i have been reading through some of the recent threads and i have seen that quite a few women have had ovarian cysts... i was just wondering what the signs were of this, how could you tell you had to go to the doctor? im 16... but my periods are so irregular - sometimes i get them but other times i dont, and sometimes i just get this kind of dark discharge but it isn't like a fluid... but i know that it takes like 3 or 4 years for your period to regulate so maybe it could just be that. i can feel bumps on like my abdomnial area sometimes but other times i can't, and i sometimes get shooting pains. the little lumps are like kind of in the area of my pelvic bone just over a little, and i can feel them on either side and sometimes i can feel bumps on both sides at the same time, and other times i can't feel anything at all so that makes me think that it is nothing to worry about. i have had sex..(bad girl i know :nono: ) and the first couple times it hurt "down there" which was expected, but i can kind of feel pain internally now. it feels like.. hmm i don't know how to descibe it, like there is pressure forcing kind of, it's hard to describe but it hurt quite a bit, i was nearly in tears... but i don't know if this is normal or not for the first few times you have sex since your not used to it yet and i am quite tiny and my boyfriend, well... let's just say he's not ashamed of his package lol so i don't know if that has something to do with it. i don't know if i am just making a big deal out of nothing or if i should make a doctors appointment. please if anyone who has ovarian cysts could tell me what the signs are and if i should be concerned or not than that would be great. thanks soo much.

Hi there, I am not too familiar with the details of ovarian cysts, but from what you describe, i think they could definitely be a possibility. For the pain during sex, when you say it should hurt some the first couple of times, you're right, but you shouldnt be having pain after that. The fact that you say that you have pain during sex and irregular periods makes me think you might have something else, which I have: endometriosis. Dont worry, it's nothing dangerous, basically its when the lining of your uterus grows thick and in abnormal places, and so when you have your period every month, ovulation is harder and it can cause pain. Do you have very painful periods also? thats another sympton of endometriosis. I was just about 16 when i started having real painful periods (i'm now 22) and i also have the other symptoms you describe --pain during sex, irregular periods. But I think what you have could be caused by ovarian cysts too, in fact i think endometriosis can cause cysts. If you do have ovarian cysts, many are benign, so dont freak about that. I think what you have could be either endometriosis or cysts, or maybe its nothing at all, and youre just sensitive because you recently started having sex and your body is getting used to your period like you said. But I would just go ahead and make a doctor's appt and explain your symptoms, and they should be able to determine if anything is up. Good luck! :)
--Alex

Once you start having sex, which you have, you should begin regular check ups with a Gyno. Even if there is nothing wrong with you now, you need to have a doctor become aquainted with how your body works when it is functioning normally so that they will notice if something starts going wrong. Make booking an appointment your top priority for this week, and tell the doctor EVERY little problem you have noticed. You will feel a lot better (no more worrying).