Management of ovarian cysts in postmenopausal women

Common Questions and Answers about Management of ovarian cysts in postmenopausal women

ovarian-cysts

Avatar f tn Hello, This mass can be a cyst , benign or malignant mass. Ovarian cysts in post-menopausal women are common but any cysts in a postmenopausal woman should be taken seriously and ovarian cancer should be ruled out by means of CA125 which you have already got done. Ovarian cysts are considered for removal if they cause pain or have tendency to become malignant or there is elevated CA125. Given your history of abdominal swelling, ovarian malignancy can be a possibility.
Avatar n tn I, too had a benign cyst and I'm way past menopause. It was small, but at our age, they do take them a little more seriously.I think I'd be a bit more concerned with post menopausal bleeding. However, as the previous posters have noted, it has not been a full year yet. I wouldn't worry too much about the cyst. I don't know where you read that benign cysts can't form on ovaries of postmenopausal women... but obviously that's a myth..
Avatar m tn At such a young age it can be dermoid cyst which is a type of complex ovarian cyst and is the most common type and develops during the childbearing age. Complex ovarian cysts are generally benign. The risk of malignancy is generally higher among postmenopausal women. You should get a repeat ultrasound and CT scan done. A CA125 blood test should also be performed.
Avatar n tn and it will explain a great deal about ovarian cysts .. The usual course of treatment is to monitor them .. usuall 3-4 mos. to see if they have resolved themselves or grown . In which case there are simple ways to surgically remove them if they are troublesome. By the way, those cysts are really quite small. Try not to worry and check out the "Health Pages" .. (and since you are so recently dx.
Avatar n tn However, you will most likely find women who can help you, women who have been in your situation in the Ovarian Cyst forum. If you scoll down to the right side of this page you will see Related Communities (underneath Community Members) and the Ovarian Cyst link is there. Those women are very experienced with ovarian cysts and I am sure they will be able to answer your questions.
Avatar f tn But, the only way to know for sure is to have the mass removed and biopsied. Also, cysts or masses in postmenopausal women are more worrisome for cancer than ones in younger women. I have a neighbor friend who had an 8cm complex mass in her 60's and it was benign. Yet, I had a 6cm, complex mass in my 30's and it was malignant. Ovarian cancer is tricky because it is different for everyone.
Avatar f tn I'm a postmenopausal woman and have been diagnosed with an Ovarian Cyst. I've had some bouts of unexplained pelvic pain over the last few years - and also some recurring back pains. This cyst was discovered while I was going through some tests for another issue, which turned out fine. During the CAT scan they detected the cyst on my ovary and sent me for ultrasound to check on this issue. They determined that I had an Ovarian cyst approximately 5 cm in size.
Avatar n tn Some medications can cause elevations in HCG, as can some cysts and tumors (especially ovarian tumors). Also, it can be elevated in some postmenopausal women.
Avatar f tn You may like to check our Ovarian Cyst forum.. Lots of information about cysts on the upper right corner under "Health Pages". Also ,lots of experience over there as well. How was your cyst detected? Vaginal ultrasound? And how large is the cyst?Re: the Ca125 blood test.; There are a lot of factors that may elevate the CA-125. That's why it isn't totally relied upon with younger women. With postmenopausal women, it has a slightly better reliability factor.
Avatar m tn Unless you have a BRCA mutation you have a 1.4% of ovarian cancer in your life time. When they think it is ovarian cancer they act fast. I was at the oncologist the day after my ultrasound and in surgery by the oncologist in days. CA 125 can be off but they are false positives not false negatives. If the ct scan showed no cancer you are probably good. Usually cancerous cysts are just solid. Chances are good that is not cancer. Many people have cancer scares and they are scary.
Avatar n tn ve read that cysts in postmenopausal women have a greater risk of malignancy. Should I wait 6 months for another sonogram or get a second opinion from another physician?
Avatar f tn Hello, Ovarian cysts in pre-menopausal women are common but any cysts in a postmenopausal woman should be taken seriously and ovarian cancer should be ruled out. You should get a repeat ultrasound and CT scan done. A CA125 blood test should also be performed. It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor.
Avatar n tn Thank you.
Avatar f tn Most ovarian cysts disappear in 8 to 12 weeks. If they persist then before going in for surgery we can try the birth control pills also. It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.
Avatar n tn Typically, it can be chalked up to sporadic ovarian activity or something benign (non-cancerous) like fibroids or benign ovarian cysts (which typically cause hormonal changes). I have connected with many women who have had post-meno bleeding that did not need any treatment. Unfortunately, too many women end up with hysterectomies that are unnecessary and leave them in worse health than before. Even ACOG says way too many hysterectomies are being done with 76% not meeting their criteria.
Avatar m tn Hi, Cysts are extremely common in younger women. You may want to check the "Health Pages" at the top of this page. It has a lot of information on cysts. Or google Ovarian cysts. They are part of the cycle and sometimes don't "behave " as they should. That is a small cyst. After 6 months of waiting, it would appear that it is not going to disappear.That's why surgery was suggested I'm sure. I wouldn't worry...
Avatar f tn Your doctor is doing all the routine test associated with ovarian cyst. Women of any age can and do get cysts, and cysts are not uncommon even if your post-menopausal. Ovarian cysts are 95% benign, so let that be of some relief to you. A Ca-125 can have false positives in pre-menopausal women from conditions like endometriosis and fibroids, ect. For women that are post-menopausal it can be somewhat more accurate, but there are women that have had negative results that have had malignancies.
Avatar f tn The risk of malignancy is generally higher among postmenopausal women. Since you are 34 years of age, chances of malignancy are less. It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.
Avatar f tn I also have IBS. Normal pap results less than a year ago. I do have a history of ovarian cysts, had one removed years past. Many thanks.
Avatar n tn Hi Yvonne, Thanks for your post and the image of the cyst IN the ovary, instead of ON the ovary. My doctor said I had a cyst on my ovary, so I guess I mistakenly took that too literally. I can see now how getting it out of the ovary is alot more difficult than getting it off of the ovary. My surgery is also next Tuesday, so I will be thinking of you then, even though we have never met. Congrats on your pregnancy and thanks again for your post.
Avatar f tn So, you had the ovaries removed already after the finding of increased cysts? What did the tumor marker show?
7906573 tn?1395249076 Complex ovarian cysts are generally benign. The risk of malignancy is generally higher among postmenopausal women. Before going in for any oopherctomy get a CT scan abdomen and a CA125 done to rule out any neoplasia. It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps.
Avatar f tn s orders and of course all the appropriate blood work which all was fine. I have breast and ovarian cancer in my family. Mom and her three sister all had breast cancer and my mom's mom died of ovarian cancer. Doc has told me it is large enough to warrant removing it when ever I decide, but as long as it is not disrupting my daily living we can continue to watch it with ultrasounds. I am so tired of having these transvaginal ultrasounds. (By the way, what a vile piece of machinery.
Avatar f tn I had my uterus removed for several fibroid tumors and am now dealing with ovarian cysts. May have to have one removed in November if it hasn't shrunk or absorbed.
675329 tn?1297288378 i have been monitored for 6 years with transvaginal ultrasounds which are becoming more difficult and uncomfortable before and after i have them. i am reading about postmenopausal women should keep ovaries to prevent heart and lung cancer and live longer in the future. i don't know what decision to make if he says surgery this time. i am 63. anyone have these situations or problems. please help.