Woman, 23, dismissed as ‘overdramatic about period pain’ discovers orange-sized tumour ‘triggered by contraceptive pill’
A WOMAN claims doctors dismissed her as being “over-dramatic about period pains” until they discovered an orange-sized tumour – that she blames on the morning after pill.
Retail manager Caitlin Simpson grew concerned when she noticed significant changes in her menstrual cycle after taking the morning-after pill in May 2021.
The 23-year-old said she was repeatedly dismissed by doctors who told her her symptoms were “normal” – until an abdominal scan uncovered a 1.2cm cyst on her left ovary.
Caitlin, who lives in Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland, was told the cyst would go away on its own and to return for a check-up in six months – but claims the follow-up appointment never came through.
Two years later, the jewellery shop manager began experiencing intense pain on her left side and was urgently referred to gynaecology for an emergency scan.
Further testing revealed that Caitlin’s small cyst was now the size of an orange and was classified as a tumour, which she was warned could have turned cancerous if left untreated.
In July, Caitlin underwent an operation to remove the six-centimetre mass – and doctors were forced to cut out her ovary and fallopian tube after the tumour had latched itself onto the areas.
Caitlin believes the mass may have been caused by taking the morning-after pill alongside the combined contraceptive pill three years ago, as she says the symptoms began right after that.
Caitlin said: “It was all very terrifying. I felt like I’d been so let down for the last two years.
“It could’ve been monitored years ago. When I first phoned up, my symptoms were just dismissed as period pain and me being ‘over-dramatic’.
“I’d never experienced anything like this until taking the morning after pill. I was told I was ‘fine’ and it was just the after effects of this pill.
“[After I was first told I had a cyst] I came out in tears. It was terrifying. I thought where has this come from and is it to do with the pill? I knew I would have problems with that ovary after that.
“I got a phone call to say it would probably go away on its own and it’s nothing to worry about. I was told I would go for a check-up in six months time but it never came through.”
After two years, Caitlin began experiencing waves of intense pain on her left side and claims doctors dismissed it as “cramps” or PCOS.
Caitlin said: “It was a short stabbing intense pain. I went to the doctors but they were only interested in diagnosing me with PCOS. But I didn’t have any of the symptoms.
“I felt like I was just being forgotten about. I went for a scan in May and was told there was a 6cm cyst in my left ovary. At this point, I start panicking.
“Doctors had me in for various tests to test me for cancer. It was all very terrifying. I felt like I’d been so let down for the last two years. It could’ve been monitored years ago.
“The 6cm cyst was concerning because they told me it could cause an ovarian torsion because it was so heavy and could twist the fallopian tube, which could be fatal.”
‘TIME WASTED’
Caitlin was told she needed urgent surgery to remove the orange-sized tumour from her ovary before it turned cancerous.
Caitlin said: “It was told it will turn into cancer and they need to get it out. Losing the fallopian tube and ovary was really hard.
“If I’d been listened to earlier on, I might not have lost my ovary and fallopian tube. The cyst could’ve been removed earlier.
“If I’d not pushed for this appointment, I could’ve had cancer now. I felt like I wasn’t taken seriously and was dismissed.
“I feel like so much time has been wasted. I was completely ignored. The GPs were not interested in helping me at all.”
Caitlin believes the tumour may have been caused by taking the morning-after pill and combined pill in 2021.
Studies do suggest that oral contraceptives may slightly increase people’s risk of developing certain cancers.
Researchers from the University of Oxford found that using progestogen-only hormonal contraceptives is associated with a 20-30 per cent higher risk of breast cancer.
Know your body
By Eliza Loukou, Health Reporter
At the end of the day, you know your body best.
If you feel like something is wrong or you’re experiencing symptoms that are unusual to you, speak to a GP – and push for answers if you feel like you aren’t being listened to.
It can also be helpful to have a good idea of what’s normal for your body, so you can spot strange symptoms quickly.
An example of this is your bowel habits.
A change in the amount of times you go to the loo or the consistency of your poop are often caused by something you’ve eaten.
But if these changes persist for over three weeks, they’re worth bringing up with your GP.
The same goes for persistent bloating.
If you’ve been feeling bloated for three weeks or more and changes in your diet don’t seem to be doing the trick, speak to a doctor about it.
You might hesitate to see a GP about your period, but you should definitely do so if your periods become heavier, irregular or more painful.
These are just a few examples of subtle changes to your body that are worth raising with a health professional.
They may not be anything to worry about, but getting them checked could lead to you getting vital treatment for a condition early.
Previous studies have also shown that taking the combined contraceptive pill – which combines oestrogen and progestogen – is associated with a small increase in the risk of developing breast cancer that declines after stopping use.
But according to Cancer Research UK, taking the combined pill can lower the risk of both ovarian and womb cancer, with the reduced risk after people stop taking the pill too.
Little research exists on the link between the morning after pill and cancer.
But emergency contraception is deemed safe to take by most breast cancer specialists, as the single dose of hormones is unlikely to affect your risk of cancer.
Caitlin said: “They’ve no idea why this happened to me. There’s never been any reasons. The only thing I can think of is the morning-after pill.
Doctors will be so quick to dismiss your pain, especially if you’re young. You know your body best
Caitlin Simpson
“It seemed to just kickstart something in my body that I had no issue with in the first place. I think it potentially caused this cyst. No one will give me a clear answer.
“I did also take the combined pill in 2021 for four months. So I think it could be a combination of both those things.
“I’m never going to take anything hormonal ever again, I only have one ovary left so don’t want to take that risk again.”
Caitlin shared some advice for others in her situation.
“You really need to advocate for yourself. Your body is so important and you know when something feels wrong.
“Doctors will be so quick to dismiss your pain, especially if you’re young. I kept thinking I had youth on my side but it didn’t matter. You know your body best.”