ovarian cyst at baseline IVF scan after 2 weeks on BCPs

[Anonymous]

I'm a first-time IVF-er and am wondering whether anybody has had this experience. I've been advised to continue with the BCPs for one more week to see if the cyst subsides on its own. Other than the uncertainty of knowing whether or not we'll be able to begin stimulation during this cycle, the toughest part is trying to plan my travel schedule for work over the next few weeks!

Would be grateful to hear from others who have had this happen, and whether or not your cyst went away after another week on pills. Many thanks!

[Anonymous]

Yup--this happened to me this past last cycle. I was originally on BCP for 3 weeks while we waited for my insurance approval. When I went in for baseline, I had a large (27 mm) cyst on one of my ovaries, which was raising my estrogen level. Another 2 weeks on a stronger version of BCP, and it had reduced (and my estrogen was normal), but the RE had me go on for another week. When I came back the third time, it was completely gone. If it hadn't been, we would have considered surgical procedures.

So, yes, I ended up being on BCP for 6 weeks. I did do acupuncture, upped my green veggie intake and tried to reduce sugar, but I realized that the cyst wanted to take its own sweet, sweet time to disappear.

Good luck! Try not to let the stress get to you.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for your response. I think mine was about the same size, based on the numbers (ranging between 20 and 27) that my doctor called out after he spotted it. Sounds like they can be persistent little things.

Are acupuncture, veggies, and sugar reduction supposed to be good for shrinking a cyst? I hadn't heard this!

[Anonymous]

My doctor had me do an hcg trigger shot to "ovulate" the cyst. Went back two weeks later and it was gone.

[Anonymous]

14:23 here -- to be honest, I cobbled all of that stuff from Dr. Google, so take it for what it's worth. I think there is some correlation with sugar and PCOS (as it's related to insulin resistance). I just figured that trying to be as healthy as possible could only help.

Cysts do naturally occur--we only tend to notice them because we are being monitored frequently with ultrasounds, but they are still annoying!

[Anonymous]

i haven't done IVF yet but want to later this year as i'm struggling with infertility.I have had a 2.5*3.5cm simple paraovarian cyst for the last 2yrs unchanging in size. Does this mean they will remove the cyst b/f starting any IVF process? I have a feeling it's not going anywhere naturally b/c I've had it for a few years now.

[Anonymous]

OP-When I underwent my IVF cycle I did a mock embryo transfer/saline sonogram during around the mid-way point of taking bc pills. No cysts were detected. I then went in for my baseline scan and they found a 4cm cyst. I couldn't believe it!!! Where did it come from? I lost it on the ride home from the appt. I didn't know what was going to happen.

Turns out my cyst did not alter my estrogen level; however, since it was so big they decided to aspirate it before my cycle. I went in for the cyst aspiration on a Tuesday and started my stimulation drugs on a Wednesday.

If the cyst is estrogen producing (which I'm reading yours is), the normal protocol is to remain on birth control pills and/or aspirate the cyst is it's large.

To the pp, if you have a "chocolate" cyst then they can not aspirate it. They can only remove it surgically but if its not active (doesn't produce estrogen) and its not large, your docs may not be concerned with it.

[Anonymous]

To the PP who ended up being on BCPs for 6 weeks, did you end up being oversuppressed at all? Did you end up going on to have a successful cycle?

I'm the OP and I'm now on my 4th week of pills, after a scan that showed that my cyst actually got bigger after an additional week of BCPs, although estrogen level went way down, but not low enough!

[Anonymous]

This happened to be after 3 IUIs and a I did my baseline for NCIVF. I was not on BCPs. I was so upset. Turns out that since I couldn't do the IVF I'd just "try" with DH. It worked. After over two years of unsuccessfully trying. My Dr. said that the cysts probably contributed extra hormones to help me keep the pregnancy.

[Anonymous]

OP: Sorry this is happening to you -- it totally sucks! Once we got started, my cycle was decent -- we only retrieved 4 eggs, but we knew I was going to be a poor responder, so I think that wasn't totally unexpected. I did end up on a higher dosage of Follistim than I think my doctor was originally going to put me on, because I had been on BCPs for so long.

[Anonymous]

OP here again. The latest update is that the doctor would now like to aspirate the cyst. It sounds like it is a relatively quick procedure, like an egg retrieval, so I'm trying to think of it as "practice" for what is coming down the road again anyway. But I can't help wondering whether anyone has ever experienced any complications from a cyst drainage procedure?

Thanks in advance.

[Anonymous]

I had a 'chocolate' cyst which has been aspirated twice now.
We are currently on our third attempt
At ivf. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

The cyst aspiration is really straight forward and
actually not that bad. You'll be sedated
and not feel much at all. The only bit i
felt was the Needle piercing the cyst and its over
in no time. The whole procedure is very quick
I found the egg retrieval less intense, so get
through the aspiration and your laughing!
Don't worry about it, just relax. it will all be worth
it in the end

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:i haven't done IVF yet but want to later this year as i'm struggling with infertility.I have had a 2.5*3.5cm simple paraovarian cyst for the last 2yrs unchanging in size. Does this mean they will remove the cyst b/f starting any IVF process? I have a feeling it's not going anywhere naturally b/c I've had it for a few years now.

A paraovarian cyst is a different type of cyst than what the OP is referencing, which is a simple cyst. I have a paraovarian cyst and was told it was somehow the result of cycle structure during my embryonic stage and it would never go away nor interfere with my IVF cycles. It never changed during my 3 years of IVF treatment. I did have simple cyst as well on a couple of cycles and they were a different story.

[Anonymous]

I had a couple of cysts aspirated when I cycled - one was close to 7cm!!! It is good practice for what you will experience with ER. I never had complications, but I did learn from a separate surgery that I have a tendency towards nausea with anesthesia and discuss with the anesthesiologist before hand.