There is quite a number women who do suffer great pain from complex ovarian cysts. The next question they would ask could be simple "why". Therefore, let's take look what complex ovarian cysts are all about.
Overlook Complex Ovarian Cysts
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?
Photos - Complex Ovarian Cyst: Example of spontaneous involution of complex ovarian cyst in 7-day-old girl. (Courtesy of www.ajronline.org)
- 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 ovarian cysts and mature cystic teratomas.
I am also very short and thin 4″11 95pounds so i have no idea why these things are targeting me.
I am 26 and I was just diagnosed with a 2.2 cm complex ovarian cyst on my left ovary. I was in a car accident on November first of last year and all the symptoms started immediately after. I was transported to the hospital via ambulance and had a ct scan done. I was admitted because there was fluid found in my abdomen. When I was released, the next day, the trauma Dr’s said they still were not sure of what the fluid was and told me that it could be several months before anything came of it. Since that day I have been suffering with abnormal menstrual cycles heavy clotting and pain during intercourse and before during and after periods. I do not get to see the ob until March 7th and all I can think about is the possibility of cancer. I am a full time student and a mom of 3 kids, not to mention a wife. I don’t know what God is doing or planning here…all I know is that He will hold me through this.
Hi Sara,
My name is Vanessa I was also diagnosed with a ovaryan cyst and also complex masses on my right ovary. I am so scared I think yesterday was the worse day of my life I also have 4 kidsand this has me dipressed and sad just to think something can happen to me and not to mention that i see my kids and i feel like crying when i feel like cryung i go into the restroom so they wont hear me and my youngest is 6 my.princess and always follows me everywhere even to the restroom. Then not to mention everything you see when you google this all the things that can happen makes me more terrify but maybe god chose us to see how strong we are. I hope to hear from you soon. By the way i’m 30 years old.
Hi Sara and Vanessa. My name is Danette and I too was diagnosed last week with a couple 2cm complex cysts on my rt ovary. I had my yearly CA-125 and pelvic ultrasound due to a family history of ovarian cancer. I have been having these tests for 19 years now, since my mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and died at the age of 52. I am 50 and the mother of 4 beautiful children. My doctor wants to wait 4 weeks and repeat the tests. I am trying to get information on whether this is what I should be doing. This waiting game is killing me…it is all I think about. I feel that there must be more
Hi Sara and Vanessa. My name is Danette and I too was diagnosed last week with a couple 2cm complex cysts on my rt ovary. I had my yearly CA-125 and pelvic ultrasound due to a family history of ovarian cancer. I have been having these tests for 19 years now, since my mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and died at the age of 52. I am 50 and the mother of 4 beautiful children. My doctor wants to wait 4 weeks and repeat the tests. I am trying to get information on whether this is what I should be doing. This waiting game is killing me…it is all I think about. I feel that there must be more that I can do instead of wait. What have your doctors suggested??
Please respond!!
Hi Sara and Vanessa,
I am 36 years old, no kids, but I was diagnosed with a complex ovarian cyst of 4.4 cm. I am concerned too, specially now that I have this horrible pain in my left lower abdominal. I was about to have surgery last year, but my old insurance was about to expire, so I decided my Dr. from my new insurance takes care of my condition. Any way, I just had an ultrasound again, and I am still waiting to see the Dr. next week. I suspect that he wants to treat me with hormones, but about 2 years ago, I tried the bioidentical hormone treatment, where I was given progesterone. I had about 2 weeks of treatment, when an episode of fast heart beat happened to me. My Dr. took me off the hormones, and I felt horrible. I thought I was dying, like if I had panic, night sweats, nerviousness, anxiety sympots, it was as if I could not relax at all, and I felt pressure in my chest. My Dr. said, oh! no, it is only anxiety…she started to give me Xanax and all kind of pills for anxiety. I had never suffer from a thing like that before, so I did not know exactly wat the symptoms of “Anxiety” are. Well, Xanax and the other pills made me feel even worst, so I decided I am going to deal with it, whatever it is on my own. After a few weaks later, I demanded to see a cardiologist. They did a ecocardiogram. I was diagnosed with Mitral Valve Prolapse and Mild Pulmonary Hypertension.
Since I have this condition, I am not suppossed to take any hormone treatment because it will cause me to have blood cloths, and could end up killing me. So, I decided that I rater had the surgery, and if they need to remove my ovary, they will have to remove my ovary and get it over with. The problem is that some Drs are more interested working with the insurance, than the health of the patient and they will do what the insurance says. I have Kaiser HMO and I hope they are better Drs than HMO at Highdessert. My advise to you is to make sure you see your Dr. and have the complex cyst treated. Don’t ignore your symptoms. I am scared of all this things is happening to me, but God gives me confort and I put all my trust in Him.
Hi maria
It’s nice to see a comment well I went to my gyn and she put me on birthcontrol pills and said to take them but didnt want to do anything else she said a cyst of 2.5 cm shouldnt hurt that much she.had so many patienta that she didnt even take the time to expalin stuff to me I was asking so many questions she said she had a patient there with a cyst of 7 cm and she had gave her the same treatment that she gave me and it grew from 2 cm to 7 cm and she was gonna have a stat surgery why would you give another person the same treatment that didnt work on someone else and thus was from a 2 month period. I still have the pain this is the 3rd week I had a ct scan but know they are recomending a mri but she didnt want to give me the order I think to that if you dont need that part of the body and its a ridk to your health why not just take it out.
Good luck.to you maria hope everything turns good for you. God bless you and keep posting.
I just found out today that I have a 10cm complex cyst on one of my ovaries. I’m 35 and have no children. I’m having surgery to remove it, there is no other option for me. I am concerned, and I understand it can be life threatening, but I’m also a little relieved to have a diagnoses, I’ve been having a spotty menstrual cycle and painful intercourse and weight gain for months.
There’s a really good chance that it can simply be removed and life can go on as normal. No point in stressing out that there is a possibility that it’s cancerous, because there is also a really good chance that it’s not.
I am 30 and was first diagnosed with cysts when I was 16. I have been placed on bc and that hasnt worked. I have been through chemical menopause, i was 22, this didnt work. So far I have had six surgeries one of which took most of my right ovary. In set i was diagnosed with a complex cyst but they were more concerned with my liver functions. I later found out tnatmy liver was fine but pieces of my cyst had ruptured. Today i had a horrible pain that has yet to go away seven hours later. I dont havehealth ins. But am wondering how much pain is too much before i go to the er
Hi nancy thats good you are getting it removed I think it’s the best thing but there is some doctors that won’t do it. My concern is that I had an ultrasound and ct scan and they still can’t give me a diagnosis thats what scares me alot but I have to say I have been mote positive and hoping that the treatment they gave me works. Good luck with surgery god bless you.
Hello..I just found out today that I have 2 masses on both sides of my pelic region..I say pelvic region, bcause I’m very confused I had a Laprotomy done late 2010, where my left ovary was removed yet they say they fund a 3 cm mass today ther as well as a 6 cm mass on my right ovary.The surgery in 2010 ws horrible, ad took me 3 months to recover,no I must wait 10 days again to find out if thats what is going to happen again…Has anyone ever heard of havig an ovarian cyst on a nn existant ovary? Or does that just mean there is a mass there? Attached to what I wonder? The nurse, trying to be nice of course, said I’m sorry I know what u r going thru when she saw me crying,she said I am a survivor!!! Mind you, haven’tseen my OBGYN yet, this was at urgent care! I’m really scared, and wondering if anyone has ever gone through soemthing similiar? Aren’t there all knds of cysts? My question is why the waiting game if cancer needs to be promptly acted upon if its present?
Hi everyone, im new to this forum and its good to be among people wh knoww what im going through. I went to the er in my town in severe pain on my right side. I thought it was my appendix. They ddid a ct scan and informed me that i have a 8.7 cm complex cyst on left ovary and a 5.4 cm complex cyst on my right ovary. I was told they usually require surgery at this point and they can not tell me why i have them. Well long story short they told me i could not just let these be that i must have surgery but i have no insurance and can not get any help so all i can do is just let them be. I am only 29 and these have ruined my life and are very painful
Hi everyone, im new to this forum and its good to be among people wh knoww what im going through. I went to the er in my town in severe pain on my right side. I thought it was my appendix. They ddid a ct scan and informed me that i have a 8.7 cm complex cyst on left ovary and a 5.4 cm complex cyst on my right ovary. I was told they usually require surgery at this point and they can not tell me why i have them. Well long story short they told me i could not just let these be that i must have surgery but i have no insurance and can not get any help so all i can do is just let them be. I am only 29 and these have ruined my life and are very painful i wish you all better luck than i have had
Hello all. I was just diagnosed with a complex ovarian cyst on my (R) ovary. I have to wait another week until I get my other unltrasound to see what the doctor wants to do. I called him today to ask for something for the pain because at times it just strikes and seems so intense and then fades away. But durring that hour or more its horrible. I dont want the kids to see im in pain nor my husband so I grit my teeth and bare it. Surrounded by people who do not believe in the msgic power of pain relievers. He told me to take Motrin ( which I cant because of ulcers ) and ive been doing the tylenol-heating pad and minimal movements. What else can I do? Or should I try and call again?
Any help would be amazing! TY