Ovarian cyst sclerotherapy: What to expect?

So, here's the deal. Last year, around month three, I found out I had this 5 cm cyst on my left ovary. It grew pretty fast, hitting 10 cm in just a few months. Back in September, they had to go in via laparotomy to get it out because I wasn't even allowed to have laparoscopic surgery. Turns out, it was an endometriosis cyst.

Everything seemed fine for a bit, but then—surprise, surprise—a few months later (this past February), they found a new one, only this time it's on the right ovary. 😢

Since it took me forever to recover from that first laparotomy, I was honestly freaking out about having another cyst pop up and needing yet another major surgery. But my gynecologist mentioned we might be able to skip the big incision by doing something called sclerotherapy puncture.

Apparently, it’s done under local anesthesia. They use ultrasound guidance to stick a needle into the cyst, drain the fluid, and then inject alcohol into the empty sac. The alcohol sits in there for five minutes, and then
they clear it out. You stay at the hospital for 24 hours and then you're headed home.

Has anyone here actually tried this? Please let me know 🙂 because I'm kind of spiraling and don't know what to do.

Thanks!

>P.S. Hey mods, if possible, can we keep this as its own thread? I'm really hoping to get some actual feedback or hear about someone's experience.

Has nobody actually gone through with this procedure? 😕

I don't even know what to make of this anymore. I mean, what kind of treatment is this if absolutely nobody here has ever heard of it? If it’s supposedly "better than surgery," then why doesn't anyone here have any actual experience with it? 😢

copperraven53 said:Has nobody actually gone through with this procedure yet?😕

Honestly, I’m starting to have my doubts. How can a procedure even be a thing if nobody here has ever heard of it? If people are claiming it’s "better than surgery," then why hasn't anyone shared their actual experience on this forum?😢

I managed to find a solid PDF that breaks everything down. Click here, then look for the first result titled ALCOHOL PUNCTURE AND SCLEROSIS OF CLEAR OVARIAN LESIONS

Angela Wright said:Found a solid PDF that breaks everything down. Just click here. This is it.I mean, just go with the first suggestion they give you. Alcohol sclerotherapy for ovarian cysts. Just thought I'd throw that out there.

Thanks, I already read that article. 🙂

I'm looking for some real talk from you guys—anyone actually had a good or bad experience around here? 🤷

Heading to the OBGYN tomorrow to hash out all the details for the procedure.

So, if anyone here actually knows what they're doing with this specific surgery, please hit me up today. 🙂

copperraven53 said:I've got an appointment with my OBGYN tomorrow to hammer out all the details regarding the procedure.

So, if anyone following this thread has actually gone through this themselves, please chime in today. I'd love to hear your take. 🙂

Fingers crossed that everything goes smoothly and stays pain-free.
Definitely drop back in here later and let us know how it went.

Angela Wright said:Fingers crossed everything goes down without any pain, I guess.
You should definitely share what happened with us later.

I was supposed to head to my OBGYN this past Tuesday, but bad news—the guy’s out on medical leave for a while. Apparently, he got into a car wreck. 😢 Look, I wasn't about to sit around waiting forever. I wanted to see how much that mass had grown since February, plus I figured I should probably get a second opinion on the whole surgery thing. So, I went to go see Dr. Mason at his private clinic.

Nah, he told me (after the ultrasound) that he didn't see anything clear at all. 😕 He told me right away that he wasn't 100% sure, though. I guess since my bowel movements were acting up, he couldn't get a totally clear shot of that ovary, but he seemed pretty damn sure there aren't any cysts.

So, yeah, I’m totally lost right now. Like, I have zero clue if things are actually clear or what—do I even need that procedure? And when is my gynecologist finally coming back? I guess I'm just stuck in limbo. 🤷

So, I finally decided to go see Dr. Harvey. I booked an appointment for next month to get a checkup and a 3D ultrasound. Hopefully, she can actually figure out what's going on with my ovaries once and for all... maybe.

So, there goes my money. I paid Mason for an exam and an ultrasound... $233 🙄And you didn't end up any smarter, I guess. 😢

Anyway, if it turns out I’m clear and I end up going through with that procedure—you know, the puncture and sclerotherapy—I'll definitely post about how it went. Might be helpful for any other girls who find themselves stuck in the same boat as me, I guess.

Look, there's always a chance that cyst just ruptured. Since you’ve dealt with endometriosis before, they probably just assumed it was another one of those. Clearly, they were wrong.
You need to go back for another scan soon, but make sure they use a color Doppler this time. And for heaven's sake, bring the images from your previous ultrasound so they can actually compare them.

Bringing this thread back because, well, I’m actually going through with the procedure.

So, confirmed via 3D ultrasound that I’ve got a clear 35 mm cyst on my right ovary. They can't do a laparoscopy since I’ve already had surgery before—had a laparotomy, too—and the doctor wants to avoid another big incision so we don't mess up my ovaries or just wreck my body again. He scheduled me for a puncture with sclerotherapy next month to see if we can just drain the cyst that way first.

I’m a little anxious, honestly. It’s not exactly a standard procedure, and from what I’ve seen on this thread so far, nobody here seems to have dealt with it. 🤷

Anyway, the doctor recommended it and I even dug up a medical journal article about it, but I was wondering if anyone here has experience with it and would mind sharing?

Thanks! 🙂

copperraven53, I’m really hoping everything goes smoothly for you—and honestly, I'm crossing my fingers that someone might actually chime in here with some firsthand experience, since I haven't the slightest clue what this process even looks like.
All I can really do is wish you a successful procedure. 😘
Is it possible that absolutely nobody here has dealt with this before?

Thanks Sophia Wells72 😘

I figured I’d jump in here and share my experience, just in case any of you ladies need to read up on it.

Honestly, I don't get it—how is it that nobody else here has dealt with this? 🤷

I mean, if tons of girls dealing with endometriosis are posting about their experiences with laparotomy and laparoscopy, is it really possible that absolutely no one has had this specific procedure done? It’s done under local anesthesia and vaginally—which, if you look at it objectively, should actually make it better than those other surgeries. Or maybe it just isn't as precise as laparoscopy? Who knows. 🤷

Anyway, it is what it is. I really don't want to go through another laparotomy unless it’s totally necessary. We'll just have to see how this goes.

But hey, if anyone happens to read this before September 24th and has been through this, please reach out. 👍

Alright, quick correction. I totally messed up my math on when I’m actually due for my period 🤦 So, I called the hospital today and cleared it with the doctor to push my procedure back by a week. I’m heading in on October 1st now, so if anyone before Oct 1st happens to read this thread and has been through it, please hit me up 🙂

copperraven53 said:Quick correction: I miscalculated my cycle timing. 🤦 I called the hospital today and worked out a deal with my doctor to push my procedure back by a week. I’m heading in on October 1st now, so if anyone was planning on checking in... Before October 1st. If you’ve actually lived through this and have some real-world experience, please weigh in on this thread. 🙂

Greetings.
I underwent this procedure back in February.

Sandra Anderson31 said:HEY
I HAD THIS SURGERY BACK IN FEBRUARY

Please, please tell me what happened for you—how was the actual procedure? Did it hurt much? Did they actually manage to get the cyst out... PLZ!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂

copperraven53 said:Please, tell me about your experience—how was the procedure? Did you have much pain? Did they actually manage to get the cyst out... PLEASE!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂

Just to clarify for anyone in the dark: this procedure doesn't actually remove the cyst itself. They just drain the fluid inside. That liquid gets sent off for cytological analysis to check for any abnormal growths. As for the cyst wall, it just gets flattened down until it’s nothing more than a tiny, nylon-like scrap. So, technically, the cyst stays right where it is.😛
Unfortunately, I was lucky enough to have both my cyst and endometriosis treated with sclerotherapy back in February. Fast forward six months, and they've already refilled. Now I'm dealing with an endometrioma at 4.5cm and an 8cm cyst, plus elevated markers, constant pain, bladder pressure... I'm honestly spiraling trying to figure out what comes next.
Nobody warned me this was even a possibility, so I'm sitting here feeling pretty blindsided and overwhelmed. 🙂

Hey Sandra Anderson31, I already sent you everything in a DM so I won't bore you by repeating myself, but thanks for the advice anyway. And man, I'm sorry to hear your cycle is acting up again—that's honestly my biggest fear too 😢

I guess I’ll just have to start trying for a baby the second I get this procedure done, just so I can get pregnant ASAP 😁

So, another girl reached out to me about heading in for that procedure soon. I guess there are actually a few of us out there after all. 😉

Honestly, I felt pretty isolated when I was first digging around for info here—nobody really hit me back, and finding anything useful online is basically impossible. 😢

That’s why I’m calling on anyone else facing this surgery to please jump in and share what happened. We need more info on this way of treating ovarian cysts so other girls stuck in the same boat don't feel so lost.

I’ve already posted about why I need the surgery, so next up, I’ll be sharing how the recovery actually goes.

Finally, I think this forum is also just a place where we can lean on each other, which honestly helps sometimes more than any actual meds. 😉

Sending love to everyone prepping for the procedure—please, speak up! 🙂 😘

Check this out.

I was digging around online and stumbled upon the medical fee schedule released by the American Medical Association. It basically lists the baseline rates used to set pricing for private practices, clinics, and state-run hospitals.

Transvaginal ovarian cyst puncture - $167
Diagnostic laparoscopy - $500
Surgical laparoscopy - $833

http://www.pedijatrija.org/Download/...uga05_2005.pdf

So, obviously, that cyst puncture is cheaper than doing a laparoscopy, which makes you think it’d be the go-to move more often. 🤷

But, like Sandra Anderson31 mentioned, that procedure doesn't actually get rid of the whole cyst—it just drains it and hopes for the best. With laparoscopy, they actually take the whole thing out. I guess that’s probably why so few girls end up having that puncture done.

I have a clear cyst on my ovary, and when my doctor suggested laparoscopic removal, I asked her about sclerotherapy. She explained that it isn't standard practice here or abroad anymore. Apparently, there was a time when a hospital like Mayo Clinic used to perform it, but given the risks involved, she insisted that laparoscopic surgery—or even an open procedure—is much safer. Beyond the safety aspect, you really need that tissue analysis. So, she definitely recommends going the laparoscopic route.

Here is a link to a study regarding the procedure

ironsurfer8 said:So I’ve got this cyst on my ovary. When my doctor suggested laparoscopic removal, I asked her about sclerotherapy. She basically told me that's not really a thing anymore—not here in the States or anywhere else, really. Apparently, Mercury used to do it back in the day, but she said there are too many risks involved. She thinks it's way safer to just go with a laparoscopy or even standard surgery, mostly because you need that tissue analysis. So yeah, she's definitely pushing for the laparoscopy.

Here’s the link to that study on the procedure.

That link is dead, but I'm guessing you were trying to get to this article instead:

I think your gynecologist might have gotten that wrong. Mercury Hospital still does that procedure—I mean, I’m actually scheduled for my appointment on October 1st, so they definitely wouldn't book me if they weren't doing it anymore. 😁 So, about that tissue analysis thing you mentioned—they actually do that during a biopsy too. They just send whatever they pull out from the needle straight to the lab for testing. I guess.

Look, risks exist. Obviously. But you're gonna find them with laparoscopy or an open incision too. No surgery is ever a sure thing, no matter how routine they claim it is. I guess that's just how it goes.

Of course my OBGYN would want to do a laparoscopy on me—he already brought it up—but I can't actually go that route. I had surgery when I was basically a baby, so I ended up having to go under the knife for a full laparotomy during my first cyst removal.

So, my doctor in New York City wants to skip another laparotomy. Since they took both ovaries during my first surgery, the scar tissue isn't exactly behaving like healthy, non-adherent tissue anymore. He’s worried that if he starts cutting around there again, it might tank my chances of getting pregnant—or worse, he might have to remove an ovary entirely. So, he suggested this procedure instead, and said I should try to conceive as soon as possible afterward. Which, honestly, is exactly what I'm praying for.

Of course I'm worried. It's not exactly a routine procedure, so I guess it'd be great if more girls who've actually been through this surgery would chime in here.