I’ve done some web searches, but come up with a mixture of different information, and all in bits and pieces. So I turn to you at the SDMB for information.
What causes ovarian cysts? Hereditary?
Can the be treated?
How are they treated?
How often do they lead to ovarian cancer?
If I were to be diagnosed with an ovarian cyst, what do I have to look forward to?
Is there anything else I should know and/or be aware of regarding ovarian cysts?
A little bit of background information
For the past three or four months, about 2 weeks before my period (ovulation time), I have been getting a dull pain in my lower left side. I would say abdomen, but it is much lower than abdomen. I didn’t think too much of it, as I often get strange aches and pains. But I am noticing a regularity to it.
I happened to mention this to my mother tonight, and she said that she had experienced similar pain a dozen or so years ago, but ignored it, until she one day experienced a horrible pain, which turned out to be a burst cyst. She encouraged me to make an appointment with my doctor, which I will be doing first thing tomorrow morning.
BTW, I am 24 years old and have been on birth control since I was 17.
If you haven’t seen a doc yet I’d slow down a bit first on trying to learn everything about ovarian cysts. Get a tentative diagnosis first, and ask your doc to educate you about said diagnosis.
IANA MD. If you have polycystic ovarian syndrome, you may want to talk to your doctor about how to spot Cushing’s-like symptoms, glucose metabolism problems, and other endocrine issues that may you may experience and that may be related to or occur with PCOS. Although this constellation appears in the medical texts I’ve consulted, I’ve not seen it appear in more popular medical books, nor have my doctors ever mentioned it to me (though when I raise it now, they say, “Sure”).
Good gosh! We have a poster who “often get[s] strange aches and pains” who now says that for the past thee or four months she has noticed “a dull pain in [her] lower left side” that she didn’t think too much of" until her mother told her that she had had a similar pain and later suffered from a ruptured ovarian cyst.
And now we are asking “Are your cysts endometrial?” and providing information about polycystic ovaries!
What is the evidence that Harli has an ovarian cyst? The fact that she experiences mittelschmerz and that her mother had one?
And she didn’t even ask for a diagnosis anyway, for crying out loud! Here are her questions.
What causes ovarian cysts? Hereditary?
Can the be treated?
How are they treated?
How often do they lead to ovarian cancer?
If I were to be diagnosed with an ovarian cyst, what do I have to look forward to?
Is there anything else I should know and/or be aware of regarding ovarian cysts?
It would be way too much trouble to answer these questions here so I suggest that Harli go with QtM’s sound advice and find out what, if anything, is wrong before going off on a tangent.
The only reason I asked if her cysts were endometrial, is because I have endometreosis myself, which a lot of doctors either don’t understand (one doctor actually told me to have a baby and the problem would “clear right up,” and another told me that he didn’t know anything about this condition, but, here, take this pill)misdiagnose, or don’t adequetly explain.
I know that when I was diagnosed, I wasn’t given a lot of information, and I spent a lot of time worrying. Later, when I found a new doctor who actually sat me down and discussed my condition, I found that a lot of my fears were groundless. If Harli’s cysts are endometrial, I could probably pass on some vaulable information that her doctor might not tell her.
I also back QtM’s sound advice to see a doctor. Harli’s problem, IF she has one, may not even be connected to her reproductive system! Not every abdominal pain a woman has is centered in the uterus or ovaries. Certainly, as part of the normal process of elimination in any diagnosis, they need to be checked out but it’s a bad idea to go assuming that is the origin of the problem. I mean, MEN get abdominal aches and pains, too, and in them it’s never caused by a uterus or ovaries acting up.
Now, if you want to answer her questions about ovarian cysts that’s a different thing - but it’s way out of line to go diagnosing her problem on line. I mean really - just because her mother had a cyst doesn’t mean Harli does, anymore than the fact my mother has had a stroke means I’m having one every time my head hurts or I fumble over something I’m saying.
I appreciate all your responses.
I was in no way looking for a diagnosis. I am going to the doctor for that on Tuesday, as I indicated in my OP.
However, from what researched about my symptoms (there are other oddities that I have not mentioned because I am not looking for a diagnosis), I wouldn’t be surprised if it turned out to be a cyst.
All I wanted was information based on facts. Just my curiousity looking to be fed.
Oh, and it’s definitely not abdominal pain. As stated in my OP, it is much lower. Having experienced menstrual cramps for over 10 years, I can pretty much guess where this pain is coming from.
Sounds like you are perfectly normal and suffering from a very mild case of Mittleschmertz. Endometriosis will cause pain during menstruation, not ovulation. Certainly doesn’t sound like anything that needs medical attention.
dauerbach, you’re quite brave. After 20 years of medical practice, I certainly wouldn’t dare to give such advice to a person based solely on what is posted in this thread.
I don’t know. Periodic mild discomfort mid cycle. Otherwise healthy young person. What else could it be? True, primum non nocere, but a physicians primary responsibility is to keep his family out of the hands of his colleagues. If my sister had a similar complaint that is exactly what I would tell her. When working up a healthy person everything that can go wrong will go wrong. I guess I am just a medical cynic.
I don’t post this link lightly. It’s probably the most authoratative list of good consumer health info on ovarian cysts available online. The general info links are at the top, specific conditions, such as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome are also listed. You also get very good Medline searches from the tan box on the left. As a total aside and minor hijack, I teach classes on finding and evaluating Internet health information. Any questions?
Lots of stuff. But since you didn’t take a history, do a physical, or examine lab results, you can’t have any idea of a decent working differential diagnosis. And you assume health in the poster without proper evaluation.
What Alyssa said. It’s an excellent site. I’m just naturally hesitant to even remotely feel like I’m diagnosing someone over the internet.
But really, Harli! How will you feel if you spend days researching ovarian cysts only to discover you’ve really got fibroids, endometriosis, or even a case of carbuncular trollopsy? (I made the last one up)
oki doki.
you say you’re on birth control? if it’s combined hormonal contraception you shouldn’t be ovulating.
see your doc.
if you’ve just come off BC you are probably experiencing mittel schmertz, a perfectly normal dull ache when you ovulate.
but then again, it could be pain from a developing cyst, or something even less fun.
many women (including myself and all my female relatives) have mittelshmertz. it’s not an indicator of anything other than normal ovulation…and is really handy for natural family planning.
just to be safe, see your doc, about day 14 of your cycle if you can, ask for an ultrasound and a blood test to check your hormone levels.
To Qadgop the Mercotan, there’s always a fine line that you walk when you’re trying to provide health info (diagnosing vs educating), but it’s important to remember that different folks deal with health situations differently. Some people trust their docs totally and only want info from them. Some want to do all their own research. Some people want Internet health info, sometimes in preparation for a doc visit so they can ask good questions. Harli in OP promised to go to her doc, so I see no prob whatsoever with telling her where to go for good info. I, generally, don’t look up health info for myself pre-diagnosis (it would just make me anxious), but I give “what-if” information to other people all day (that’s part of my job.) The way I see it, health information is all over the Internet. There are a lot of people who will turn to the Internet first to look for health information. There is sucky (you would be apalled at some of the utter rubbish) health information, and there is good information. I teach people how to get good info, or find it for them. I always stress the importance of consultation with “your healthcare provider.” I don’t think there’s anything wrong with your reluctance to answer the OP, I just wanted to tell you my observations. BTW, I’m teaching a class on this tonight.
I understand and agree, Alyssa. I didn’t mean to imply any criticism of your providing the (excellent) resource. If the OP’er had asked only for info on ovarian cysts, I might have done the same. But with the mood I was in at the time (just informed I’d been named in a lawsuit by a guy who’s suing everybody whose name even appeared in his chart) I chose the conservative approach. But there’s not a thing wrong with your approach either.
