Ovarian Cysts In Breastfeeding Mom

There are several types of ovarian cysts that can rupture, including follicular cysts or corpus luteum cysts. They do not always indicate ovulation. If you are ovulating normally, you should have a period approximately two weeks after ovulation. However, with follicular activity (without true ovulation) or impaired ovulation you might have a period sooner or not at all. During breast feeding, there is an interval when your body is “gearing up” for ovulation and normal cycles, and has hormonal activity affecting the ovarian follicles, but not true ovulation yet. You are in the “weaning” part of breast feeding, where hormonal activity can be rapidly changing. Some methods of NFP can be helpful in sorting out your cycle and fertility, and help determine when you are returning to normal ovulation. Dr. Thomas Hilgers of the Pope Paul VI Institute, the creator of the FertilityCare method of NFP, has done a number of studies that help correlate normal and abnormal mucus and cycle patterns with fertility, even though you may not be ovulating regularly yet. I would not base the decision to remove your left ovary on the information you have given here, of having had two ruptured cysts from the same ovary (maybe). Decisions to remove an ovary are usually made at the time of surgery, and are based on the type of cyst and whether or not there is normal ovarian tissue present.

Two suggestions for women with a tendency to forming cysts:
1. Avoid NSAID’s (Advil and Aleve) – they may prevent normal ovulatory rupture of the follicle.
2. Omega-3 fatty acids facilitate normal ovulation. Flaxoil or flax oil capsules 1-3 grams/day can help.

Mary L. Davenport, M.D.