Published by Bupa's Health Information Team, February 2011.
This factsheet is for women who have ovarian cysts, or for anyone who would like information about them.
Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled sacs (pockets) that can occur inside or on the surface of the ovaries (the two small organs that produce eggs (ova) in women). Ovarian cysts are quite common in women of childbearing age.
Women have two ovaries – one on either side of their womb (uterus). The function of ovaries is to produce eggs (ova) and female sex hormones.
Fluid-filled cysts can develop inside or on the surface of your ovaries. You can develop one or more cysts on either one of your ovaries or on both ovaries at the same time. It’s not uncommon for a small cyst to develop on one of your ovaries, particularly if you’re of childbearing age. But, if a number of cysts (usually at least 10) develop around the outside of your ovary, you may have a condition called polycystic ovary syndrome.
Most ovarian cysts are harmless and go away on their own. However, some may cause problems and need treatment.
There are several different types of ovarian cyst. The most common are called functional cysts, which can form during your menstrual cycle. Follicular cysts and luteal cysts are types of functional cyst. They tend not to cause any symptoms and usually go away by themselves within about two months. Functional cysts are rare in postmenopausal women.
Other types of ovarian cyst that don’t form during your menstrual cycle are a result of an uncontrolled growth of cells in or on your ovary. They may also be referred to as ovarian tumours. Some examples are listed below.
Most ovarian tumours are benign. Benign tumours aren’t cancerous. They don’t spread to other parts of the body and don’t invade surrounding tissue. However, rarely, ovarian tumours can turn out to be malignant (cancerous). Ovarian cancer can spread to other parts of the body and invade surrounding tissue.
Most ovarian cysts don’t cause any symptoms at all, so you may not even realise you have a cyst. However, depending on the type of cyst you have, it’s possible you may have:
These symptoms may be caused by problems other than ovarian cysts. If you have any of these symptoms, see your GP for advice.
Occasionally, a cyst can twist (this is called torsion) or suddenly burst (rupture). This can cause severe pain in your abdomen. You may also feel sick or vomit. You should seek urgent medical attention if you have been diagnosed with a cyst and have these symptoms.
It’s not known at present why some women develop ovarian cysts. Some medicines used for the treatment of infertility can sometimes trigger the development of functional cysts. Also, if you are being treated with the medicine tamoxifen for breast cancer, you may be more likely to develop cysts, but they usually go away when you finish treatment.
Some women are at an increased risk of developing functional cysts after using progestogen-based contraception – for example, the progestogen-only pill, the intra-uterine system (Mirena) or the contraceptive implant (Implanon).
As your ovarian cyst may not cause any symptoms, it may only be found if you are having tests for some other reason – for example, a cervical smear, pelvic examination or ultrasound scan.
If you visit your GP with symptoms of an ovarian cyst, he or she will examine your abdomen. If your GP thinks you have a cyst that needs further investigation, you may need to have the following tests.
Your GP may then refer you to a gynaecologist (a doctor specialising in women’s reproductive health). The results of these tests will help your doctor to plan your treatment.
If you have an ovarian cyst, your treatment options will depend on what type of cyst you have, how large it is, whether you have symptoms, a family history and your age.
If your cyst isn’t causing any symptoms and is quite small (less than 5cm across), your doctor will probably just monitor it. You will be asked to attend a number of ultrasound appointments to check whether the cyst changes size. Most functional cysts are likely to disappear on their own within a couple of months and not cause any problems.
You may be advised to take a combined oral contraceptive pill if you have a functional cyst, or if you’re prone to getting them. However, this is now thought to have limited effect.
If your cyst is large (above 5 cm), causing you any pain or discomfort, or doesn’t start to go away after six to eight weeks, your doctor may suggest you have ovarian cyst removal surgery. This usually involves having a keyhole procedure (in which small instruments and a tube-like telescopic camera are inserted through small cuts in your abdomen to perform the operation).
Some women may need to have open surgery, but this is uncommon. In this procedure, a larger cut is made in your abdomen in order to remove the cyst. Whether your surgeon will advise this type of surgery depends on your age and the type of cyst you have. Your surgeon will help you to decide what the best option is for you.
For answers to frequently asked questions on this topic, see Common questions.
For sources and links to further information, see Resources.
We can help you detect any problems early with our Complete Health Assessment which involves up to 32 individual tests including breast and cervical checks for women or call 0845 600 3458 quoting ref. HFS100.
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This information was published by Bupa's Health Information Team and is based on reputable sources of medical evidence. It has been reviewed by appropriate medical or clinical professionals. Photos are only for illustrative purposes and do not reflect every presentation of a condition. The content is intended only for general information and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional. For more details on how we produce our content and its sources, visit the About our Health Information page.
Publication date: February 2011
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