Physician Health Articles
Sutter Davis Hospital

What is an ovarian cyst?
By Annette Fineberg, M.D.

Many women have heard about ovarian cysts, but do they really understand what these cysts are?  Are they dangerous and something to be concerned about?

 The fact is many women develop these cysts. Ovarian cysts are very common and are considered a normal part of ovulation. 

The biology of the ovarian cyst is very straightforward; when a woman begins to menstruate, her ovaries make several small sacs or cysts filled with fluid each month.  On an ultrasound, a physician can see a cyst. In a pelvic exam, the physician can feel a cyst if it is sufficiently large.  When ovulation begins the largest sac, usually about one inch in diameter, ruptures or bursts open releasing the egg.  During the next several weeks after ovulation, the cyst will resolve itself.  Most cysts pass through the woman’s body unnoticed.

Generally, when you hear a woman talking about having a painful cyst on her ovary she is most likely referring to a functional cyst.  It is called a functional cyst because it is related to a woman’s normal ovarian function.  A functional cyst occurs when the sac around the egg grows larger than expected.  This enlarged cyst can cause a variety of symptoms, but the most common is pain.  Functional cysts will oftentimes resolve on their own during the course of several months. 

Benign (non-cancerous) ovarian tumors can also be mistaken for cysts.  These tumors look like cysts on an ultrasound, but they do not resolve over time and will need to be removed by a physician.  Modern-day laparoscopic (minimally invasive) surgery can be done to remove the cyst while preserving the ovary. 

In rare cases cysts can be cancerous.  If a cyst causes severe or persistent pain, does not resolve in a short period of time, is as large as a grapefruit or has features on ultrasound that indicate it is possibly a cancer, the cyst will require surgery for removal and biopsy.  Overall, the good news is that cysts in young women are rarely cancerous, and the surgery can usually be done on an outpatient basis using laparoscopic techniques (with small incisions and a camera).  In the vast majority of cases, only the cyst is removed while the normal ovary is preserved.

Ovarian cysts are a normal part of a woman’s ovulation cycle and are very rarely cause for concern.  Regular annual check-ups with an OB-GYN can help monitor your ovulation cycle and keep you updated on your regular ovulation patterns.