Abnormal bleeding/ovarian cysts/surgery/HELP!

[gwen's mom]

My last “normal” period was May 5. I did not have a period in June and then I began bleeding June 30 and have been bleeding heavily since, 4-8oz a day, lots of palm sized clots. No pain, just a lot of inconvenience and recently diagnosed anemia. I saw a midwife who did a pelvic/pap but didn’t notice anything abnormal. She sent me for an ultrasound which took place today. A 12cm cyst was found on my left ovary and a couple of small cysts on the right. The midwife called back and put me on “pelvic rest”-no intercourse, no exercise beyond walking, no heavy lifting, until the large cyst is removed. She made it clear that I needed to meet with a gyn. surgeon a.s.a.p. to discuss cyst removal and that after consulting with an OBGYN in her practice, she doesn’t believe the cysts have anything to do with my abnormal bleeding. I hate the thought of surgery…does anyone have any thoughts/positive success stories about “waiting out” a large cyst rather than removing it? Any thoughts on what might be causing my abnormal bleeding?

[mykdsmomy]

I'm so sorry you're going through this. I don't have any answers but I'm going through something similar. I'm going for an U/S next week in the hopes of finding the cause of my bleeding and cramping

Have they ruled out fibroids or endometriosis for the bleeding? I would think a large cyst on your ovary could certainly cause bleeding though so I'm wondering why they didn't think it was the cause?

Good luck and hopefully someone else can chime in with some experience

[carfreemama]

Not much help here, but I do have a 5-cm (at time of u/s) left ovarian cyst that's been there at least a few months. It was diagnosed incidentally after a m/c.

I think it's grown, because my doc couldn't feel it the first time and then could at the last visit. There is apparently no concern of malignancy, though that can't be diagnosed definitively without surgery. HOWEVER, the cyst is causing me only the slightest of discomfort and then only for a few days around ovulation. No bleeding, no pain with intercourse. And this month, I think it MIGHT be better.

I have read everything I can get my hands on about ovarian cysts (and because I am a complete hypochondriac, ovarian cancer) and I think most sources would advise having a cyst that is causing problems like yours removed. Not because of cancer, but because of the bleeding. From what I can gather, it's a really minor procedure in most cases.

I feel confident leaving mine for all the above reasons, plus I have hte u/s report and assurances by 3 different docs that it's not cancer. Did you have a transvaginal ultrasound? Can you find out exactly what kind of cyst you have? Certainly, the women with experiences with cysts say they absolutely can cause bleeding. I think I would want to know why your midwife thinks that's not the problem in your case. But I think I would want that sucker out and won't wait indefinitely with mine, either. Best of luck!