Ovarian cyst
An ovarian cyst is a fluid-filled sac that develops on a woman's ovary. They're very common and don't usually cause any symptoms.
Most ovarian cysts occur naturally and disappear in a few months without needing any treatment.
These pages cover:
Symptoms
Types of ovarian cyst
Diagnosis
Treatment
Ovarian cysts and fertility
The ovaries are two small, bean-shaped organs that are part of the female reproductive system. A woman has two ovaries one each side of the womb (uterus).
The ovaries have two main functions:
Ovarian cysts may affect both ovaries at the same time, or they may only affect one.
An ovarian cyst usually only causes symptoms if it splits (ruptures), is very large, or blocks the blood supply to the ovaries.
In these cases, you may have:
Seeyour GP if you have persistent symptoms of an ovarian cyst.
If you have sudden, severe pelvic pain you should immediately contact either:
The two main types of ovarian cyst are:
Ovarian cysts can sometimes also be caused by an underlying condition, such as endometriosis .
The vast majority of ovarian cysts are non-cancerous (benign), although a small number are cancerous (malignant). Cancerous cysts are more common in women who have been through the menopause.
A follow-up ultrasound scan may be used to confirm this.
Aspost-menopausal women have a slightly higher risk of ovarian cancer , regular ultrasound scans and blood tests are usually recommended over the course of a year to monitor the cyst.
Surgical treatment to remove the cysts may be needed if they're large, causing symptoms, or potentially cancerous.
This may mean removing just the cyst and leaving the ovaries intact, or only removing one ovary.
In some cases, surgery to remove both your ovaries may be necessary, in which case you'll no longer produce any eggs. Make sure you talk to your surgeon about the potential effects on your fertility before your operation.
Read about an ovarian cyst, a fluid-filled sac that develops on a womans ovary. They're very common and don't usually cause any symptoms
Read about the causes of ovarian cysts, which often develop for no apparent reason in women who have monthly periods
Read about treating ovarian cysts. In most cases, ovarian cysts disappear in a few months without the need for treatment.