dermoid cysts and egg freezing

[walker43]

I had to have my left ovary removed when I was 17 due to a 15 cm dermoid cyst. I have another 3 cm cyst on my other ovary which is very slowly growing. I am 22 and not ready to have children yet. Has anyone had any experience of IVF treatment and egg freezing in these circumstances?
I am really worried that if I go through the IVF process it will trigger the cyst to grow. If I don't do something though, I may be told at a scan in the future that the cyst has grown and needs to be removed along with the ovary.On the other hand the cyst might sit on the ovary for several years. My surgeon doesn't seem very keen on surgery as I don't think he thinks he can leave much of the ovary behind. In fact my surgeon doesn't seem very interested in my fertility at all! It has taken 3 years to get him to refer me to a fertility clinic but I don't know how impartial their advice is or how many patients they have had with a dermoid on their ovary. Dermoids aren't that uncommon but I can't seem to find anyone who has been offered or gone through IVF/egg freezing. Would really appreciate your comments.

[Gerry10]

I found this post a few months ago and found it so helpful to find others going through pretty much the same thing as I am.
Last year my right ovary was removed due to a 10 cm dermoid cyst which had twisted. The left also had a few cysts but luckily the surgeon was a fertility specialist and did his best to keep as much of the ovary. At the check up a year later they found a 2 cm cyst in the remaining ovary. I am now waiting for the next scan which will have been 6 months to see if it has grown further. In the mean time the same doctor who had said my one ovary should be enough has told me egg freezing would be a good idea. I am 25 now and am told it should be reasonable to get 10-15 eggs from one ovary. I've just gone through one treatment cycle. He managed to remove 9 but could only freeze 5 (maturity issues). Still need a few more cycles to reach the aim of 15-20 eggs.

[CJS1993]

I know this is an old post but I’m currently going through this issue. I’m 25 years old. When I was 14 I had my left ovary removed due to a dermoid. Now I discovered a 3.5cm on my remaining ovary. I’m no where ready to have children and the doctor LA care assigned me sounded concerned with my ability to have children but immediately wanted to cut. I wanted to freeze my eggs but my old obgyn (who missed the dermoid even though I get yearly checkups) said he doubts a fertility speciality will want stimulate the remaining ovary with the dermoid still on it. The new obgyn referred me to a fertility doctor but I’m seeing the obvious partnership between the two. I can’t even speak to him to ask if he recommends before or after the surgery. He requires a $350 consultation. I am prepared to pay the price of egg freezing but i feel alone in making these decisions at my age

Did you do the egg freezing process with the dermoid?

[AnnieBrooke]

Hi, I hope you hear back from the person you're asking, but I would say this, if you think the new ob/gyn has some kind of partnership deal that is not being disclosed with the reproductive endocrinologist he or she recommended, and you feel that means you aren't going to get appropriate medical advice because of it, you can certainly talk to a different fertility specialist. It's never a bad idea to get a second opinion anyway.

[gniccon]

Hi Amy
my name is Gemma and I am 27 years old. When I was 23 I had a large dermoid cyst removed from my right ovary. I am now 27 and recently had another cyst removed from my left but luckily they saved the ovary (90%) of it. So I have undergone one egg freezing and in two weeks I undergo a second. The reason I have to do it three times (I will have to do it a third time after this) is because I want to have enough eggs to have a reasonable shot at conceiving. Each time I get three eggs from my ovary. Anyway I would fully recommend this as technology is advancing all the time. It is expensive but don't let that put you off if you really want kids...I was working a low paid job but just saved like crazy. Let me know if I can help you at all-gemma

[amy88533]

Hello, I am in the same situation! This thread is from a few years ago, do either of you have any advice for me? I have an appointment with a specialist in two weeks but so far I have had the same treatment from doctors! If either of you could give me any information on egg freezing or how your situation worked out I would be very grateful. Thanks

[gp2468]

Wow! I have been trying to find other people in a similar situation...I am in exactly the same situation as you! I'm 22 and had a large dermoid (10cm) on my left ovary, which was removed (along with the ovary) when I was 18. I now have another dermoid on the remaining ovary which is growing slowly but isn't yet big enough to remove. I have been pushing my doctor to refer me to a fertility clinic for about 2 years now and he's finally done it, but he's not very enthusiastic about it....and like you, i feel like he is not bothered/or thinking about my long term fertility. I think he thinks that there is not really a problem as I'm 22 and could probably have a baby now. But I don't want to be under pressure to have a baby in the next couple a years, simply because I am scared that this cyst might grow. I have also found it very difficult to find people in the same position, or get any impartial advice. Is it reasonable to look into egg freezing just because I have another dermoid. I have found a clinic, but like you, I can't seem to find out whether it would trigger the cyst to grow. I have a feeling that it would.
It's good to hear that somebody is in such a similar position to me! Good luck!