women who have ovarian cysts and TTC

I have a history of ovarian cysts though it's been approximately a decade since the last one ruptured. (I had two cysts rupture when I was 20 and 21 or 22, respectively)

For the last ten years (off and on - but mostly on) I've been on birth control pills, partly to prevent pregnancy and also to control cysts. I went off the pill a month ago.

I went to the gyno yesterday to have a checkup and I told him that DH and I were thinking of TTC in august/september and he suggested that he do a sonogram to check everything out.

Sure enough, he found a cyst measuring 2cm on my right ovary and said that most likely that is the ovary that I ovulate from. He said that 85% of women ovulate from a "dominant" ovary. I was asking if the cyst would inhibit ovuation or a pregnancy - he didnt seem worried about it. . . but he was backed up with patients and kinda rushed me out of there. He did print out the sonogram picture to keep a record of it and wants me to come back in 2 months to see if it grew. . . he said anything over 5 cm should be "dealt with" and stupidly, I didnt ask him to go into specifics.

Since BCP prevent cyst growth - is this thing just going to get bigger - like other ones in the past? Is this going to affect our TTC? The more I think about it the more questions I have and the more nervous I get.

and now I keep thinking about it.

Sorry to ramble - I just needed to get all that out. Thank you for listening.

Re: women who have ovarian cysts and TTC

I had cysts on both ovaries. The one on my left ruptured about 4 months ago this year. I had so much pain when it ruptured I wound up in the Er. I am currently 7 weeks pregnant.

Re: women who have ovarian cysts and TTC

The pain when they rupture is so awful - I remember not knowing what was going on and I passed out in the bathroom between classes and was taken to the hospital. I was a sophomore in college and was so embarrassed about it.

Congrats on your pregnancy!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you - your post made me feel better.

Message edited 5/3/2006 11:47:56 PM.

Re: women who have ovarian cysts and TTC

I also have had ovarian cysts. Thank God they have never ruptured on me. I had a HUGE one on my right ovary, 9cm and another one of my left ovary 6cm. This was 3 years ago and I had to have surgery to remove them b/c the dr. feared that they would rupture if I didnt remove them. So then I was placed on birth control to supress the growth of the cysts. 3 years later. Two more have grown on each ovary and they measure 2 and 3cm respectively. My dr. is not concerned with them. However, she is monitoring them closely. I stopped birth control in March because we are planning to TTC in June. I do fear that while I am not on birth control, they will continue to grow. So I am praying that they wont.

But I dont believe they cause any problems conceiving unless they become huge or are positioned on parts of the ovary that may make it difficult for a baby to grow.

But I am sure you will be fine when you begin to TTC. But continue to get ultrasounds to keep on top of them.

Re: women who have ovarian cysts and TTC

Thanks so much for your post. I'll definitely keep an eye on them and I'm watching my caffeine - which some say affects the growth of cysts.

Baby dust to you!!!!

Re: women who have ovarian cysts and TTC

I had them years ago, but never went on the birth control pill to control them. One ruptured and i literally thought i was dying. It happened at school and the pain was unbearable, but the minute it ruptured the pain went away in a second. So weird.

Anyway, my OB did not seemed worried about my histroy with them when i said i was going to start TTC and sure enough i got pregnant on the first try!

Good luck!

Re: women who have ovarian cysts and TTC

I too have had them. They ruptured twice. Once when I was in Puerto Rico (I thought I was dying!!!) and once last October after having sex I almost passed out that time. I went to the emergency room and could hardly stand up. It can be dangerous because sometimes when a cyst ruptures it can send the ovary into a spin, cutting off the blood supply and you can actually loose that ovary. Thank God it hasn't happened again.