Complex Ovarian Cysts
May 10th, 2009
Author: HelenAds by Google
Numerous women say "I do suffer pain from my complex ovarian cyst". The next question they would ask could be simple "why". Therefore, let's take look what complex ovarian cysts are all about.
What is a complex ovarian cyst mass?
-Complex cysts include solid components in addition to fluid
-There are three types of complex ovarian cysts:
-Cysts that are formed from egg cells are dermoid cysts
-Endometriosis causes endometrioma cysts
-Cysts formed from ovarian tissue are cystadenomas
How to tell if your ovarian cyst is complex:
-Your physician will do a manual pelvic examination
-An ultrasound can confirm your doctor’s diagnosis
-A trans vaginal ultrasound may be done
-Symptoms may be similar to pregnancy and endometriosis, tests are done to rule these out
-A CA 125 blood test is conducted to test for endometriomas and cancer
-Complex ovarian cysts generally do not break down on their own
Is a complex ovarian cyst dangerous?
-Complex ovarian cysts can be fatal if they are not treated
-Complex ovarian cysts may be cancerous
Pain from complex ovarian cysts:
-Enlarged cystedonomas can cause the ovary to twist which is extremely painful
-Pain may radiate from the pelvis to thighs and buttocks
-There may be pain with sexual intercourse
-Pain may occur before or after menstrual periods
Pathophysiology of complex ovarian cyst:
-A complex ovarian cyst contains solid and fluid components
-Irregular borders may be present in complex ovarian cysts
-Ultrasound may show hair strands
-Complex ovarian cyst septa may be present, these are internal walls which create separate spaces within the cyst
Ovarian complex cyst versus solid mass:
-Solid masses may be fibromas, granulosa cell tumor, and Brenner tumors.
-A fibroma is a benign tumor composed of fibrous or connective tissue
-Granulosa cell tumors are composed of granulosa cells, theca cells and fibroblasts, and often produce estrogen
-Brenner tumors are solid, and contain epithelial cells and fibrous connective tissue
-Ovarian complex cysts look different in ultrasound tests than other masses.
Complex ovarian cysts and MRI:
-An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is more accurate than a pelvic ultrasound in identifying hemorrhagic cysts and endometriomas
-Ultrasound may not show the difference between solid tumors, complex cysts and mature cystic teratomas.
Example of spontaneous involution of complex ovarian cyst in 7-day-old girl.
Courtesy of www.ajronline.org
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Symptoms of Ovarian Cysts - How To Know you have ovarian cysts?
It is hard to establish the symptoms of ovarian cysts if these are small. Also they are not common only for cysts on ovaries, but for a range of other illnesses too. Most of the time women discover they have ovarian cysts due to a routine check-up and ultrasound examination.
Complex Ovarian Cysts Is Not A Problem Anymore
Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled sacs or pockets within or on the surface of your ovaries. A lot of women are made to believe that their painful ovarian cysts can grow cancerous. However, they can nonetheless become perilous if not treated.
I am 49 will be 50 next month. I have been told that I have a cyst on my left ovary with solid components. I am sick with worry. It was discovered by ultrasound. I now have to go for MRI and had a CA125 test done today.
I just turned 40 two weeks ago and was told that i have a complex cyst on my left ovary. I was taken into hospital yesterday to have it removed through keyhole surgery which was unsuccessful. Now i have to have to wait another couple of weeks to have it removed through an insertion. I have had many cysts on my ovaries and i lost my right ovary 8 years ago cause the cyst was so big. I am worried about this one but hopefully all will go well.
I too just turned 40 and had went for my annual papsmear. I had been having some painful periods that had been going on for about a year and half. I was discussing with my dr about having an ablation done, so he had sent me for bloodwork and an ultrasound. The ultrasound showed I had a 1.7cm complex cyst on my left ovary. My doctor wants me to come back in 6wks for another ultrasound. I have worried myself sick. I’m not sure I can wait the 6wks. I would like to just have it removed and tested instead of the wait and see approach.
Iam 24 and i was told i have a complex cyst in my left ovary measuring 1.9 x 1.6 x 1.7cm. iam very upset and scared i dont know what will happen next i cany stop thinkin about it. i have togo in for a follow up in 8 to 12 weeks. i want kids and i hope this is not going to stop that.
I was also just diagnosed at age 40 (almost 41) with a complex ovarian cyst on my left ovary. Also worried sick and can not even get in to see an OB-Gyn as mine moved this summer and I am now a new patient in a different practice. My appt is 2 weeks away and they would not give me one sooner despite my ultrasound report ordered by my reg Dr. I hope all goes well for others here.
im 47 just had key hole for two tumors 6cms on rite side 2 cms on left side it was the scarriest thing ever for me all the staff in the princess of wales unit heartlands hospital birmingham were great they helped me through it all thank you and my surgons ,im recoverin at home now and doing ok ,to all you ladys dont be afraid you will be ok,good luck to you .
People-Don’t take that! Insist you be seen earlier! Tell them the pain is worsening and becoming unbearable. Lie if you have to in order to get in faster. I did it. The followups tests to the complex cyst they found in my right ovary were initially schedeuled for 2 weeks out. Now I’m being seen tomorrow. I lied-told them I was in worsening pain that was becoming unbearable. I have the worst insurance of all-Kaiser-but it worked. They originally had me waiting 2 weeks to come in. Ovarian cancer spreads fast-within months from what I’ve read. Don’t accept the wait they’ve given you!!!
I was diagnosed with an ovarian cyst a couple of weeks ago-then it just snowballed from there. First they told me I have a 4.7 cm cyst on my left ovary. Then it’s diagnosed as complex, and have bad endo. THEN I find out they’re going to take the whole left ovary out. Tommorow.
I am having a 2 level spinal fusion done on next Thursday, which involves 2 months in bed and 3 in collar. I was terrified of being in this much pain during that recovery period.
I talked to my (brand new) gyno about my concerns and he told me he could get the surgery done right away, which is tommorrow. I don’t know if he’s Just trying to help me out or if he’s concerned it won’t wait till after I recover from my neck surgery. Probably a little of both. And it looks like I’m going to have everything else out when I am done recovering.
I am very grateful to have found a Dr. who was willing to listen to me and is confident that he can help me in time for the neck operation.
However- I am TERRIFIED that I may not recover from the first operation quickly and sufficiently enough to proceed with the second procedure
. I trust this dr. and, but this is sorta of a big deal-I’ve been on Morphine for the last 5 years waiting to get this neck problem taken care of. I have been in a great deal of pain lately and can’t take any med cause of prep for both operations, and I’m more than a little freaked out right now. And I refuse to think about the cysts returning malignant. I know it’s a possibility, but considering what’s already on my plate, I’m just going to be optimistic on this one and deal with it If it happens
I’ve received some wonderful advice for my recovery from the neck operation, but I was hoping I could get some advice more specifically related to the oophorectomy recovery.
Thanks for listening and sincerely hope everyone else is doing ok
@Heather
Thank you for sharing your story Heather. I am so sorry that you are going through such a rough time right now.
The only advice I feel comfortable giving you (since I am not a physician) Is to make sure that you get all of the information that you can. Find out all that you can before you do something that you feel uneasy about. It your body.
Thanks Again and Good Luck.
[...] Taking note of CT or ultrasound examine in contrast will be able to make clear if it is indeed a complex ovarian cyst. [...]
[...] the physician doesn’t answer how to tell if your ovarian cyst is complex, he must refer you for additional examinations, such as MRI, CT or ultrasound to make his diagnosis [...]
hi my name is dee, im 24 yrs old and everyday my stomach hurts in some kind of way…August 2008 for three months i hard the worst kind of cramps ever(atleast that what i thought they were) it would hurt so bad i could move from out of my seat…couldnt move at all, if i was standing it would drop me to my knees…i thought i was having horrible cramps, when i had to go to the bathroom i had to craw to get there…pain unbearable and one day when i was using the bathroom i had pains shocking me from everywhere. i didnt know what was going on and all i remember was saying ER, take me now….come to find out i had a cyst 7.2cm on my right overy…my stomach was getting better and everything scared the crap out of me…i had surgery to removed it. then a couple months later my dr. told me i had endo. i didnt understand what it was but my menstrual cycles are long and hard and alot…i’ve had a couple iron infusions and im still anemic…anywho chrismas night 2009 i started crapping again…youu never forget cyst cramps…ever. so i went home tried to take some meds because just late october early november i saw my gyn and told her about the pain and she said here take this pain med you’ll be fine….so back to the crampping….i drove home from friends house in some kind of pain…woke up the next day and the pain knocked me out of the bed…i had to go to the bathroom so bad and just couldnt get their any faster, i was crawling and pulling myself…as soon as i got myseld toghter i went straight to the hospital…they rushed me to the back did all this work on me did a ultra sound and told me that i have a complex cyst now on my left overy 5.5cm… my heart sinked….i have no insurance because i’ve lost 2 jobs becuase im always sick with stomach pains and they told me to schedule a dr appt with my gyn and get tests done becuase it could be cancer…their weird stuff around my cyst and i think she said “s” looking things on my cyst…what am i suppose to do… and fyi i dont trust my obgyn anymore please feel free to email me alwaysadanser@yahoo.com
I am 41 and had one ovary removed about a year ago due to a simple cyst (I have had one or more removed every 4-7 years since I was in my early twenty’s). They are always simple cysts that just get really big and hurt. Never any concern about cancer on them.
A few weeks ago, I found out that the cyst they saw in April on my right ovary has grown to about 3 inches across and is a septated complex cyst. I had a CAT scan where I passed out from the pain and an ultrasound. The pain has been unbearable. I was put on pain meds and those eventually made me even sicker because this thing is sitting on my bladder and the meds dehydrate you further.
I told my doctor I wanted to see an ob/gyn right away. She couldn’t get me in to see anyone until tomorrow. This has been the longest three weeks. I can’t take anything. Even Aleve eats my stomach lining away and gives me bleeding ulcers. I have called multiple times to get in sooner and have been told there just are no openings.
I am quite certain this thing is growing because it feels even bigger than before and is hitting so many internal organs. The pain makes it hard to sleep. When I do sleep, I have dreams of being punched, pinched and shot at in the abdomen.
With everything I’ve read about these kinds of cysts, you would think they would try to address it sooner. I want my life back. I am planning my wedding for 6 months from now and this makes it hard to enjoy anything.
Iam 34 and i was told i have a complex cyst in my left ovary measuring 78×45MM. I am very upset and scared i dont know what will happen next i cany stop thinkin about it. I want kids and i hope this is not going to stop that.
I am 31 and was just diagnosed with a complex cyst early in the morning on Tuesday 3/9/10 in the ER.
My husband and I had been fooling around (without any problems, I might add) and when we finished, it was THE worst pain I’ve ever experienced! I was rolled in a ball and crying my head off. It almost felt like gas, ya know, kinda moving around a little. I mean it was always in the same spot, but sometimes it ratiated into my back, and sometimes clear down into my thighs. At one point my fingers even went completely numb. I would try to move, to see if a different position would make it better, but it only hurt worse. Finall, my husband said “That’s enough, you need to go to the ER!” I agreed, and he took me out to the living room. It felt like I was giving birth to twins at the same time! The pain on my cervex was excruciating!
Anyways, he went to get the car, and left me sitting on the sofa. Next thing I know, I’m waking up, and my 10 year old daughter is kneeling next to me, and kinda shaking me saying “Mom! Mom! Are you ok? Mom!?” My husband then called 911. By the time the ambulance got there, the pain was slightly getting better.
We got to the hospital, and they ran tests, thinking that perhaps my philopian tube had twisted, but instead they found a cluster of complex cysts on my right ovary.
This isn’t the first time I’ve had cysts, but it is the first time that they’ve been complex.
But every time, they’ve been on my right side.
I have 3 kids, and have had my tubes tied. Im so sick of this! I just want it all to be over and done with NOSW!!!!!
I tried to go to work (Im a dog groomer… Not an easy job even when your feeling well) but had to rescedule my clients becuse I couldnt handle the nausea and pressure in my belly.
I also dont have insurance, so everything is gonna be paid for outta pocket, but Im applying for assitance through the state. If I cant work, Im sure I can get something.
Im glad I found this sight. It helps to hear other womens stories.
Good luck to everyone.
Hi,
I’m extremely worried about my 44 year old mum !$ day ago she woke me up from bed and informed me they had found a large tumor in her ovary that could be cancerous ( results from ultrasound).
She’s been through so much before this with family death e.c.t and is ringing up my lil cousin, I’m a only child – she means the world to me and I would rither be going through this right now rither than her, MY HEART IS BREAKING.
I’ve been looking on the net none stop for the last 3 days, and I keep coming up with ovarin cancer,, I’m so scared that it could be that.
I don’t mean to sound daft or go on – BUT – I would love to know a few details from other ladys who have experienced this i.e is there a hhuge chance its not cancerous even after what the doc has told her? is she gonna be ok? am I over reacting?
any feed back would be so appreciated, Lee x
Hey Lee, I just turned 47 (mind you I don’t feel that old! LOL!) and just today I found out I have a similar thing as your mum. If they think it is cancerous by now (few weeks since your post) she would have had either the tests, CA-125, ultrasound, and possibly surgery. It is a scary time for you, but I am sure your mum is more scared that YOU are upset too!
Many of the cysts are treatable. It is a scary word ‘cancer’ but do try hard not to panic. Go with her to her appointments (if she would like you to) and learn as much as you can on the subject. Don’t forget, she needs you too!
I hope it all goes well for your mum.
I am a 17 year old girl with two complex cysts on each of my ovaries. I used to say that I didn’t want to have children but i always wanted it to be my choice whether or not I had children. I have been put on medication so that surgery would be a last option, so I hope for the best for all of us who suffer from ovarian cysts.