unilateral oophorectomy period struggles

[Petessally]

hi, i found this site when researching this and i just need to figure out if what im experiencing is normal.

when i was 17, i had regular hospital trips due to being in agony. Doctors first told me i had a urine infection and sent me home. The second time, nothing came of it but i was told to come back if it happened again. I believe it was the 3rd hospital trip (to which i was in college and got sent in an ambulance) where i was finally taken seriously and tests were done. I found out i had an ovarian cyst, 12cm. I was scared, to say the least, but found out it wasn't cancerous, much to my relief. I had the surgery in February of this year.

for the first few months, i got my periods just fine. However its been around two months and i havent had my period. (It is highly impossible to be pregnant, im not sexually active.) This has caused concerns because of two main reasons:

1. Im scared my other ovary is also affected

2. I want to have children badly when i get older, its been my dream for a while now. (Ive waited because im not in a long term relationship/ not being old enough to support the child or even myself yet, im only 18)

if anyone has experienced similar, please reply to this. Id love to get some advice on what i should do, or whether this is a normality. I dont believe i had any other symptoms except struggle sleeping (im a teenage girl and have a habit of staying up late and binging shows, so this one can be cancelled out) and slight memory loss, which i read are both symptoms of early menopause.

I’ll love to hear from other women going through the same, or just anyone in general who can tell me what is going on to put my mind at rest. Thank you!!

[wobblybee Administrator Pioneer]

I’m so sorry..you were very unfortunate to have experienced this at such an early age.

It’s likely that your Specialist has already given you information relating to ‘after effects of having one ovary removed’…and possibly recommended HRT supplements.

Generally..periods would return if the remaining ovary is functioning as normal…speak to your Specialist for peace of mind.

It is possible ..that the size of the cyst had ‘put pressure’ on surrounding organs and it’s taking a while for your body to settle.

Not everybody’s experience of this procedure will be exactly the same…so the very best information will be from your Specialist.

[Petessally in reply to wobblybee]

Thank you for the advice! Im booking an appointment. Have a good day, week, month, year!!

[Desperateforrelief]

Hi, I'm now 63. But I had this same issue at your age. One of my cysts broke and perforated my appendix. They are very painful! Mine got very large also. I had what they called corpus luteum cysts. You need to find out what kind of cyst you are dealing with. That will help you to know how to proceed. I also had the same issue with doctors telling me there was nothing wrong. I went on to have 3 children. It can be done with one ovary. I did get some hot flashes, when they took out the ovary. But they didn't give me hormones until they took out the other one (age 34). I believe my issues were set off by the birth control pill I was put on. I was on a very high dose because of break through bleeding. I was 20 when the cyst ruptured and perforated my appendix. Hang in there!!

[ShyeLoverDoctor]

You may or may not have a hormone condition called polycycstic ovary syndrome. You get many many cysts. Or, it could be something totally different. This is definitely a “read up but ask your doctor” question.