Growing Ovarian Cyst

Years ago, I had a cyst that size of a tangerine. (Why it was compared to fruit, I don't know.) Had to do a cancer screening on it. Did an MRI before the whole damn thing was over. Here's the thing-- if you have a cyst rupture, okay, hurts like hell (I've had this before, was literally on the floor and then went to the ER, didn't know what it was until then). But cysts can twist on that 'stem' that connects them to the ovary and there can be serious damage if it twists off. So, take the birth control (I've had girlfriends do this to amend the situation and shrink the cyst) and do what the doctor suggests. My cyst shrunk and went away on its own and I'm now on BC just for a laundry list of other 'ladies issues', but from what I understand, it does work.

The entire female population of our family gets ovarian cysts from puberty on. They are extremely painful during ovulation, in our family, when the ovaries (which are cysts) swell and release their egg....meaning doing their job.

So, to help ease your concern and reduce your anxiety, cysts are super common during our fertile years. I can't count how many I've had in my life. Some are more painful than others, some are just a bothersome ache. No one in our family has ever had them removed. The OB/GYNs we have used don't recommend removing the cysts until they are about the size of an orange. And that is much larger than a 3 cm blip. I have one girlfriend who had a cysts as large as a grapefruit, was going to have it removed, but it burst and reabsorbed on it's own.

Perhaps your OB is being extra cautious? Perhaps he can make money on the procedure?

But honest K., focus on the fact that it's benign. Growths, tumors, cysts will occur spontaneously through out your life. Don't fret unless there's real evidence.

Birth control works well, as it ceases your ovulation cycle, which reduces the cysts / ovaries from developing.

Glad to hear it is benign. Try to focus on that.

I know it is tough...I have a cyst between two bones in my foot. I am playing the wait and see game too.

Take care.

Sorry you are going through this. I know it's so hard. For many years I had multiple breast cysts and, like you, I could only focus on the fact that "something's in there that doesn't belong." Every mammogram came out "suspicious" and waiting for repeats, undergoing biopsies, waiting for results, and recovering were just agonizing mentally as well as physically. Even if something is benign, you still feel like you just don't want it in your body!

I got rid of my cysts through other means (my doctor was thrilled). I know people who've gotten rid of ovarian cysts as well including PCOS. This takes months though so it's still a matter of "wait and see" and be consistent. Certainly birth control works for many women and if it's the route you want to go, if you're young and healthy with no contraindications for BC usage, a 3 month trial is very reasonable. If you do this route, then be consistent and give it a good shot at working. Whether you have it removed has a lot to do with size but also pain, so you want to weigh that against the expense, discomfort, risk of scar tissue, etc. And a lot of that depends on where you are in your reproductive life.

Most cysts are not cancerous and not a risk for rupture. If you are unsure, it's totally acceptable to get a second opinion. No reputable doctor will object to or be offended by that request.