Expert: Doctor Early Options - 9/26/2011

Question
I went for my 3rd follow up after taking the medical abortion because of cramping and my doctor told me the reason for the cramping was because of multiple ovarian cysts. My doctor reassured me that the reason for the ovarian cysts were because the pills essentially made me miscarry and would go away in a few months. However, my biggest fear is being infertile, and I started looking up ovarian cysts online and discovered that there are many different types of ovarian cysts. How can I be certain I have the harmless functional cysts and not the harmful cysts of endometritis or other conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome. Is it possible that medical abortion can cause endometritis, polycystic ovary syndrome or other conditions which can therefore cause me to be infertile? Was ovarian cysts one of the risks of medical abortion? I understand that medical abortion does not make one infertile, but can the cysts that may develop from medical abortion cause infertility? Thank you for your time!

Answer
You get a cyst each month when you ovulate that is what we call a functional cyst.  When you become pregnant, you develop a corpus luteum cyst that provides the hormones to support the pregnancy.  When the pregnancy is lost, the cyst has to stop producing the hormone and then regress.  That takes time.

Rarely does one develop an endometritis after a medical abortion.  Women with Polycystic ovarian syndrome have a hormonal condition that can be diagnosed by abnormal hormone levels. This condition is associated with excessive hair growth, irregular periods, and obesity.   That condition is not caused by a medical abortion.  The medical abortion does not cause infertility.  No need to worry.