Should a pelvic exam be the next step after finding an Ovarian Cyst?

I am a 26 year old woman, recently diagnosed with a cyst on my left ovary, after an ultrasound. My physician scheduled me for an appointment with my Gynecologist this week. I called to confirm and find out what the next step was, and if my starting my period would interfere with the exam. They stated that it would not because they only planned to do a pelvic exam anyway! If I'm not mistaken, a pelvic exam will only allow them to feel the cyst outside. Shouldn't there be a more thorough "investigation"? perhaps a biopsy,some sort of culture under a microscope or something? I just want to be proactive and know if I should be concerned or plan for any surgical proceedures in the near future. I am optomistic and won't assume its malignant, but it is painful and I want to do everything to ensure that I remain fertile, because I would like to have children. If my thoughts are accurate, would I be out of place to insist on further testing from my" Gyne"?Anyone??

Should a pelvic exam be the next step after finding an Ovarian Cyst?
Ultrasound is the diagnostic test they do to find ovarian cysts.


They probably wanted to wait until after your period for a number of reasons... doing a pelvic exam... they can feel the cysts possibly externally/internally %26amp; they may do another ultrasound to see if they are "functional" or if they stay the same size or not (cysts sometimes come %26amp; go w/ your period, so they would want to wait until after your period to see if they went away).





There are no other tests other than the ultrasound, unless a cyst was solid (not fluid filled) then they occasionally do a special ultrasound called a doppler in which they check bloodflow to rule out cancer... (altho the only way to truly rule it out is by removing the cyst surgically %26amp; doing a biopsy).


Often they wait a few months %26amp; see if they shrink or go away.





I know this as I have cysts I am having removed this month. We watched them for almost 3 yrs before removing them.


You should be fine.
Reply:Well they might be able to tell more about it from the pelvic and then order the necessary tests if they are indeed necessary. That's why you were referred to them because they know what they're doing. THey don't want to worry you without knowing what they're facing.
Reply:Ovarian systs generally come and go. I have had one for years, it grows and then shrinks. It is common to do a pelvic exam after finding a syst. They will most likely do another ultrasound in the near future to monitor the syst. I have had 2 children since being diagnosed. Also, one child after being diagnosed with a tumor on my uterus. Be positive and just take it as it comes.
Reply:I'm 24 and I just had my left ovary removed 2 months ago because of a benign tumor I had on my ovary. It was very painful. They are going to probably do a pelvic, make sure that the cyst is the consistancy of a cyst and not a tumor/cancer, and then give you some birth control to try and shrink it. (That usually works from what I have heard.) They did a cat scan on mine, and then I had to have some blood work done to rule out cancer. Then they decided "it was a 3" by 3" block basically and they had to remove my ovary. I was then diagnosed with PCOD.
Reply:I had an ovarian cyst at 15, it was pretty bad. They did not do an internal gynaecological exam, as they decided they did not need to after examining the ultrasound and therefore knowing what kind of cyst is was. It is possible to have a cyst that stays for a short period and it benign (like mine). It caused some pain but it went away shortly afterwards and so far apparently no lasting problems. If it had stayed or caused more pain, they would have maybe done a laparoscopy to biopsy, or other factors, but a simple cyst I don't think it generally enough to warrant that if they can already tell it's just fluid-filled and likely to go. However discuss all your concerns with the doctors and seek a second opinion if need be.