be completely honest and will say that I am now terrified on what the outcome will be this time. I consider myself very lucky that I already have one child who is 8, but at 29 years of age I am now having to face the prospect of becoming infertile.
As for my doctors, I have pushed and pushed, finally seen a new GP registrar who has pushed through an emergency scan and when I left my doctors (the day after my scan and my results sent by fax as emergency) I have my appointment for a weeks time with the hospital Gynae unit. Lets see what happens now - my biggest fear is if I have to have surgery again.

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Emma_1984 said on 03 October 2011

I have just found out this morning that I have a cyst on my right ovary 14cm x 13cm x 10cm and will be required to have it surgically removed. I am in despair at the moment, as me and my partner were wanting to start a family soon and even though the consultant has said my fertility will be fine, I can't help but think the worse. Just landed myself a new job too, after being made redundant in June, waiting for my start date so unsure what to say to my new employer about possible time off work before I've even started......was told 3 months ago it was a fibroid, went for a ultrasound 3 weeks ago to get the results this morning and now I've got to wait for my pre op assessment appointment to come, its ridiculous waiting around and when I hear about other peoples cysts bursting, I'm feeling on edge all the time worrying. I don't know what to do with myself, waiting to start work, and worrying about exercising in case i make it worse, couldn't of happened at a worse time in my life, so bloody frustrated and wish the NHS would just stop making me wait, while my cyst grows and grows, wish I had the funds to go private, would of been sorted my now!!

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User600215 said on 29 September 2011

Hi ladies! I'm winding myself up in to a state of anxiety about this.... I've had agonising pain after sex and a twinging bladder for about a month now.... now my period is 5 days late and I'm not pregnant. I'm waiting to have scans for ovarian cysts but am so worried it could be endimitriosis or pcos... my periods have always been regular, I am 20 years old and desperate to start a family in a few years. Has anyone been diagnosed with cysts and had the same symptoms?

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User600215 said on 29 September 2011

Hi! I have some questions and am winding myself up in to a high state of anxiety about this.... I am 20 years old and have had some strange symptoms in my lower abdomen for about 2 months... I started feeling some twinging sensations in my bladder for about 3 weeks, following this I had sex and experienced the worst cramps I have ever had! It was so bad that I wanted to call an ambulance but didn't purely because I didn't want to cause a fuss... following this my bladder felt strange for about 4 days... heavy and twingy, i felt as if I could not stand up straight as it would hurt. My GP thought I had an infection or a kidney stone... things got better but I will still having strange twinges in my bladder. I had sex again a while later and boom- AGONY! I have been to the GP again who has referred me for scans for ovarian cysts. My periods have always been regular and I have never experienced pain from sex before. I'm just so worried that I might have endimitriosis instead.. I'm 20 years old and am really keen to have children in a few years and just wondering if anyone who has been diagnosed with cysts had had similar symptoms? Thanks so much, sorry for being neurotic!

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holliebells123 said on 26 September 2011

I am aged 27 and am 9 weeks and 4 days pregnant! It was 3 days ago when I had pains on my lower right hand side and so I went to my GP who then sent me to hospital for a scan as he had the worry of an Eptopic Pregnancy.
It took 4.5 hours for my blood resukts to come back and for someone to agree to scan me! The man who scanned me was not an official member of staff to use the equipment and so he hadnt a clue what he was doing. We managed to see the baby between us along with a nice healthy heartbeat.
The nurse then booked me in for a more detailed scan today. Again the baby is lovely and healthy and in the right place but..... They found a small cyst on my left ovary and a huge 10cm Multi septal Cyst on my right ovary. I am having to be put to sleep and have an opperation to have this removed in 2 days time and have a risk of losing my baby!
I just can not get over the fact ive got a cyst that big inside me and I knew nothing. Its not causing me any grief or discomfort or even any pain (apart from that one day)... Im scared! :-(

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Bristolbaz said on 05 August 2011

I have had a very positive experience so far with the cysts I have. I had kidney pain, was sent for an ultrasound, no kidney problems but an ovarian cyst was found. Kidney pain went away, probably gravel... Cysts not causing me any pain but docs concerned as I am 53. The NHS has been very good. Sending me for several scans and now planning a laperoscopy as I have grown a second cyst. So, not all doom an gloom with the NHS, not sure why my experience has been better than others, just lucky I guess?

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samlynch84 said on 01 August 2011

I have been having bad stomach cramps almost everyday for 2 years. My doctor tried to blame it on stress at first then asked was it during my period like I'm an idiot!! Thn they decided it was all in my head. I was eventually sent for tests after I refused to leave without an answer. The doctor was horrible and got me so frustrated I started crying and I'm not a crier! He said my results were fine so theres nothing wrong, even though I was in pain as he spoke to me. Long story short my results were mixed with another patients!! I still don't know if I have a cyst or not! NHS is a joke and if I had the money I would go private straight away! Looking at your comments I would say it sounds like I have at least one cyst and a large one at that. I'm asking to be referred to a different hospital because my local one is full of specialists who don't give a damn for you!

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marlelc said on 23 July 2011

Ladies, thank you for your comments. As usual the words of real people reflect the reality as opposed to the words of doctors who prefer to stick to the theory that they want to believe to make their jobs easier and more impersonal than ever. I have 3 ovarian cysts and am in pain constantly, front and back and down to my knees. I am also totally exhausted. I can live with this and do not want surgery but would appreciate the health proffessionals being a little less dismissive of my symptoms. Currently I am told that ovarian cysts should not be causing me pain nor should I be feeling this worn out. All of the comments on this page are worth so much more than the 'factual' information from the NHS!

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jomc20 said on 23 July 2011

I had a similar experience to others posting here. Last week a GP sent me to A&E with severe abdominal pain. Having waited 4 hours to be seen, I was sent home and told to keep taking painkillers (I'd been taking Codeine & Paracetamol and/or Tramadol to little effe). They said I had Diverticulitis.

After another 4 days suffering and not eating at all I returned to A&E, by now desperate, and was kept in for 3 nights. As soon as I stopped taking the painkillers, I started to feel better! I hadn'[t realised that my extreme constipation was caused by them and this was surprisingly painful. I had an X-Ray followed by a CT scan of stomach and chest and was told there was a tumour/cyst on an ovary. I'm now waiting to see a gynae specialist on Monday. I know I am in the high-risk age group for a malignant tumour rather than an ordinary cyst but keeping my fingers crossed. My symptoms apart from low abdominal pain when sitting, standing up, walking are bloating and tiredness.

I do feel strongly that patients in severe pain should not be sent home by A&E depts. until thorough testing has been done. Apart from that, my hospital treatment was good.

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Indyjac said on 21 July 2011

I recently went on holiday to Bulgaria and within 24 hours was admitted to hospital with severe abdominal pains. I underwent various examinations including ultrasound, cat scan, internals etc. The resulting diagnosis was I had to have emergency surgery to save my life, I had only 4 to 5 hours and there was no time to send be back to the UK. I had an ovarian cyst the size of a watermelon that weighed 11lbs! It was about to rupture and I also had complications with blood pressure, Type 2 Diabetes and my vital organs were under extreme pressure (all caused by the cyst). I was given 50 50 chance of making it through the surgery. Luckily surgery went well and the aftercare in Bulgaria was excellent. However, I am very angry with my doctors after having previously gone to them three times and was told ' loose weight', or 'its fatty tissue', which is lazy diagnosis in my opinion. So the main point I would like to make is it not acceptable to be told to 'wait until it goes away' or the responses I was given. Maybe I was an exceptional case and this does not happen to everyone, but somehow I don't think I'm the first or the last. So please, do not give up in trying to get treatment for this, even if you have to badger your doctor every week. It may save your life.

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Mummy2Bx3 said on 10 July 2011

hi i a, an ovarian cyst sufferer, i found out just over 7 wks ago that i had a cyst. i thort i was going to the hospital with a sever water infection but lo and behold i got sent to the gyne ward....were they discovered that i had a cyst that at that time was only 3.8 x 3.5 cm roughly ping pong ball size but still unwelcomed by me. i was refered for a follow up scan after 6 wks....in the mean time i discovered i was pregnat oh that was a nice surprise... i had my follow up scan and my complexed cyst is now 8 x 6.5 x6 cm and now i am being disscussed in a MDT meeting this week to decide if it is worth risking an MRI scan to get a closer look at it or just wait till i am over 16 wks pregnat to operate....so now i am left with the worry of what fate has in store for me will i lose my unborn baby will i lose my ovaries or will i die before they get me to the table.......God i just love being a woman....any imput on my little rant will be very much appreciated.thanx....

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Valentina1 said on 09 July 2011

I'm 25 years old and I woke up one morning with unbearable lower abdomen pain. I went to my doctors straight away and was treated for bladder infection and prescribed antibiotics. After a week the pain was still present and I went back to doctor. I was sent to hospital for scans and they found a 5cm cyst on my left ovary. I was told to come back in 6 weeks for a review as it may disappear in this time.
It is now 2 weeks since the scan and I'm feeling a lot of discomfort regardless is Im sitting down, lying down or walking. The pain is also on my right hand side which is confusing because they didn't find a cyst on the right..only left..
Painkillers are not helping but I don't know what my options are ... Do i just wait another 4 weeks or do I ask for a scan sooner? Should I ask to see a gyno?
Very confused..

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tackiejack said on 07 July 2011

In feb I went to my doctor about lack of periods and ever increasing girth. After numerous scans I was diagnosed with a 25cm x 10cm x 15cm ovarian cyst. I can honestly say that it never gave me a great deal of pain but seemed to 'sap' my energy. 3 weeks ago I had the cyst and an ovary removed - I am now energised again! I have a few more weeks recovery but I cannot fault the NHS service for the treatment I received. (maybe I am just lucky?)

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roo16 said on 30 June 2011

I had 2 small ovarian cysts in november last yaer, told by consultant to go away just leave them alone. I did, but in march this year ifound a huge lump in my stomach which on an ultra sound scan showed it had grown to 15 cm a week later whilst havinga ct scan it had grown to 20cm plus!! i look pregnant all the time and pain pops up all the time, sometimes on one side then the other, then in my legs, i need to wee all the time, great fun!! It did burst on 11 june this year, that was an experience, the pain lasted2 hours and was horrific but finally the cyst had gone, i went to my GP a day later as i was quite sore and they said everything was ok but it was refilling and now 3 weeks later is almost 20cm again. I have refused surgery, a radical hystorectomey it isnt for me, but i am not looking forward to next rupture but its the path ive choosen.

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raineybythesea said on 21 June 2011

I have recently had a scan which revealed a 11cm cyst on my right ovary, another 2cm one on my left, and various pockets of endometriosis elsewhere.

On my right hand side from my hip / groin area down to my foot I have been putting up with stabbing pains, water retention and discomfort, including discharge / bleeding between periods etc. for sometime.

I am now waiting to see the consultant. I have already have some ectopic endometriosis removed. I feel like a patchwork quilt after having to have 2 c-sections, my appendix out, an umbilical hernia repair (which they left non - disolving sutures internally) and the recent endo op which they thought was another hernia!!

Fed up now - just want it all to go away!

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sian39 said on 17 May 2011

I agree. Trying to get even a large cyst removed by surgery is difficult. I went into hospital 4 times with severe pain – so bad on two occasions that 4 different types of strong painkillers still didn’t work. Once I collapsed after being discharged the previous time only for them to discharge me again with a box of paracetomal. They have scanned me those 4 times I’ve been in and from the first scan a cyst was found. Originally was 6cm. (seems pretty big to me). Now after 10 months of varying between discomfort and severe pain they have finally agreed to surgically remove it after seeing that it was not going to disappear and is instead increasing in size. I think it is now 7cm.

That is 10 months of being constantly off work, hardly being able to do any exercise including not being able to walk more than a mile or so without pain and not able to have sexual intercourse (approaching 40 and wanting to get pregnant so time isn’t on my side). Just wish they had removed it in the first place but then they say that cysts can disappear and I suppose they don’t want the risks of surgery if not necessary. During this time I had very confusing information from the doctors. Once when I went in with severe pain I was nearly treated for appendix despite my history. One consultant told me it wasn’t dangerous to get pregnant again so I could still carry on trying (although I physically couldn’t because of pain) and another doctor said it was dangerous and would strongly advise getting pregnant. I don’t particularly want surgery but I’ve had enough now and need to get some kind of normal life back.

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Bee12 said on 30 April 2011

Megamum, I totally agree with your comments. I've had cysts well over a year now, they are painful as anything and I'm constantly bloated. An initial scan revealed 2 cysts on my right ovary, one being 3cm. A follow-up scan revealed only one cyst of 1cm on the same ovary and which was deemed so small it wasn't even reported to my GP (!?). I then had a FURTHER hospital follow-up at the insistence of my surgery whereby I wasn't scanned at all. A gyno manually checked my stomach and it was concluded the cysts had disappeared. However, online references say you should return to your GP if the cysts do not disappear after a few months and I could definitely feel mine after a time. When I returned, my GP just didn't seem to know what to do.. he put me on the contraceptive pill but this hasn't helped. I was told by another doctor when I first was diagnosed that they can remove them surgically but they prefer not to... (BTW, I am overseas at the moment and the pain got so bad I had an ultrasound and was told I now have cysts on both the left and right ovaries, one being 3.5cm! I feel let down by the NHS who should have monitored this more closely and who have totally confused me with regard to these cysts and what I can do about them. For info, the gyno here said they never fully disappear once you start getting them, the only real 'cure' is pregnancy, that they will return if you remove them surgically. However, a drug called Duphaston taken mid-cycle for 10 days will break down the cysts and alleviate symptoms. Who knows what is truth anymore..).

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megamum said on 05 April 2011

I take issue with the information in this article, particularly that cysts are "usually painless" , "disappear after a few weeks without treatment" and "if the cyst is large or is causing symptoms, it will probably be removed". This has not been my experience of the NHS treatment at all. I've had cysts on both ovaries for over a year now, which have been causing me symptoms the entire time, and been am consistently told to 'go away and wait'. My cysts are painful, the pain makes me feel nauseous and I look 6 months pregnant with the bloating, among other things. This article misleads readers into thinking that if they are having symptoms with their cysts, it will be removed or treated. This isn't the case. Trying to get treated for this is like beating your head against a brick wall.

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