When to have ultrasound to check for cysts

Hoping somebody may be able to tell me if there is a certain point in my cycle that it is best to have an ultrasound to check for cysts? I have been to see my gp as I am sure there is something not quite normal going on with me as I have been having unusual mid cycle bleeding and lots of pain and cramping the last few months from ovulation right through to AF. My gp won't refer me to a gynaecologist until I have an ultrasound first. She said it doesn't matter when in my cycle I get the ultrasound done but I just wanted to check as she does not always give me the correct advise. If anyone has any experience with this and can advise me as to when to get it dine that would be appreciated.

I could probably be anytime. I had wacky cycles and midcycle spotting / bleeding. The only cysts I had were the polycystic type which is common with PCOS.

My bleeding was put down to a hormone imbalance as nothing bad was shown on the ultrasound. The specialist put me on Metformin which helped balance my hormones and I didn't get anymore midcycle bleeding.

My midcycle bleeding would last 10 to 20 days in the lead up to ovulation and my cycles were at least 42 days long.

Thanks for your reply purple. If it doesn't matter when in the cycle I have it I might try to book it in soon before we plan to go away. I just don't want to stress about the results on our week away. I have never had any issues so this is all new for me. At least maybe it will help me to know if I need to get it investigated further.

If you went around day 3-4, they would be able to tell you about your Antral follicle count.

What is an antrall follicle count? I am cd4 today and don't think I will be able to get in until early next week so will be about cd8 or 9 otherwise I can leave it til the beginning of next cycle.

It is part of pretesting when someone goes in for IVF, IUI, fertility testing. It shows you if you have a normal possible pool of follicles or if you have too many or too few for your age. It is part of pretesting for IVF gals. Day 8-9, you can still get an idea of what you are working with. I would not have an u/s late in your cycle. I was just thinking of getting the most information out of the appointment and treating you like a fertility patient- the ovary scan happens day 2,3 or 4.

Thanks for that info nuthinbutpink, I really appreciate it. I have an appointment for Tuesday which will be cd 9 as that is the earliest they can fit me in. Hopefully they can still tell me a little about what is going on.

So I had my scan on cd9, gp just read report, no cysts or masses which is good but she couldn't tell me much about the results other than that. I am hoping some of you knowledgeable ladies may be able to tell me if these results are normal or something I need to follow up with a gynaecologist. My endometrial thickness is 7 mm at cd9 and my right ovarian volume is 2cc (goigle is telling me this is very small) and left is 5.6cc there is a dominant follicle on the left. Are these volumes too small and does that mean I am going to struggle to conceive naturally? Any advice would be appreciated as my gp is not going to follow this up any further.

7 mm on that day is normal. :agree:

Your ovary does sound small, but the other one is in normal range (just). Did you see the report yourself or did they read it to you?? I am wondering if s/he read it wrong, or you heard it wrong, or if it was a typo. THey may have said cc when they meant CM or missed a number or all kinds of things. Did they test FSH or anything like that?

No they didn't test bloods or anything else. I have a copy of the report and the scans. Definitely says cc which was why I got a bit concerned as seems like both my ovaries are on the small side. We had no difficulty conceiving DS (only took 2 months after coming off bc). It has been 4 months of ttc now (2 prior to starting le diet then 2 months whilst on le diet with a month off in between). I know that is still not an overly long time but given my age (36) and dh's (40) I am a little concerned.

I think nuthin hit the nail on the head, your other ovary was ovulating and so the right one had shut down shop for right now. :agree:

I know the "over 35" story is terrifying but the reality is actually very different. The ONLY reason they ever were so dire about odds of pregnancy over 35 is based on data from...the 1600's (I am not making that up) OR in women who had never had children before (many of whom were infertile to start with which was why they had never had children before) and apparently no one has ever bothered to go back and really study it since. The odds may fall off a little bit but not plummeting off a cliff suddenly and if you have other children fairly recently then the odds are great that you are still fully fertile.

Thanks for your reply atomic, it helps to hear that. If you hadn't already guessed I stress a lot over things that I can't control (probably why I have a DS). I am trying to just relax and wait and see what happens in the next few months, I am just impatient to give DS a sibling. It is great to have the knowledge and support of everyone on this site :bigsmile: