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[JES66]

Hi there

Would be really interested in finding anyone who had an SAH some time ago, only to discover ovarian cysts! I’ve been under gynae for 10 years with these, as I was determined not to remove anything else unless absolutely necessary. Cysts have shrunk a little, grown a little, shrunk etc. I live alone with no family & no friends who would be able to come & stay post-op, which has been a factor in not having op but main thing is fear of feeling worse (scar tissue etc). I have only recently felt a grumbling discomfort on LHS & whilst waiting for another US, paid for one. Radiographer advised the ovaries seem to have adhered to one another & suggested MRI. Gp has advised I must have another US. Anyway, I wonder if there’s anyone who’s been through BSO post SAH (age 59) & if I should just hang on & hope they shrink eventually. I know there’s always a risk of OC but that could be discovered during surgery.

Cyst sizes with dates: Most recent was transvaginal US but others were regular US. They were previously both around same size. CA125 next week but previously ok.

7.8.2023
Rhs 89x82x63mm
Lhs 37x32x27

1.3.2024
RHS 96 x 81 x 66
Lhs 37 x 35 x 28

25.2.2025
85x57x76
30 x 24 x 29

8.6.25
87.6 x 82.1 x 48.3mm
32.9 x 25.9 x 25.4mm

Any advice gratefully received 🙏 I don’t want to jump from frying pan to fire!!

Also… what exercise is ok with cysts? Just swimming or Pilates etc?

Many thanks in advance!
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Abbreviations used in this post:
SAH - Subtotal Abdominal Hysterectomy.
BSO - Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. A surgical procedure involving the removal of both fallopian tubes and ovaries.
LHS - Left hand side.
RHS - Right hand side.
US - Ultrasound
MRI - Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
OC - Ovarian Cancer.
CA125 - a protein that can be measured in a blood test, used to help diagnose and monitor ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer.

[bombsh3ll]

If you have had these cysts for 10 years with no progression in size or radiological appearance and normal Ca125 then me personally I would simply continue to monitor them and only intervene if there was suspicion of cancer.

[JES66]

Thank you 🙏 It’s good to have an opinion from a woman on this forum. It makes me think I’m doing the right thing just to wait and see. I am getting a little discomfort on LHS but this could be some kind of groin strain or maybe even inflamed bowel - I can’t figure it out but want to rule out cyst issue first. Thanks again.

[bombsh3ll]

The size of cysts described above would be too small generally to cause a mass effect, and would only really be likely to cause pain if there was a torsion event.

This would typically be sudden and severe, and is actually less likely in someone who is full of adhesions as they are essentially stuck down.

[JES66]

Oh. That’s interesting, as it’s a large cyst when over 5cm, I’d read but a ‘mass effect’ - do you mean a malignancy effect or ? Sorry. Not quite understanding. I think I was a bit concerned when radiographer told me they had adhered to one another but maybe that’s usual with larger cysts?

The pain seems to be deep inside and I notice it more when I’m driving, when I guess things are more concertinaed.

Anyway, I do feel relieved. It’s not a sharp pain but dull and becomes ‘louder’ in certain positions. Maybe something entirely unrelated to the cysts. I would prefer to avoid BSO and have managed this far. I think maybe cleaning up my diet some more might help.

[bombsh3ll]

By a mass effect I mean pain or pressure.

Our pelvis is designed to accommodate a full term pregnancy so something the size of a tangerine shouldn't really cause that kind of problem. Often there are other causes such as adhesions.

[JES66]

Thanks so much! I hadn’t even considered the baby thing - dearie me. Possibly because I never had any and so it’s never even occurred to me. Oh dear. I can’t believe I didn’t think of that. I’ve had 3 male gynaecologists trying to scare me into having the surgery and have said there would be little risk etc, despite my concerns about probable adhesions from SAH and not wanting to invite in the possibility of frequent pain.

However, I am pretty bloated atm, despite regular bowel movements. The diet clean up has begun & I’m trying clinical reflexology. Can’t do any harm & beats the alternative!