Treatments for Ovarian Cysts

Some cysts develop as a result of ovulation. These cysts are called “functional cysts,” and they form when the normal release of an egg from an ovary is disrupted and they are the most common type of ovarian cysts. Some cysts may contain tissue formed during egg development and maturation. Endometrioma cysts develop in women with endometriosis, a condition that causes uterine lining tissue to form outside the uterus. If these cysts grow very large, they can result in twisting and torsion of the ovary. Ultrasound and other examinations can be used to identify the type of cysts and its size to decide if and how a cyst should be removed. Cysts that are not removed may be monitored to see if they resolve on their own, if they remain stable or if they begin to grow larger or cause symptoms.

Most functional cysts cause no symptoms, occurring and resolving on their own. But sometimes, large functional cysts or other types of cysts can be symptomatic, causing issues like:

• pelvic or abdominal pain or pressure
• pain before menstruation
• painful intercourse
• discomfort during bowel movements or urination 
• tender breasts
• infertility

Asymptomatic cysts usually require no treatment; very large cysts that cause no symptoms may be monitored to keep an eye on their size and worsening of symptoms.

Cysts that are causing symptoms may be treated with hormone medication to control their growth or with minimally-invasive surgery/ robot-assisted surgery to remove them through smaller incisions and rapid recovery.