On 8/26 I (23F) went to the er bc I thought I was having a bad uti/possible kidney infection. my only symptoms were constant abdominal pain (especially after peeing), and back pain. Well they ended up finding a 4cm cyst on my left ovary. The ER doctor described it as a complex hemorrhagic cyst, told me to follow up with my OBGYN and not to just assume it will go away on its own.
I had my appointment with my obgyn Monday. It lasted 5 minutes. He greets me then immediately says “so yeah I saw your imaging and you have a cyst. Totally fine, totally normal. The body will reabsorb it and it’ll go away on its own.” Every time I asked a question or named my symptoms (“what about my painful sex?” “how long will it take to go away?” “what do I do about my pain and discomfort?”) it was immediately shot down with “you’re fine, just take ibuprofen and use a heating pad, it’ll probably go away in a few weeks” with a big stupid f***ing smile on his face. then he sets another ultrasound appointment for a month away and just leaves the room. Idk what to do.
I’ve been feeling it, more discomfort than excruciating pain. Sex has not been fun. I’m constantly pressing on my belly to see if I feel something and I can’t stop thinking about it.
I told them my mother had to get her ovaries removed and her mother used to have ovarian cancer (she’s cancer free now thankfully), and they straight up told me “you’re fine, ovarian cancer isn’t hereditary.” But then when I threatened to get a new doctor they offered to give me genetic testing. Idk what is going on. What should I do? Should I believe it’ll go away?
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It doesn’t matter whether you “should” believe it will go away. If you don’t feel comfortable with the medical advice, go get a second opinion asap.
Even if your doctor is correct, you felt he was dismissive and you deserve to understand your own health.
It could be a cyst as well as endometriosis which you cannot see on a ultrasound. I would suggest getting another doctor and advice on getting a potential endo diagnosis. The pelvic pain and uti like symptoms were cuz of my endo and fibroid not because of my ovarian cyst (one was reabsorbed, one burst and was excruciating after).
Male doctors suck especially surgeons. I’m in deep pain and schedules the surgery four months out and days “it’s fine it’s only a few more weeks”. So fucking dismissive. I’m like bitch excuse me??? Four months of pain when I’ve already gone through diagnosis and tons of testing and pain for a year. Four more fucking months and you have the audacity to say “it’s only a few more weeks” .
So I’d consult another obgyn.
You need to see another OBGYN. Some ovarian cancers involved with certain genes can be hereditary. I would fine a good doctor, call and explain the situation and that you need a second opinion.
Also fact is, you need more closure on this. Go see another doctor for your mental sanity. That’s reason enough to go get another opinion!
I would get a second opinion. I’m sorry you’re dealing with this.
Good Lord, say goodbye to your present doctor. What an asshole.
You are at higher risk for ovarian and breast cancer with a direct maternal relative having ovarian cancer. Yes, most cysts do go away on their own, but others get bigger until they burst and you will know when that happens because the pain is mind numbing and it forces an ER run.
I wouldn’t have sex with a cyst that is bothering me. That just increases discomfort. I have PCOD and have had so many ovarian cysts I lost count.
Get a new doc.
Frankly, many obgyn are really cruel and dismissive towards pain. They are extremely badly trained to the point of barely knowing anything about endometriosis and other gynecological issues.
The only way to deal with this is to keep seeing new obgyns until you find one who treats you with kindness and respect, and takes your difficulties seriously. It took years to find mine, but it was worth it. We really deserve better, and it’s unfair how many drs in that field lack any trace of compassion even for pain that limits one’s life.
I would find a new doctor personally. you don’t say how old you are, but particularly if you are younger the most important thing a doctor can do for you is educate you. He obviously has no desire to educate you or he would have proactively put your mind at ease if that were the appropriate answer by telling you why.
Also, if you can do it without panicking, Google is your friend. Go to reputable sites make sure and find out the difference between a typical cyst and yours.
I just found out. I have a clot behind my eye. Which of course panicked the crap out of me. When I googled it, I found out that if you have a clot in your head, this is the kind you want. They rarely if ever burst. It made me feel a lot better that I had information I could use. And even if it’s not the best news that you want knowing what’s going on is the most important thing.
Learn to be comfortable using the phrase “please note in my file that you are dismissing my concerns of X, Y, and Z”. You know your body better than anyone and you must advocate for yourself in these situations even if it comes off as rude or insolent. Your health is most important.
You need to fire your doctor. You will only feel more anxious sticking around. I had the same experience but it was with heavy periods and a very dismissive boomer male gyno. My BP would skyrocket every time I had an appointment with him. I switched to a female doctor closer to my age who listens to my concerns and we are able to talk as opposed to being talked at by my previous doctor.
YMMV but I think your time, energy and money are worth a different doctor.
If an ER doc referred me for further testing and my OB declined to do that testing, I would find a different OB, STAT.
Go to another doctor for a second opinion.
Ovarian cancer is hereditary!!!! Especially if you have the BRCA gene mutation. GET ANOTHER DOCTOR.
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/ovarian-cancer/causes-risks-prevention/risk-factors.html
Even if I loved everything else about this doctor, including bedside manner, I would fire his ass for being stupid. You can’t have a doctor in charge of your reproductive health who thinks ovarian cancer can’t be genetic.
Definitely get a second opinion. I would never use a male OBGYN personally.
Find a different doctor.
see another doctor, preferably a female doctor, and fire this one.
You obviously need a new doctor. Just do it.
I know someone who has an ovarian cyst that burst last year and caused sepsis. I know of someone else who had one and it did reabsorb. Seems like it’s time for a second opinion, especially if you’re in pain. I had one removed once and it was really pretty easy.
It sounds like the delivery was poor, but that does like the standard of care.
Everything is healthcare is risk versus benefit.
Most likely the cyst will absorb on its own. The blood is irritating to your body, that’s where alot of the pain comes from. Anti inflammatory medication is most appropriate. The heating pad increases blood flow to the area and that will help speed up the rate of absorption.
That being said its absolutely possible for it to not go away on its own. And that’s why you have a follow up ultrasound scheduled. I would be way concerned if they didnt automatically request a repeat ultrasound.
How long it takes really depends on your body, the size , the true fluid makeup of the cyst. ( blood takes longer to clear then plasma / blood / fluid mixed )
Opioid medications are not appropriate, but unless otherwise contraindicated I would highly recommend alternating Tylenol and motrin every 3 hours
Don’t let that man near you.Get a new doctor immediately.
Please get a second opinion. When my hemorrhagic cyst was found it was the size of a grape, but quite painful. Two days later the pain was unbearable and the ultrasound showed it was the size of a soccer ball. Two days later when I was opened for surgery it had more than doubled in size in two days, it had its own blood supply and the surgeon had to remove my ovary and fallopian tube with the cyst to be able to tie off then cauterize the artery feeding the cyst, which could not be seen on ultrasound.
Edit because I forgot to include: please also Google Chocolate cyst.
Joining the “get a second opinion” chorus, for all the reasons people have me mentioned and because you deserve to be treated by someone who is not dismissive and condescending.
Um ovarian cancer IS hereditary! It’s unfortunately very hard to get care around ovarian cysts. Or just good care as a woman. I’m sorry.
A hemorrhagic cyst is very different than a functional cyst, which is what he is talking about.
I had this exact same experience and the hemorrhagic cyst burst and I lost my ovary. I had to have emergency surgery. Then years later scar tissue from that surgery strangled my other ovary and I had to have that one removed after months of excruciating pain. I was put into menopause in my early 40s because of it and my life has never been the same.
Not to scare you. But get a second opinion. See if you can find a surgeon that specializes in OB-Gyn stuff.
I’m sorry this is happening to you. Doctors can be awful.
GET THE GENETIC TESTING. Speaking as a mid-30s person who was diagnosed with breast cancer this summer, GET IT. Assuming you’re in the US, many healthcare providers are extremely stingy about offering it, and it can be invaluable and literally life-saving. So get that referral, book that appointment, and then absolutely get a new fucking obgyn.
You need to drop the doctor like a hot rock and go elsewhere, wtf. I’m so sorry you’re having to deal with this.
Find a new doctor ASAP. Having an ovarian cyst rupture is a kind of pain I desperately hope to never experience again.
F that guy, find a new gyno
You said you’d get a second opinion. You didn’t threaten to get a new doctor. And your doctor only offered you genetic testing rather than actually answering questions. Make your “threat” a promise and go get a second opinion.
Get a new doctor.
You sound unsatisfied and they are not actually addressing your concerns, which is what a healthcare professional should be doing (ie. Despite their friendly disposition, they have poor bedside manner).
Find a different doctor in an entirely different clinic. Tell them how long you’ve been having pain for and you need a second opinion because the pain is becoming unbearable. Ideally, I would suggest looking for a female doctor with great reviews.
I had a hemorrhagic cyst that burst. I didn’t know I had one so had to have an emergency laparotomy to see where the blood was coming from since imaging couldn’t see past the blood. My didn’t think to have them call my OBGYN to do the surgery. But he said my body would have absorbed the blood. Not sure but they did sew my left cyst a bit since it caused some kind of damage to it. I forget honestly.
My SIL also had one that burst and her body did absorb the blood. Not to say it wasn’t painful because she did go to the ER for it. They told her ibuprofen.
But you should see a doctor you’re comfortable with and isn’t shrugging off your concerns.
Get a second opinion, preferably from a female obgyn. Your young so you may not know this but it’s extremely well documented that for generations medicine has underestimated/belittled how much pain women are feeling, and have failed to do nearly enough work to understand our bodies.
Ok gently I’m not sure your doctor did anything wrong here though despite all the pitchforks in the comments. He was trying to reassure you that everything was going to be okay, and in his professional opinion your cyst was not one to be concerned about. Pain can be expected during healing. He advised ibuprofen and heat for management. And scheduled a follow up ultrasound in a few weeks to give it time to resolve before re-imaging. At that point if it was still symptomatic another path forward would likely be discussed. This sounds extremely reasonable to me. In medicine the plan is often least invasive/most conservative first
What do you think he should have done? If you are unsatisfied I think you should get another opinion for sure.
Find a new doctor. Regardless of whether or not this doctor is correct, they should be taking the time during an appointment to make you feel like you are being heard and your concerns are being addressed. You should not feel dismissed or have your pain invalidated.
How can i report this doctor for lying in my MyChart saying that my abdomen was soft & tender when he never touched me and for saying I never voiced any further concerns which I did? Can I report him for that? Do I do it my insurance? I’m just so frustrated
Please find a different obgyn. Doctor’s like him have caused so many uterus owners to suffer needlessly and end up with even worse issues. I had a small ovarian cyst rupture when I was around your age, it was the worst pain I’ve felt so far.
My grandmother had to have a hysterectomy due to fibroids and my mom died of ovarian cancer last spring after she and doctors ignored early signs of it. Get the gene testing! But still find someone else.
If you have an insurance app/website login you may be able to filter the find a doctor list and look for a female provider. Alternatively Google practices near you and then see if those are covered.
You deserve better OP.
Second opinion asap. I had the uti sensations, then constipation and then realized I’d gained weight/my pants were right in the abdomen. I mentioned it at my annual well woman visit. My OBGYN brought in portable ultrasound, saw a cyst that concerned her and she didn’t think it was just functional. Thought maybe hemorrhagic, maybe chocolate. She sent me for a hospital ultrasound and CA125.
That was a Wednesday (?) and on Friday right before 5 pm she called personally to tell me I was having surgery on Monday morning 0730.
I got lucky. The cancer was still inside the cyst and hadn’t spread. I was 34. Lost the ovary and tube and she took some samples around the area to be sure. I am BRCA negative, no close relatives with ovarian cancer.
I had a friend in the same hospital system with similar symptoms who got the wait and see and just take Advil approach. She was not as lucky as me when her OBGYn finally went in to remove the supposedly functional cyst after 5 months of daily pain and discomfort.
Please get a second opinion. I had a cyst on my right causing me discomfort that was brushed off during regular doctor visits. It ruptured during sex and I passed out. I called the doctor to see if I needed to come in and their response was that if I was conscious and functional, I was fine. Maybe so, but two years later I have nearly constant discomfort from that ovary and am not excited about the idea of talking to a doctor about it and having it brushed off yet again.
Get another doctor…preferably one with a uterus that understands what you’re going through.
I’m not keen on male doctors to begin with (the one and only male doctor I’ve ever had was an Endo who suggested I take Tylenol for a brain tumor and to lose a little weight as well), but to specialize in something that they personally don’t have? Pssh.
Depending on what the next doctor finds, you may want to consider filing a complaint with the medical board.
Dismissing complaints and ignoring symptoms is how people die before their time.
You should find a doctor that doesn’t blow off your concerns.
As someone who complained and was dismissed for 18 mos before being diagnosed with ovarian cancer, get a vaginal ultrasound. They’re safe, cheap, and easy. I had a giant cyst that everyone assumed was nothing to worry about, despite it being complex. Good luck!
See another doctor, and when you have real answers make a complaint about your doctor.
Dismissing your symptoms is not ok, but the medical system isn’t going to change unless we start pushing back on sub standard care
You need a second opinion from an MD who actually gives a damn about patients. Unfortunately, his actions are all too common.
Yikes! That doctor sounds like an absolute ass. I know firsthand how difficult it is to find a new OB/GYN, but it is definitely time to find someone who will take you and your symptoms seriously.
You deserve a better doctor.
Mine was 6.5 cm and I was given the same line. No surgery because 90% “self resolve”
Until it’s 7.0cm or larger they ignore them because….reasons.
This is typical. They take a follow up imagine 4-5 weeks after the initial one to make sure it isn’t getting larger.
They aren’t lying to you.
There’s different types of cysts. They don’t all mean cancer.
Hemorrhagic ovarian cysts can be excruciating! I’ve had to be hospitalized before because the pain was so awful.
Blood is not supposed to be in the pelvis and it is extremely irritating to the organs, nerves and peritoneal tissue that lines the pelvis. When a hemorrhagic cyst ruptures it causes even more severe pain. Your doc is right that your body will absorb the blood but it can take a while and be super painful.
If you have pain like this frequently or have really painful periods, you could have endometriosis. It would probably be worthwhile to have a consult with an endometriosis specialist surgeon.
I have severe stage 4 endometriosis which is how I know all of this stuff!
Go get a second opinion in an different office with a doctor not associated with the health care system you are currently using. That is unacceptable.
If you live in a red state, that may be the problem. You can get your cyst drained, but the procedure has many of the same steps as abortion, except the drainage vs suction or D&C. The doctors might not want to take a chance. The last ovarian cyst I had, the doc went to scrape a sample of my ovary and punctured the cyst, too, by accident. I never want to be stabbed!
Please see another OBGYN. I don’t want to scare you, or anyone,but cysts are no joke.
I’ve had two ovarian cysts burst, and it’s always another ER trip and the worst pain I’ve felt in my life. I’ve never had a child, but a nurse said she would rather give birth than feel a cyst burst the first time I had one.
They can cause other things to happen internally, not just cancer. So even if cancer wasn’t a concern, it shouldn’t be taken so lightly by this doctor.
If possible, when looking for a new OBGYN ask if they have experience treating PCOS (Poly-Cystic Ovarian Syndrom). They would have experience handling this exact situation and can determine if that is something you may have.
Get a new obgyn.
Get a second opinion. He had no right to discount your pain.
Get a new doctor.
New doctor in a new clinic. And review this clinic for others to be aware. Yikes.
I won’t go to a male doctor for this reason. They don’t listen
I had an ovarian cyst rupture, and it almost killed me. The doctors misdiagnosed my pain and they ended up opening me up from sternum to pubic bone. I had to have multiple blood transfusions. I spoke to my obgyn after I recovered about going on birth control to prevent them and was told what happened to me was a freak thing, and I shouldn’t worry about it. I got a referral to the head of the department and found that I was having cyst issues again. I was monitored for a year with ultrasounds on birth control to make sure it wasn’t getting worse. Do not take one doctor’s opinion.
My dude. I had 2 different obgyn docs tell me the lump in my breast was nothing to worry about, just dense breast tissue, can’t do a mammogram at your age, we won’t be able to see anything. Fuckers could’ve caught my cancer before stage 3.
I say this not to freak you out, but to encourage you to get your damn answers. It never sat right with me and it bothered me on and off for TWO YEARS until I woke up one morning and my brain told me this is cancer, get seen TODAY. Third doc said it’s nothing but I pushed really hard for a mammogram. So glad I finally put my foot down. You’re probably fine; but you won’t rest until you’re sure.
Get another doctor immediately. Ovarian cancer most certainly can be genetic. Don’t fuck around with these two. Find someone who you trust. Don’t wait.
Ovarian cancer can be hereditary, and that doc should know better. What an asshole. Are you able to fire him and find someone who is better informed?
Sounds like it could be an endometrioma to me. Basically a complex cyst of endometriosis. Do you have other endometriosis symptoms? Also know that like 90% of gynaecologists are very uninformed about endometriosis, so I doubt this obgyn knows much, if anything. The other possibility is definitely cancer. Of course it could just be a cyst, but I’d look into this way more given your symptoms.
Get another doctor NOW
Get another doctor and be a very firm and demanding patient from the get. Report that previous doctor. If any doctor refuses to do something direct them to put their refusal and reasons for refusing on your chart. Pretend your partner is a medical malpractice lawyer. Look up online reviews from OB/GYNs. Make yourself someone they don’t want to piss off. Explain your previous doctor’s malpractice and discuss rates of women being routinely ignored with negative health outcomes because of it. Keep reporting and moving on until you find someone who managed to avoid the misogynist bullshit that gets handed down. Go in assuming they will minimize your pain and get familiar with pain scales. It’s basically a war.
Do you have a man you could take to the next appointment? They take your pain more seriously when a man vouches for you.
Oh, no! Your hemorrhagic cyst is not “just a cyst”. They are painful as hell. And it does take time for the body to reabsorb them. But sometimes they burst and then you have a medical emergency on your hands. You need a better ob-gyn who understands the kinds of complications hemorrhagic cysts can cause like an ovarian torsion. You deserve better pain treatment than ibuprophen, acetaminophen, or naproxen sodium, too. Your doc was plain rude to you.
Go see another doctor, ideally a woman and ideally someone who lists cysts as a speciality/strength. This is your body.
This is why a female OBGYN is a great idea.
Complain too whoever is in charge and tell your insurance company not to pay him. He did not provide the service as scheduled/coded. Money gets their attention.
Sadly
Walk in with a male, any male, pretend they’re your significant other and focus on the painful sex and his needs
The doctor will listen.
How fucked up is it that that’s what we need to do?!?!
Get a second opinion. I did that with a skin condition I developed last year. Had this massive cyst in my armpit and the physician assistant (who I did like quite a bit) at my dermatologist office refused to drain it because “it makes the problem worse.” I’m over here worried that my armpit is infected and I’ll end up needing my whole arm amputated (spoiler alert I was being somewhat dramatic). Found a new dermatologist who when I showed him pictures of the cyst (that had popped by then) told me that he would have drained it for me. He also found breastfeeding safe treatments for me while the other office just told me that they couldn’t do anything for me while I was breastfeeding unless I was willing to pump and dump. If you aren’t comfortable with a doctor’s treatment plan, get a second opinion. Doctors, as great as they are, are notorious for dismissing women. Get a second opinion. And I would add to not tell them your current OBs plan first thing. Wait until after they make their own recommendation.
I dont want to scare you, but affirm your experience. I went to urgent care and then ER twice and had the same thing occur. Was dismissed as it was “just a cyst” and OBGYN wouldn’t even see me for 6 weeks. I was just supposed to wait. I was sobbing on the phone thinking what tf am I supposed to do, this feels more than that but ive been to urgent care and ER, MAYBE I’m just overreacting- I MUST BE- these are medical professionals. >_> it was excruciating. They told me to just wait it out.
The next day my husband ended up demanding I go back to the ER. I was turning gray. I ended up needing an immediate blood transfusion. Hemorrhagic cyst had ruptured and I was bleeding out internally. It had caused ovarian torsion (unable to see in imaging) and I had to have emergency surgery to remove the ovary and fallopian tube. Trust your body. You know your body better than anyone. Keep demanding answers if it doesnt feel right. I hope you find healing and answers ASAP. I am so sorry you’re dealing with this.
I spent a year when I was in undergrad in horrific pain being sent to specialists and bouncing around ERs. The 4cm cyst on my ovary they eventually found was a footnote to the “it’s probably appendicitis – come back if it gets worse” that I heard over and over. When a doctor did decide to deal with the cyst, they told me it was 2mm. A year after I’d been free of the initial pain, I was asked about my 2cm cyst. Two years later, I was finally shown the doctor side of the notes where the ultrasound notes clearly state it was 4cm. It’s now 10 years later and I have permanent nerve damage in my body from how much estrogen I was prescribed and never taken off of by the doctor who decided to treat the cyst. I spent 3 years on a super high dosage to shrink it, which at least did work for that purpose.
If you think something is wrong, talk to a new doctor. I’ve walked out of appointments if a doctor doesn’t listen to me. Don’t let them gaslight you.
Find another obgyn. One that isn’t completely dismissive about the amount of pain that you have.
You should go see another doctor. I had a lot of ovarian cysts as a teenager and most of them did go away in their own, but for one I had to have surgery because apparently it became so big and heavy that it twisted my fallopian tube, so there wasn’t enough blood flow and it was extremely painful. I hope this will never happen to you and the probability should be very low but if the pain gets unbearable, be aware that this could be the reason. All the best to you!
Whether you OBGYN is right or not, it’s obvious you have a lot of animosity toward him. There is no way to have a successful dr/pt relationship in this situation. Find another OB
Make them write it in your chart. Exactly what he said and exactly why. Anytime a doctor dismisses your concerns make them write it down that they refused to do any more or to care more. 9/10 they suddenly care more because it’s their ass on the line if it gets worse.
I had a large ovarian cyst that was discovered on my first ultrasound at 5 weeks pregnant. It was 5cm. By 38 weeks it had reached its largest size at 17cm. They said it would go down in size over time until it disappeared, would not remove at the time of my c-section. It did shrink down in size to 7cm and stayed that way for 2 years until they finally agreed to do the surgery.
It CAN shrink and disappear altogether. But if there is pain or major discomfort, it needs to be removed surgically. They didn’t want to remove mine until I made a comment about how it felt like an “overfull water balloon being squeezed hard” when I bent over at the waist.
Ovarian cancer has a STRONG genetic component. Based on that gross misrepresentation alone, I would say find a different gyno. This guy sounds like an asshat.
Get a new doctor. Follow up this appointment with documentation about what you posted here. Either he changes his tune real fast or he doubles down. Get the results from the new doctor and take that to customer service, tell them he’s harming patients.
I had to go through this with a urologist.
I was ready to tell you to get a new OBGYN as soon as i saw the word “he.” I’ve seen two male OBGYNS in my 20-ish years of seeing gynos, and they were both awful compared to any female doctor I’ve seen. I won’t go to another male gyno in my life if I can help it. As for your doc specifically, he’s wrong to dismiss your concerns and cysts are not always absorbed by the body. Get a second opinion if you can, and imo you should fire your doctor and find someone better.
Always advocate for yourself. Don’t let them bully you into accepting their flippant attitude. A second opinion is always a good thing even if you trust and like your doctor. You are clearly having real issues that they are ignoring. Wishing you the best of luck.
I would see a new doctor, you’re obviously not trusting this one (agreed).
I’ve had ovarian cysts before and had one rupture over a blood vessel while in blood thinners. Awesome waiting 3 hrs in the ER, I could have died. That was the only problematic one. I occasionally have a sharp pain but mostly don’t notice them. I was never told it was a big deal so I just ignore them.
It’s news to me that ovarian cancer isn’t hereditary! My grandmother died from it in her 60s, and her daughter (my aunt) died from it at age 38. Any time I disclose this information to a gyno, they order extra diagnostics for me. My last gyno even had me do genetic testing to ensure that I didn’t have the particular genes they worry about.
I would go get a second opinion for sure.
I used to have cysts form every couple of months and it was really painful when they burst. I am on the pill to prevent this now. Highly recommend it if you can take the pill. There are many different options
yea your ob/gyn is an ahole. you need to get a second opinion at this point. as for them telling you ovarian cancer isn’t heridatary is just false, even a quick search will tell it is and its even good rad on the NLM regarding it. Get a second opinion and definitely drop this clown.
Please go see someone else if you can. I had an ovarian cyst that flipped my ovary and put it into torsion. I almost lost it, but I finally had my GP admit me for what we thought would be emergency gall bladder surgery. Once they opened me up, they found the issue.
Trust your instincts. Go see someone else. A second opinion is perfectly acceptable.
Pain is not normal. Trust your gut and keep advocating for yourself! Find a doctor ( PAs are amazing) that listens and cares!
The cyst should go away, but they don’t always. Don’t stress but also don’t feel bad for “bugging” your doctor. It’s literally their job to make sure you are healthy!
Ma’am I immediately knew the problem when you said “He greets me…” now not all men are a bad choice as an obgyn but if this man is dismissive of pain, discomfort, AND GENETIC PREDISPOSITION!!!! you gotta get that other doctor ASAP.
When you do get another doctor don’t tell them what this Dr. said, just give them the info from the ER visit and family history. If they ask about your last Dr. dodge the question saying you want a fresh perspective.
If the diagnosis and course of treatment are diametrically opposed, look into reporting your original obgyn.
Hey so that doctor was wrong, cysts that painful need removed. If they arent handled it could burst and you could die.
-someone who literally had this same experience.
Get a new doctor. I don’t trust male obgyn
“Ovarian cancer isn’t hereditary”????
What the ever-loving FUCK?? Did this guy actually go to medical school at all? Ovarian cancer absolutely can be hereditary! BRCA1 and to a lesser extent BRCA2 mutations, the “breast cancer” mutations, massively increase the risk of ovarian cancer as well.
If you’ve a family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer I’d definitely see about getting genetic testing.
But I’d also 150% get a new OBGYN. That one’s either dangerously clueless, or deliberately lying and uncaring.
Fucking hell medical care for females is so shite in this country it drives me crazy. Shout out to all the females here, and shout out to everyone navigating disorders that are ignored by our shitty ass medical system. EDS, PCOS, Endometriosis, gastro disorders … Being a female is hard. We have to fight for ourselves and care for each other. A good gyno is a great asset, i would try to find one. Especially if you have a disorder or are prone to cysts.
Don’t see this doctor again and go get another opinion. Have a google or talk to people in your area for recommendations of good drs.
Good luck and I hope it all goes well
I think the obgyn you are describing here is the exact obgyn who refused to listen to me when I told him something was wrong.
The result is my stomach is COVERED in scars and I got fired from my job due to pain.
Christ what story of medical misogyny.
I.
Am.
Gobsmacked.
Surely your intention is to get another specialist? Although they’re often in regional short supply. I hope you can.
May good health be with you
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I highly recommend a woman OBGYN. Actually, ALL your Drs could women … they tend to be more compassionate
Change obgyn.
See a woman.
Last year I decided to finally press my obgyn to find out if truly did have PCOS and/or endo. I had always had irregular periods (I had never even had a natural “first period” – at 15 they gave me something to induce a period just to see if I could have them because I’d hit all the other puberty markers but no period. The period I had was horrible and, after that, I barely ever even had them unless I was on the pill ’til my mid-30’s when I started having a fairly regular cycle but really painful periods).
Over the years, when I’d ask why, it was always dismissed as “normal” and “some women just have that, you don’t need to worry about it unless you want to try and get pregnant.”
When the cramps had gotten almost unbearable and I was bleeding heavier and longer than normal, I figured I’d press to finally get some answers.
She was resistant, irritated that I suggested what I might have like I was being Dr Google. It doesn’t really matter, she said, if there’s a problem you can always have a hysterectomy.
I pointed out that I would like to know, because what if I had cysts causing other issues and I know those cysts can become cancerous so, yes, it did matter to me.
She relented, and said, “Okay, if you want to, we can schedule a vag ultrasound after your next cycle.”
I wanted to.
That ultrasound showed something concerning (along with cysts) and I was given a colposcopy immediately after in her office (that was a separate nightmare).
That also found something abnormal because I was scheduled for a more extensive biopsy that I’d need to be put under for.
That found cancer.
HPV-related cervical cancer.
It was tiny and found early enough that all of it was removed with the hysterectomy I then had to have in October of last year.
Had I not pushed, there’s no telling at what point that cancer would’ve been found or how much it would’ve grown. All of my annual paps had been coming back clean and showing no issues.
But I knew something had changed, I just didn’t know what.
My point being: advocate for yourself.
This doc should not be blowing you off or downplaying the severity of the pain and discomfort you’ve been feeling, or the fact that – added to that – you actually do have cysts.
LET ME BE CLEAR: I don’t want to scare you. I’m not saying you have cancer, but what I am saying is that if you feel something is off or wrong, don’t let them push you off on just going take Ibuprofen.
You go and get a second opinion. You search until you find an obgyn that listens to you and takes your pain and concerns seriously.
I’m so sorry you had to deal with this. I know how frustrating, demeaning, confusing, and scary it can be to have your obgyn pshaw your concerns like you’re just being a hysterical woman. Nope, nope, nope. Your concerns and fears are valid. Your gut feelings about your own body are valid. Listen to that, not to doctors that give you 5 mins of their time only to chuckle at your “silly” concerns.
You’re not alone. There are millions of other women out there, in here, that have experienced this so many times in so many ways. We have to advocate for ourselves because we are so often dismissed. It’s how they’re trained, especially with older doctors.
You’re going to be okay. Take a deep breath, and get a second (or third) opinion and find a doctor that cares and listens and will treat you with the respect you deserve.
Please, please, please see another Gynaecologist. Preferably one that is pro-choice, so you didn’t have to deal with anymore garbage gaslighting.
Ovarian cancer can absolutely be hereditary.
Second opinion. I have had many cysts and ovarian cancer and they felt the same to me.
I feel like the main goal for a lot of male doctors seeing female patients (OBGYN or otherwise) is to “reassure” us, so we dont panic or get hysterical… while not actually looking into symptoms or the causes for them besides “come back later and we’ll see if its better and you were just catastrophising. 🙄
Absolutely get a 2nd (3rd, 4th, 5th, however many you can afford) opinion OP – and possibly a different regular dr altogether, because that response he gave you is bullshit
Second opinion immediately, and don’t be afraid to function on only one ovary, most birds do
Your doctor is not lying to you. Full stop. There is no incentive for that and they have zero motivation to possibly blow up their career to lie to a random patient.
However, its entirely possible that your doctor has missed something, is wrong, prefers overly cautious treatment, or a hundred other things that don’t align with your personal health care needs. If you feel your needs and your concerns are not being fully met find a second or even third opinion.
Find a new doctor. One who will listen.
Your complex cyst could be an endometrioma caused by endometriosis.
I also have an ovarian cyst and was told by my doctor that the ones that are mostly blood (vs water/ fluid) have to be removed surgically because they don’t go away on their own.
I’d get recommendations for a different gynecologist and I’d file a complaint with that first doctors office. Completely dismissing the concerns and questions of your patient is irresponsible.
If you like the second gynecologist, I’d go to the other doctors office and have your medical records transferred. I would tell them because the doctor was so dismissive of your pain and concerns, you will no longer be his patient.
hi op i work in a pathology lab and ovarian cancer definitely can be hereditary; it’s one of the specific things we look for when handling GYN cases. I would absolutely get a second opinion solely based off the fact your doctor said that to you, which is wrong. i was so shocked to read that
Hemorrhagic? Is it a chocolate cyst/have blood inside it? Because that can be indicative of endometriosis. Please get a second opinion!
A 4 cm cyst, if it ruptures, will be excruciatingly painful. If it continues to grow, it can put you at risk of ovarian torsion. I know someone who had doctors refused to touch her ovarian cyst (you’re young, it will go away, the usual bullshit) until eventually it was over 10 cm, she had to have it surgically removed and she lost the entire ovary.
Never be afraid to advocate for yourself with these chucklefucks!!