Crohn's and ovarian cysts

Is there a relationship between Crohn's and ovarian cysts? My CT scan indicated a recent burst ovarian cyst. I often have pain on my right side and I can't tell if it is my ovary or my illeum.

I don't know of a specific relationship, but I recently had a few cysts removed, in August actually. It was thought that they might have been contributing to my mini-flare, but alas, they weren't. It was hard for me to tell what pain was coming from where too, but since I was still having other symptoms, I was assuming a majority of the pain was coming from my ileum.

i have endometriosis as well as crohns. back in 2000 i had a dermoid cyst removed from my right ovary, and now i have another growing on my left.
just one thing after another.

I also have PCOS plus Crohns. I know what you mean about not being able to tell whether its your ovaries or your crohn's acting up. If you think you have PCOS there is a medicine they can give you to try to regulate it.

I am starting to think there might be some connection between PCOS and Crohn's with all the women on this board that have both. At least we are not alone!!!! :)

I also have PCOS, and have to take birth control pills to control the cysts and pain. I don't know if they are connected, but it wouldn't surprise me.

Ive just found out I have 2 ovarian cysts 7cm each,was told they would have done a Laparotomy but because of surgeries ive had are very reluctant to do,so now to have another CT scan,but wondering what they will do next

Krysta said...
Potatoqwn:

That sounds exactly like my last emergency surgery! I have had 4 emergency surgeries, 3 of which were ovarian cysts. One of them was exactly like yours. I had pain pain pain and finally went the ED. I was so used to the ovary/crohn's pain I kind of just let it go for a few days. When I went there they found my inflamed appendix AND a grapefruit sized cyst and removed both. FUN TIMES!

It is a bit suspicious... I take metformin for the PCOS and it seems to be better while I have been on it. Everyone talks about how metformin makes them lose weight but of course I don't have that side effect. lol. I can't take birth control because it makes me way too weepy and *****y!

I had a doctor give me Metformin, but I read how one of the main side effects is D. Certainly not something I need more of! They told me to eat a lot of fruits and veggies. Uh yeah, can't do that with my Crohn's! They don't seem to have a very good treatment for this to me.

Okay, gals. I'm 65. At 61 they found a 4+cm cyst on my left ovary. (Evidently, no one told my ovaries that they aren't supposed to form cysts after menopause!). It was found "by accident" when they did an abdominal CT scan due to my Crohn's. Right away my ob/gyn recommended surgery. BUT during web searches on simple ovarian cysts (which is what mine is, a simple cyst) I did manage to find one site that said 8 cms was the upper limit for a wait and see approach in post-menopausal women. There wasn't all that much info to begin w/on simple ovarian cysts in post-menopausal women and all the others set the upper limit at 4 cms. So, my ob/gyn referred me to an gyn oncologist. I was able to get an appointment sooner at Cleveland Clinic w/a doctor Belinson (sp?) who was a gyn onco who had a special interest in women w/Crohn's disease and gyn problems. He concurred w/8 cms being the upper limit as long as the cyst was causing no symptms. HALLELUJAH! "Just" what I had been hoping to hear! The local gyn onco concurred. That was in 2003. The recommendaton was a transvaginal ultrasound one month after finding it, if no change then 3 months, and as long as no change 3 months, 6 months, 6 months and annually thereafter. Well, the little darling has managed to grow and is about 7 cms now. Of course, radiologists being what they are now days every local transvaginal states no change from previous ultrasounds. Their "reasoning" being different ultrasound machines and techs, etc. FORTUNATELY, it so happens that every April I go to the Rolex Horse Event at KY Horse Park in Lexington and the U of KY is in Lexington. The U of KY has been conducting an ovarian cancer screening program since 1987. I e-mailed the lead doctor of the screening program and sent him my ultrasound films. Long story shortened, I now have a transvaginal ultraound done once at year at U of KY whilst I am there for the Rolex and then my insurance pays for one local ultrasound in October every year. U of KY has noticed and commented on the slight, slow growth of the simple cyst. The dummies here haven't noticed it yet. Hmmm. From 4+ cm to 6+ cm and the locals can't tell the difference.

Whatever. I don't happen to believe there is a connection between Crohn's and ovarian cysts and I am grateful mine is a simple cyst and causing no problems or symptoms!!! Oh yeah, I do happen to have a few (think 3 or maybe 4) tiny simple cysts (measured in mms instead of cms). If I remember one is on the left ovary and 2 or 3 are on the right ovary. (Oh, and one local ultrasound they couldn't even find the right ovary, much less any tiny cysts on it). I gotta tell you, I am ever so grateful for the U of KY ovarian cancer screening program 'cause I sure have no confidence in the local radiologists!!! (And then folks wonder why I take off for Mayo Clinic or Cleveland Clinic,etc. when I'm not comfortable w/the answers I get from the locals!!!!). Duh! And why I insist on a copy of the film CDs for myself. While I can't see these minute changes in size I "can" see if it continues to be clear inside w/a thin regular outline, 2 indications that it is a simple cyst and not a complicated or cancerous one. But, of course, we ALL know that patients wouldn't understand these things, don't we? Snort!

I have had problems with both PCOS and Crohns since i was little. I've always known I was going to have fertility problems as well. I have been on the pill to control symptoms of both, but I am worried about how it can cause clotting because my uncle has recently had a deep vein thrombosis and crohns increases risks for clotting too.. so I think I'm going to go off the pill. Thoughts? Also, has anyone else experienced fertility problems and how have they over come it.

I have had trouble with cysts since being diagnosed with Crohn's. I can't remember if it was while I was on Remicade or Humira though!

Ah, a subject I'm familiar with... I can't say whether Crohn's and ovarian cysts are related... but I, too, have had my fair share of trouble with cysts...

Particularly one of my cysts developed into a big infected mass on my right ovary... which led to me having to have surgery to remove the mass AND the right ovary as well as the phillopian tube (filopian? Ehh, I have no idea, I should look that up sometime)...

I am 32. I was first diagnosed with PCOS when I was 16. I had a large cyst rupture after a soccer game that sent me to the ER. Once there, they drained another one the size of a grapefruit. I am adopted, so I learned about my medical history later when I was in my 20's. I found out that my biological father had advanced ulcerative colitis. And another condition, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), also runs in my paternal family's medical history. I sometimes have symptoms of IBS.

Thank you all for your posts. It is good to hear your stories and learn more about what's going on. Although I haven't had any symptoms of crohn's condition yet, it's good to have a heads up. Especially since it seems to be hereditary. I just wanted to mention this so that you all could count me too as having both things going on at the same time. After reading this forum, I will do more research into how PCOS could effect the development of crohn's symptoms later on.

Ladies,
Please just do not forget to get your CA-125 done every couple of years as part of your gyn exam. As you all know my Mother died at 60 about 18 months ago from ovarian cancer. While it is less common then BC, it is not something that is commonly tested for.
Take Care,
Navy