Ovarian cysts in postmenopausal women
Common Questions and Answers about Ovarian cysts in postmenopausal women
ovarian-cysts
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..
Thanks so much for your response! As you can imagine I am making myself sick not so much because of the cysts alone but becuase of the other symptoms - the pain and breast tenderness and that each ovary has a cyst as opposed to only one. I will definately check out the Health Pages. Keep me in your prayers as Monday is the ultrasound.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
Thank you.
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.
t know how old you are.. but cysts are very common in women and 95 % benign. That cyst is also quite small. . They thought my cyst (also small) was solid.. turns out it was not. I've heard that a TVUS is better than the Ct for detecting ovarian cysts (by the way, the seem to use cyst, mass and tumor interchangeably.. have no idea why)
Please don't worry and in the meantime, why not visit us on the Ovarian Cyst forum ..Right now that's all you're dealing with.
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.
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. 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.
That was such a great point that Yvonne made about the cyst bein in the ovary. This is the reason most complex cysts that are larger in size must be removed with the ovary. The ovaries are exposed to the entire peritoneum. If you cut into them during surgery, you risk spreading the contents. In the rare event that it is ovarian cancer, the cells spread if you cut into them instead of removing them contained. This can take you from an early stage of ovarian cancer to a later stage.
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.
That is too bad you can't get a straight answer from your dr. You can request a copy of your ulstrasound report. Your cysts may have grown or look complex if they want a MRI. The odds that they are cancer are still very low. Most cysts are benign - even complex ones. You dont' mention your age but cysts are much more common in premenopausal women versus postmenopausal. I don't know what to say about the wait being so long. Are you having any symptoms?
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