[juls7719]

Hi everyone-

I am 25, no children, no major health issues, never had anything like this before (history of normal Paps and pelvic exams). I was diagnosed (via pelvic exam then pelvic ultrasound with transvaginal probe) last week with a right sided 8.5cm simple (fluid filled) ovarian cyst. It has been causing a dull ache down my thigh and in my lower back and a feeling of pressure when I sit. My periods have become increasing more painful and I had been feeling this pressure and pain mid-cycle every other month for about 4 months now. (My heating pad is my new best friend. Typical of a cyst this size.) First- I've been feeling pain mid-cycle while I've been on Ortho Tricyclen - my doctor says this is impossible that I would be feeling pain mid-cycle because I shouldn't be ovulating. (I've been on ortho for about 8 years and have always felt the 'normal' feelings during ovulation.) My question - is it possible to ovulate so regularly while on the pill?

Secondly, he recommended the 'wait and see' while he changes my pill from Ortho tricyclen to Ortho Novum (the low dose, 35), because it is only a dull ache aside from the painful period and reeeally painful right sided ovulation (or whatever is going on.) His reasoning was going from the 'triphasic' pill to a monophasic pill - might help shrink the cyst? Does this sound feasible?

My doctor said if it causes too much pain or if I just can't stand it anymore that he will do surgery to remove it (single larger cut, he said not laproscopic). I expressed my concern about waiting and having it rupture. He said there not to be worried, and that if it ruptures it will just reabsorb into the body. Thoughts? Because this is contradictory to everything I've been reading online. Thanks!

[ItsASecret]

Because this is contradictory to everything I've been reading online.

Trust the true professional, your doctor, they have far more experience dealing with things like this especially when they say it is very simple and common than someone posting on the internet. Your doctor knows what they are doing.

[juls7719]

I do trust my doctor but when you can't find any literature supporting their theory of switching a pill to shrink an existing cyst that was developed while on the same types of hormones its only natural to question. I do sincerely appreciate your input though, thank you.

[ItsASecret]

It is not easy to find information stating things exactly like "if you use this birth control you will have a cyst diminished" because such material often does not exist even in the medical world. Cysts can form for a multitude of reasons, if the conditions are right in the body at the time a cyst will form. What those conditions are could be anything hence both people with and without medication are able to develop cysts. The reason a change in birth control pills are suggested as a possible method for cyst reduction is that there is a theory that birth control pills help provide a preventative measure for cyst development and ovarian cancer. There is plenty of legitimate literature on this subject of birth control pills and ovarian cancer/cyst prevention -do not read blogs or personal websites as they are not based on real scientific research. So your doctor is basically following research in that birth control, and again there will not be one exclusive kind, could potentially reduce the size of a cyst based on the way the pill works. All pills work differently in all women so it can be a matter of changing a pill to help reduce the size of a cyst.

[juls7719]

I agree and am very willing to try something non-invasive first as opposed to surgery; I suppose my frustration stems from my doctor saying in a previous appointment that bcps would not shrink it, then in a follow-up appt, him suggesting I try the bcps to shrink it. Maybe I'll go get a second opinion. I don't often rely on info on blogs, personal websites,etc. - I go directly to medical journals for my research to ensure informations' validity. This is my first time ever posting in any sort of forum. Thanks itsasecret.