I’ve been diagnosted by ultrasound and mri to have bilateral dermoid tumors. Both are approx 5.6 x 4.6. The doctors want me to do a consent for laparoscopy, cystectomy and oophorectomy all at once. I’m really concerned with this all at once approach. I’m thirty w/no children. And I desire to have children. I’m very concerned about BOTH ovaries being removed. Can ovaries be reconstructed.

Dear Overcomer-
The incidence of bilateral dermoids is very uncommon, less than 12%.
Although you indicated that you have had an ultrasound and MRI-have these tumors been biopsied through laparoscopy to conclusively determine that they are dermoids?
Due to the increased incidence of malignancy with dermoids it is imperative that they be treated.
If at the time of the surgery, a benign diagnosis is made however, there is no reason to remove your tubes and ovaries. The tumors should be resected carefully with a laser and the ovaries reconstructed. You are far too young to be placed in early menopause, if unnecessary.

I was just diagnosed with demoid cysts on both ovaries also. I have already had cysts removed twice before (within 8 years) by laparoscopy surgery. That recovery period was less than a week. Now my doctor wants to do open surgery (it sounds basically like a c-section, minus the baby) since both ovaries have these cysts & it will be a very tedious procedure. I’m 29 and they don’t want to remove my ovaries. I have a 2 1/2 year old daughter & don’t know how I’m gonna handle the four week recovery period, which means not being able to pick up my child.

I would definitely question the removal of both ovaries though, especially since you would like to have children. By the way, I was told by 2 doctors that I probably wouldn’t be able to have children.

Hang in there. Things could always be worse.

I have been advised to have surgery for removal of my left ovary which has an 8cm dermoid cyst. The doctor wants to do surgery which involves a four to six inch incision so he has easy access for removal and he can check other ovary and uterus. Will do a D & C at the time. I did not agree with removal of the uterus just because I’m “no longer needing it for holding a baby”. I told him I didn’t believe in removing healthy organs and they had a reason for being there like holding your bladder in place. I was told I have three months to have the surgery and I’m looking at the 8th or 9th or March due to family obligations.
Is there a less invasive surgery being done that
I should be seeking? This is 10 days recovery time and 6 to 8 weeks of modified activity there after. This is going to be difficult with a two year old and a four year old in my care.
History: 1970 D & C for fibroids and ovaian cyst of the same ovary.
1984 D & C for fibroids due to heavy bleeding
1993 menapause began
1995 biopsy of uterus for bleeding. Resolved with medication.
1994 biopsy of left breast for calcifications benign
Mild hypertension until 2000 prescribed medication.
Had biopsy of uterus, CT scan of colon and pelvic area, ultrasound, blood work. Healthy except for this.
All this to determine my problem.
Do not take hormome replacement due to breast.

Dear Syliva-
Based on the information in your email, I would strongly recommend that the ovary and dermoid be removed asap. There is no reason to remove your uterus.
Good Luck

June 30, 2005 – I was just diagnosed with a dermoid tumor via MRI. I have vacation planned for July 24th- can the surgery wait until I return the beginning of August or the earliest the dr. can perform the surgery would be July 13th. Thank you.

Dear Lisa-
You should be fine to wait a few extra weeks….your doctor cant treat you until July 13th anyway-a few more weeks wont hurt.
Have a nice vacation.

Dear Dr DELJUNCO and staff,
I’m 51 years old,single,no longer have period couple years ago.I have been diagnosed as having a cyst on the left ovary around 4cm since 1994.The pain is somehow on/off:not everyday,sometimes week and sometimes comeback a month later.The ob/gyn keeps tracking every year and gave me TRIFASIL to help shrink it but I had side effects(dark spots all over my face).Lately I use Prempro and do ultrasound every year but the pain still sometimes comes back ,and the cyst is still around 2-3cm.Now she recommends me to do laparoscopy to remove the cyst but she said the cyst may be come back after removing. I ask a 2nd op/gyn who recommends me to remove my both ovaries because of my age and prevent the cancer in the future and even my blood test on CA 125 is not cancereous.
I want to do laparoscopy but it confuses me 1 thing:Do I need to remove both ovaries or not with my age? If they remove only the cyst ,does it come back in the future?
certainly I can’t have baby.But is it changing something for the rest of my life?.
What are the side effects if I remove both ovaries?
Please give me your advice .
Thank you for your time.

Der Tina-
There is absolutely no reason to remove both your ovaries. The chance of ovarian malignancy is rare, especially if you have been following this cyst for several years. Your original gyn was very correct in her recommendation-I think the laparoscopy will be very adequate. Recurrence rates of ovarian cysts can depend on several different things, but one most critical is the ability of the surgeon to remove the entire cyst with its lining. Leave nothing behind…and regrowth is less likely.
Removing both your ovaries will probably require some form of immediate hormone replacement therapy.I would stick the your first doctors opinion. Good Luck

i am 14 years old and i have been told that i may hav an ovary cyst. i went to the gynecologist today to get it checked and he is sending me to get a pelvic ultrasound. he said it may be a small one and if i do have it, they will get me on a medication to get rid of it. i just want to know if the medication will really be effective and what side effects it will have on me. i don’t know anything about the cyst but i’m scared that it can get worse. please give me any helpful information on having a small cyst at this age.

Dear Veronica-
I will refer you directly to the website to read the section on ovarian cysts…your doctor will probably put you on a mild birth control pill, which often will assist in reducing the formation of ovarian cysts.
Most likely this cyst will disappear/rupture on its own….do not be afraid to discuss this at length with your gyn.

I was recently diagnosed with a complex cyst on right ovary. Size 4.5 cm. Had two pelvic and vaginal ultrasounds and a CT scan.
GYn recommends taking out entire right ovary.
Surgery procedure has yet not been discussed, either either laparoscopic or traditional.
What is your recommendation?

Dear dlsparks-
I do recommend surgery.
If you were my patient, I would perform an open procedure, with biopsy of the ovarian mass. If the pathology came back negative for malignancy…I would laser remove the entire cyst with capsule but save the ovary. It is important for women to naturally enter menopause whenever possible….in my opinion, there is no need to remove ovaries unless there is a diagnosis of cancer. You may want to have a CA 125 test drawn..although results can be falsely elevated, it is a tumor marker that can indicate malignancy or help with the decision for surgery.
We have had many patients come to see us with the scare of ovarian cancer and elevated CA 125s…so far, all my patients have had benign cysts, and the ovaries have been saved.