I'm 54, no periods now for 18 months. Have had ultrasounds the past 4 years--cysts have come and gone. After a sonogram showing normal ovaries in March 2007, my last ultrasound in January of this year showed an ovarian cyst. Has anyone ever had an ovarian cyst after not having periods for 9 or more months? If so, did they resolve, have to be removed, turn cancerous, etc.? Waiting for results of latest ultrasound done last week, and feeling kind of edgy. Thanks.

Have you had a history of ovarian cysts? Is that why your doc had the ultrasounds? Is that what prompted the last ultrasound? Yes, I have had ovarian cysts after my periods have stopped. It was due to a hormonal imbalance. Too much estrogen and not enough progestrerone. My cysts always seemed to resolve themselves.

LLW

Yes, I have had cysts (I believe they were the "functional" cysts you get during your cycles), and also they have been following a fibroid or polyp. At the last ultrasound in January, that had stabilized but the cyst then also appeared. The doctor has been doing "watchful waiting" on the fibroid to see if it shrinks down with the absence of periods, but I was surprised about the cyst. I wasn't aware they could happen after menopause.

I have had ovarian cysts and have fibroids. I consider myself to be post. I guess anyway---no real period since last september but have had abnormal bleeding but that is another story. My cysts have been due to imbalance of hormones. They were watched via ultrasound. The cysts have always gone away. My fibroids continue to stay the same size. Guess it will take longer for them to shrink. Sometimes we can ovulate ( i guess the estrogen kicks in) and cause the cyst but then the progesterone doesn't kick in to cause a period. If that makes any sense.

LLW

Count me in this group! No period for 18 months...then a cyst....my doc had me do watchful waiting for 8 weeks, then rescanned, and it was gone. My closest friend who is an oncologist told me this is common at our age...and to put it at the bottom of my worry list. If you are being followed by a doc...I say the same to you. Your physician will not put your well being at risk.

I stayed positive (which is normally not easy for me with health concerns)- and everything worked out just fine.

I am sending positive cyst resolving thoughts your way!

Jonesy

Thank you, LLW, I didn't know we still ovulated post-menopause but that does make sense. I will cover you with prayers that your bleeding situation has a good resolution.

Thank you, Jonesy. It is comforting to know that there are others who have had the same issues as me. I'm glad you were able to stay positive. It's tough for me, too; I am a hard-core worrier. I try to keep in the front of my mind that I have been very diligent in keeping appointments for my annual exams, ultrasounds, blood tests, etc. That is all we can do.

LLW and Jonesy, thanks for your encouragement. Found out that my ovarian cyst has resolved!

I am 54 and started a period after 2 years, I am beside myself with worry. After reading your posts, I suspect I have a cyst, I feel pain in one ovary (in fact I believe I have had the pain for about 2 months). My GP doctor called and said get in to a doctor right away. I noticed recently that I no longer have vaginal dryness, and I am breaking out like a teenager. What could cause this surge after 2 years?

Humm... sounds like you might have ovulated, therefore causing the pain, the period, the acne, and the ease of the vaginal dryness. Could it be you had one last egg hiding in there??

Have you been to the Dr.?? What did he/she say???

Thank you so much for responding, I pray that my issue is as you describe. My appointment is Friday, I have not been to a Gyno in 5 years, because my GP has been doing my paps and pelvic exams. I talked to him today, and he said go see a Gyno asap. I asked him should I worry, and he said probably not, but get checked out just in case. Is it really possibly I had an old egg hiding?

Dear Sandra

Good luck honey and try not to worry too much.Yes it is very possible to have a sudden surge off the ovaries even after such a long time.

Have suffered from spotting for a long time and all Tests negative.I pray that all will be well with you.

Keep us posted
Good Luck

Warm Wishes
Elizabeth

I don't have direct experience with this, but based on all of the reading I've done I do agree with Elizabeth and Leanna, that your ovaries might still have some follicles remaining and are being stimulated (by FSH) to release eggs. It's my understanding that the cyst occurs if the follicle is stimulated and grows, but does not burst and release an egg. In menopause, FSH is usually high and I suppose (someone correct me if I'm wrong here !) this can continue to stimulate that follicle or other follicles to grow. Are cysts a common symptom of early menopause, I wonder ?

Update: In turns out so far that there was no evidence of a cyst during pelvic exam.


I went to doctor today. He took me in his office, where I described my issue. I described the bleeding as a "period", and he corrected me by saying "that was not a period, it was abnormal bleeding", then I described the acne, the pain in my ovary and change in vaginal dryness, then he said well it could be, but it was definately not normal, and that he needed to do a pelvic exam, endometrsis biopsy and a sonogram. He warned that the biopsy would be slightly uncomfortable. Before the exam the nurse gave me two Motrins which she said would reduce the cramping. During the exam, he said everything looked and felt normal. Then he prepared my cervix for the biopsy, he said to the nurse something that I took to mean was an issue, so I asked what's wrong. He said that my cervix was small, and there was not a lot of tissue, which would make the biopsy a little more uncomfortable, but then he said that was a good sign regarding the health of my uterus. The biopsy was extremely fast, and not really that bad. The anticipation was the worse part! Afterwards, I met him back in his office, where he gave me the referral for the sonogram. He said based on the exam, he felt confident that there will be no problems. I asked whether testing my hormones level would explain what happened, and he said it wouldn't. Although I have the sonogram ahead, and the anticipation of the results, I feel better that the news is positive. I guess as you wise ladies have advised, it was a powersurge. I can only hope it was the last one!