Ovarian Cysts During Pregnancy: How They Are Monitored and When Treatment Is Considered

The sonographer had already found the heartbeat, already measured the tiny curl of the embryo, and was about to hand over the printout when she paused and tilted the probe. “There’s a small cyst on the right ovary,” she said, in the same tone someone might use to point out a freckle. For the person on the table, though, that sentence tended to echo louder than anything said before it.

It is a very common moment. An ovarian cyst during pregnancy is one of the most frequent incidental findings on early scans, and the great majority are part of ordinary pregnancy biology rather than a problem. Yet the word “cyst” carries weight, and the internet does not help, mixing rare giant cysts and cancer case reports into the same search results as the harmless kind.

This explainer walks through what clinicians actually look for, how the watching is done, why most cysts are left alone, and the specific situations in which treatment is discussed. It also covers the warning signs that mean you should call rather than wait for the next appointment.

Is it normal to find an ovarian cyst on a first-trimester ultrasound?

A dating scan is meant to answer two questions: is the pregnancy in the right place, and is there a heartbeat? Yet the same probe sweeps across both ovaries, and one of them often carries a fluid-filled sac a few centimeters across. Finding an ovarian cyst during pregnancy at this stage is common enough that many sonographers barely pause over it. The reason is biology, not bad luck.

The ovary that released the egg builds a temporary hormone factory called the corpus luteum, and it can swell into a cyst while it works. Add the fact that early scans are usually done transvaginally, which shows the ovaries in fine detail, and it becomes clear why so many cysts are discovered now rather than later. The NHS describes ovarian cysts as very common, notes that most cause no symptoms, and says many disappear within a few months without treatment.

Two features reassure clinicians early. The first is appearance: a simple cyst has a thin wall, clear fluid and no solid parts. The second is size, because small, simple cysts are overwhelmingly the kind that resolve by themselves. Your report may describe the cyst as “simple,” “unilocular” (a single chamber) or “anechoic” (it looks black on the screen because it is pure fluid). Each of those words is a point in favor of watchful waiting.

What the finding does not do is change the pregnancy itself. It does not mean the pregnancy is at risk, that anything was done wrong, or that surgery is coming. It means your care team now has something to keep an eye on, and a plan for how often to look.

What is a corpus luteum cyst in pregnancy, and why does it form?

Every month, after an egg leaves its follicle, the empty follicle collapses and reorganizes into the corpus luteum, a yellowish structure whose job is to pump out progesterone. Progesterone is the hormone that thickens and steadies the uterine lining. If no pregnancy follows, the corpus luteum fades within about two weeks and a period arrives. If a pregnancy does begin, the embryo’s signal, the hormone hCG, tells the corpus luteum to keep going.

That instruction to keep working is exactly why a corpus luteum cyst in pregnancy is so common. The structure stays active for weeks longer than usual, and fluid or a little blood can collect inside it, stretching it into a cyst. On ultrasound it often has a slightly thick, ring-like wall with a rich blood supply around it, a pattern sonographers recognize quickly. MedlinePlus lists the corpus luteum cyst as one of the two main types of functional cyst, the other being the follicular cyst, in which a follicle fails to release its egg and keeps filling with fluid.

Functional cysts are, by definition, a normal part of ovarian function that has overshot slightly. Mayo Clinic notes they usually go away on their own within two to three months, and in pregnancy the natural timeline lines up neatly: as the placenta takes over hormone production toward the end of the first trimester, the corpus luteum is no longer needed and shrinks. That is why a cyst seen at the dating scan is frequently gone by the mid-pregnancy anatomy scan.

This matters for treatment decisions, too. Because the corpus luteum supports the pregnancy in its earliest weeks, clinicians are cautious about removing anything on the ovary before the placenta is established, a point covered in the surgery sections below.

What are the causes of ovarian cysts when they are not part of normal pregnancy?

Not every cyst is functional. Some were sitting quietly on the ovary long before conception and were simply never imaged until pregnancy brought a wand to the pelvis. These are often called pathological cysts, meaning they arise from abnormal cell growth rather than the menstrual cycle, and Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic describe several recurring types.

A dermoid cyst, also called a mature teratoma, develops from cells that can form many tissue types, so it may contain fat, hair or even fragments of tooth. It sounds alarming but is almost always benign and is common in people of childbearing age. A cystadenoma grows from the surface tissue of the ovary and fills with watery or thick mucous fluid; these can occasionally become quite large. An endometrioma, sometimes nicknamed a chocolate cyst, forms when endometrial-type tissue grows on the ovary and bleeds internally each cycle, leaving old dark blood inside; it is a marker of endometriosis.

Pregnancy adds one more category. In multiple pregnancies, or after fertility treatment that stimulated the ovaries, very high hormone levels can produce clusters of fluid-filled cysts on both ovaries, known as theca lutein cysts. They look dramatic on a scan yet typically settle once hormone levels fall.

The question everyone eventually asks is about cancer. Ovarian cancer during pregnancy is rare, and most cysts with a worrying appearance turn out to be benign once examined. Still, it is the possibility that shapes the monitoring plan: clinicians are not watching a simple cyst because they expect trouble, but because a careful second look is the most reliable way to be sure of what a cyst is, and the least invasive.

How does an ovarian cyst feel? Ovarian cyst pregnancy symptoms explained

Most people cannot feel their cyst at all. It was discovered on a screen, not by a sensation, and that remains true for the majority throughout pregnancy. The NHS notes that ovarian cysts usually cause no symptoms and are often found by chance. When a cyst does make itself known, the sensations tend to be indirect: the ovary is being stretched, or the cyst is pressing on a neighbor such as the bladder or bowel.

People who do notice something often describe a dull, one-sided pelvic ache, a feeling of fullness or pressure low in the abdomen, or discomfort during sex or when bending. These overlap heavily with ordinary pregnancy sensations, which is precisely why symptoms alone cannot diagnose a cyst and why this is not a checklist to grade yourself against. Round ligament pain, a growing uterus, constipation and bladder pressure all produce similar feelings, and only imaging can sort them out.

Two events change the picture entirely, and both are sudden. Ovarian torsion is when a cyst acts like a weight on a string, causing the ovary to twist on its own blood supply; Cleveland Clinic describes the result as sudden, severe, often one-sided pain, frequently with nausea or vomiting. Rupture is when the cyst wall gives way and fluid or blood leaks into the pelvis; the pain is abrupt and sharp and may spread. Neither is common, but a cyst of moderate size makes torsion somewhat more likely, and the shifting anatomy of pregnancy can add to that risk.

The practical message is simple. Vague, mild, coming-and-going discomfort is worth mentioning at your next visit. Sudden severe pain is worth a phone call now, and the final section spells out exactly when.

How an ovarian cyst during pregnancy is monitored: what actually happens

Monitoring sounds passive, but it is a deliberate strategy with a rationale: time is a diagnostic test. A functional cyst shrinks; a pathological one does not. So the core of monitoring an ovarian cyst during pregnancy is a repeat ultrasound scheduled far enough ahead that a functional cyst has had the chance to disappear.

In practice that usually means the cyst is re-examined at the mid-pregnancy anatomy scan, or at a dedicated scan booked in the second trimester. Ultrasound is the tool of choice because it uses sound waves rather than radiation, gives excellent detail of the ovary, and can be repeated as often as needed. The sonographer measures the cyst in three dimensions, describes its wall, checks for internal chambers or solid areas, and may use Doppler, a setting that shows blood flow, to see whether any solid part has its own blood supply.

If the ultrasound leaves a genuine question, magnetic resonance imaging is the usual next step. MRI without contrast dye is widely regarded as acceptable in pregnancy and can characterize fat, blood and solid tissue better than ultrasound. Computed tomography is generally avoided because of radiation exposure to the fetus.

Blood tests play a smaller role than outside pregnancy. The tumor marker CA-125, often used to help assess ovarian masses, is naturally raised in early pregnancy and by many benign conditions, so it is interpreted cautiously or not requested at all.

Between scans, monitoring depends on you. Your team will ask you to report new or worsening pain, and to keep your routine appointments. Nothing about a simple cyst under observation requires bed rest, activity limits or dietary change; those ideas belong to the myth section, not the care plan.

What the ultrasound report is really telling you about your cyst

Reports are written for clinicians, so a few translated terms can take much of the anxiety out of reading one. The central distinction is between a simple and a complex cyst.

A simple cyst is a single chamber of clear fluid with a smooth, thin wall and no internal structures. It is the ultrasound equivalent of a water balloon. Almost all functional cysts look like this, and so do many benign cystadenomas. A complex cyst has something more going on inside: septations (thin internal walls dividing it into compartments), debris or echoes suggesting blood, or solid components. Complex does not mean cancerous; a corpus luteum cyst that has bled into itself, a dermoid with its mixture of fat and hair, and an endometrioma full of old blood all look complex and are all benign.

The features that raise concern are more specific. Papillary projections are finger-like growths from the inner wall. Thick, irregular septations, solid areas with their own blood flow on Doppler, and free fluid in the abdomen beyond the small amount that is normal in pregnancy are the findings that prompt a closer look. Size on its own is a weaker signal than appearance, although larger cysts are both more likely to twist and less likely to be functional.

You may also see a scoring phrase, such as a reference to standardized ultrasound rules that classify masses as likely benign or likely malignant. These systems were developed to make reporting consistent and are used alongside clinical judgment, not instead of it.

If a word in your report troubles you, ask the person who ordered the scan to walk through it. Reports are snapshots; the clinician holds the whole album.

Who is usually watched, and who is usually offered treatment

The decision tree is not complicated, and it helps to see it laid out. Most people fall into the first row and stay there.

Situation	Usual approach	Why
Small, simple cyst found in the first trimester, no symptoms	Repeat ultrasound in the second trimester	Most are functional and resolve as the placenta takes over
Simple cyst that has shrunk or disappeared on repeat scan	No further action	Confirms it was functional
Simple cyst that persists into the second trimester and is stable	Continued observation, often through delivery	Benign appearance; surgery risk not justified
Large or growing cyst, or one causing persistent pain or pressure	Discussion of surgery, commonly planned for the second trimester	Higher torsion risk; may complicate later pregnancy or delivery
Complex cyst with suspicious features on ultrasound or MRI	Specialist review, usually with a gynecologic oncologist	Tissue diagnosis may be needed
Sudden severe pain suggesting torsion or rupture	Urgent assessment; emergency surgery at any gestation if confirmed	Saving the ovary and treating bleeding outweighs the risks of waiting

The people asked to wait are, in short, those whose cyst looks benign and is causing no trouble. Waiting is not neglect; the NHS advises watchful waiting with follow-up scans for cysts that are small and symptom-free precisely because most resolve. The people offered treatment are those in whom the cyst has declared itself unlikely to go away, is behaving unpredictably, or carries features that need a definitive answer.

Where a case falls between rows, the treating team considers gestational age, cyst size and appearance, symptoms, prior surgeries, and your own preferences. No table replaces that conversation.

Is it safe to remove an ovarian cyst during pregnancy?

This is the question underneath every other question, and the honest answer is that surgery in pregnancy is neither reckless nor risk-free. It is a balance, and the balance shifts with timing, cyst type and urgency.

Anesthesia is the first concern people raise. Modern general anesthesia is used in pregnant patients for many non-obstetric operations, from appendectomy to gallbladder removal, and the anesthetic team adjusts drugs, positioning and monitoring for pregnancy. Mayo Clinic and other mainstream sources note that necessary surgery is not withheld in pregnancy; the question is whether a particular operation is necessary now, can wait until after birth, or should never happen at all.

Timing is the second lever. Planned surgery is most often scheduled in the second trimester. By then the corpus luteum’s hormone role has passed to the placenta, the window of highest early loss has closed, the uterus is still small enough to allow good access to the ovary, and the risk of triggering preterm labor is lower than in the third trimester. Emergency surgery, for torsion or significant rupture, is performed whenever it is needed, because an untreated twisted ovary can die and internal bleeding can threaten both patient and pregnancy.

The risks your team will discuss include bleeding, infection, injury to nearby organs, anesthetic complications, miscarriage or preterm labor, and the possibility that the ovary itself must be removed. They will set these against the risks of not operating: torsion, rupture, a missed diagnosis, or a cyst large enough to obstruct labor.

What no responsible clinician will offer is a percentage promise for your individual case. What they can offer is a candid weighing of your specific cyst, your gestation and your history, and a plan that keeps monitoring as the default whenever the evidence supports it.

What ovarian cyst removal during pregnancy involves

If surgery is chosen, the operation is either laparoscopic or open, and the aim is either to remove the cyst alone or, less often, the whole ovary.

Laparoscopy, also called keyhole surgery, uses a few small incisions and a camera. The abdomen is gently inflated with carbon dioxide to create working space, the cyst is separated from the ovary and removed in a bag, and the incisions are closed. The NHS describes laparoscopy as the usual approach for cyst removal because recovery is quicker and scars are smaller. In pregnancy, surgeons adapt by placing instruments higher as the uterus grows, keeping inflation pressures modest, and positioning the patient to protect blood flow. Laparoscopy becomes technically harder in later pregnancy simply because the uterus occupies the space.

Laparotomy, an open operation through a single larger incision, is chosen when a cyst is very large, when cancer is a real possibility and the surgeon needs to avoid spilling cyst contents, or when the uterus is too big for keyhole access. Recovery takes longer, and the incision is more uncomfortable, but it gives the widest view.

A cystectomy peels the cyst wall away and preserves the ovary, which is the preferred approach for benign cysts in people who want to keep their fertility. An oophorectomy removes the ovary; it may be needed if torsion has damaged the tissue beyond rescue, if the cyst has replaced the whole ovary, or if cancer is confirmed. The remaining ovary continues to produce hormones and eggs.

One pregnancy-specific detail: if the cyst removed early in gestation was the corpus luteum, the team may consider progesterone support, a hormone supplement that stands in for what the corpus luteum was producing until the placenta is fully established. Whether that is needed, and for how long, is a decision for the prescribing clinician.

What the following weeks usually look like, with or without surgery

For most people the timeline is uneventful by design. The first scan notes the cyst; nothing changes in daily life; the next scan, typically at the anatomy assessment in the second trimester, finds it smaller or gone. Cleveland Clinic notes that functional cysts usually resolve within a couple of months, and Mayo Clinic gives a similar window of two to three menstrual cycles’ worth of time, which in pregnancy translates to roughly the gap between a first-trimester scan and a mid-pregnancy one.

If the cyst is still present but unchanged and benign-looking, expect a conversation rather than a procedure. Many teams simply add the ovary to the list of things checked at any later scan and revisit the question after birth, when imaging is clearer and surgery, if ever needed, is far simpler.

After planned laparoscopic removal, the early days are about the incisions and the trapped gas, which can cause shoulder-tip pain for a day or two as the body absorbs the carbon dioxide. The NHS notes that most people return to normal activities within a couple of weeks after laparoscopic cyst removal, though pregnancy may stretch that a little. Fetal well-being is usually checked with a scan or heartbeat monitoring before discharge and again at a follow-up visit. Your team will also tell you which sensations are ordinary healing and which need a call.

After open surgery, recovery is measured in weeks rather than days, and lifting, driving and exercise are reintroduced gradually according to the surgical team’s advice.

Whatever the path, the removed tissue goes to a pathologist, whose report confirms what the cyst was. Ask when to expect that result and how it will be shared. For the great majority, it closes the chapter with the word “benign.”

Can an ovarian cyst affect labor, delivery, or the baby?

A cyst that has been monitored through pregnancy rarely interferes with birth, and a small one never will. The concern arises only with cysts large enough to sit low in the pelvis, where they could physically block the baby’s path or make the head engage awkwardly. Clinicians describe this as obstruction of labor, and it is one of the reasons a very large cyst may prompt a discussion of surgery before the third trimester, or a planned mode of delivery.

If a cyst persists to term, the delivery plan usually accounts for it in one of two ways. Many people deliver vaginally with no change at all, and the cyst is reassessed afterward. Where a cesarean birth is already planned for other reasons, the surgical team may remove the cyst during the same operation, which spares a separate procedure; whether that is appropriate depends on the cyst’s appearance and the surgeon’s judgment in the moment.

Torsion, the twisting of the ovary, is the other delivery-related consideration. The dramatic shifts in pelvic anatomy during late pregnancy and in the days after birth, when the uterus shrinks rapidly, create movement around the ovary. Postpartum torsion is uncommon, but a persistent cyst is a reason to take new severe one-sided pain seriously even after the baby has arrived.

For the baby, a benign maternal ovarian cyst has no direct effect. It does not cross the placenta, alter fetal development or influence breastfeeding. Even when surgery is required, careful timing and anesthetic technique are aimed at keeping the pregnancy stable.

The honest caveat is that a rare cancerous cyst changes everything about the plan, from timing of delivery to treatment sequencing, and those decisions are made by a multidisciplinary team with the patient at the center.

What people often get wrong about an ovarian cyst during pregnancy

Myths cluster around this topic because it sits at the intersection of two anxieties: pregnancy and the word “cyst.” A few deserve direct correction.

“A cyst means something is wrong with the pregnancy.” The most common cyst is the corpus luteum, the very structure that supports the pregnancy in its first weeks. Its presence is a sign the ovary is doing its job, not that the pregnancy is in danger.

“Bigger always means worse.” Size increases the chance of torsion and makes a functional cyst less likely, but appearance matters more than measurements. A sizeable simple cyst is usually less concerning than a small one with solid, blood-rich parts. Mayo Clinic’s guidance on when cysts need treatment centers on symptoms and features, not size alone.

“Cysts have to be removed.” The default in pregnancy is observation. The NHS explicitly recommends watchful waiting for cysts that are small and symptom-free because most disappear on their own.

“Diet, supplements or rest can shrink a cyst.” No mainstream evidence supports any food, herb or activity change dissolving an ovarian cyst. Functional cysts resolve because hormone signals change, not because of anything eaten or avoided. Be wary of anything marketed to “melt” cysts.

“A complex cyst means cancer.” Complex describes appearance, not behavior. Dermoids, endometriomas and bleeding corpus luteum cysts are all complex and all benign.

“Pain means the cyst is growing.” Pelvic discomfort in pregnancy has many sources, most unrelated to the ovary. Mild aching is worth mentioning; it is not evidence of change. Sudden severe pain, on the other hand, is a signal in its own right regardless of what the last scan showed.

Correcting these ideas does not make a cyst trivial. It puts the attention where it belongs: on appearance, persistence and symptoms.

Questions to ask your care team about an ovarian cyst in pregnancy

Appointments are short and scan rooms are not built for conversation, so it helps to arrive with a list. These questions are the ones that most often change how people feel about the plan, because they turn a vague finding into a concrete one.

• What type of cyst do you think this is, and which features on the scan make you think so?
• Is it simple or complex, and how large is it in centimeters?
• When will it be looked at again, and will that be a routine scan or a dedicated one?
• What change between scans would make you recommend treatment, and what would make you stop watching altogether?
• Are there any symptoms I should report between appointments, and whom do I call?
• If surgery were ever needed, when in the pregnancy would you prefer to do it, and would that be keyhole or open?
• Would you aim to remove the cyst only, or might the ovary need to come out?
• Does this cyst have any bearing on how or where I deliver?
• Is there anything I should avoid doing, or is normal activity fine?
• Will you review the cyst after the birth if it is still there?

Write down the answers, or ask whether the plan can be added to your maternity notes so that anyone who sees you later, including in an emergency, knows what was found and what was intended. If a specialist referral is mentioned, ask what the specialist will add and whether the referral is routine or urgent; the two carry very different meanings, and clarity spares needless worry.

Finally, if you leave an appointment unsure whether you are being watched or being treated, that itself is a question worth asking. A good plan can be stated in one sentence, and you are entitled to hear it.

When to call your doctor about an ovarian cyst in pregnancy

Most people with a cyst under observation never need this section, but everyone should know it. The signs below point to torsion, rupture or another acute problem, and each warrants contacting your maternity unit or emergency services promptly rather than waiting for the next scheduled visit.

• Sudden, severe pain in the lower abdomen or pelvis, especially on one side, that does not ease within minutes
• Pain accompanied by nausea, vomiting, or a feeling of faintness
• Pain with fever or chills
• Rapid heartbeat, dizziness, cold or clammy skin, or actual fainting, which can indicate internal bleeding
• Vaginal bleeding alongside pelvic pain
• A sudden increase in abdominal swelling or a tight, hard abdomen
• Reduced or absent fetal movements later in pregnancy, whatever the cause you suspect
• Pain that comes in waves and feels like contractions before your due date

Cleveland Clinic and the NHS both describe sudden severe pelvic pain with vomiting as the classic presentation of ovarian torsion, and both advise urgent medical attention. A twisted ovary can lose its blood supply within hours, and the chances of saving it depend on speed. Rupture with bleeding can be equally urgent.

Milder concerns belong on a different channel. A dull ache that comes and goes, a new sense of pressure, or discomfort with movement should be reported at your next appointment or via your maternity contact line so the team can decide whether to bring a scan forward. Mentioning these is not fussing; it is exactly the kind of information monitoring depends on.

Every decision about imaging, surgery or the timing of delivery rests with the obstetric team looking after you, informed by the findings in your particular case. Their door is the right one to knock on, and knocking early is never wrong.

Frequently asked questions

Is it safe to remove an ovarian cyst during pregnancy?

Surgery can be performed safely in pregnancy when it is genuinely needed, but it is reserved for cysts that persist, grow large, look suspicious, or cause an emergency such as torsion. Planned operations are usually scheduled in the second trimester to reduce risks to the pregnancy. Risks including bleeding, infection, preterm labor and loss of the ovary are weighed against the risks of leaving the cyst, and the decision rests with the treating team.

How does an ovarian cyst feel during pregnancy?

Most ovarian cysts in pregnancy cause no sensation at all and are found only on ultrasound. When symptoms occur, people describe a dull one-sided pelvic ache, a sense of pressure or fullness, or discomfort during sex or bending. These overlap with normal pregnancy sensations, so they cannot confirm a cyst. Sudden severe pain is different and suggests torsion or rupture, which requires urgent assessment.

Is it normal to have an ovarian cyst found on an ultrasound in the first trimester?

Yes, it is one of the most common incidental findings on early pregnancy scans. The ovary that released the egg forms a corpus luteum to produce progesterone, and this often swells into a cyst that is easily seen on a transvaginal scan. Small, simple cysts found at this stage usually shrink or disappear by the second trimester and are followed with a repeat ultrasound rather than treated.

What are the causes of ovarian cysts in pregnancy?

The main cause is normal ovarian function: corpus luteum and follicular cysts arise from the menstrual cycle and early pregnancy hormones. Other cysts existed before conception and are simply discovered now, including dermoid cysts, cystadenomas and endometriomas linked to endometriosis. High hormone levels in multiple pregnancies or after fertility treatment can produce theca lutein cysts. Cancer is a rare cause and is what monitoring is designed to rule out.

What ovarian cyst pregnancy symptoms should make me call my doctor right away?

Call urgently for sudden severe pelvic pain, particularly on one side, especially if it comes with vomiting, fever, faintness, a racing heartbeat or vaginal bleeding. These can indicate ovarian torsion or a ruptured cyst with internal bleeding, both of which need prompt assessment. Reduced fetal movements later in pregnancy or contraction-like pains before your due date also warrant an immediate call, whatever you think the cause is.

Does a corpus luteum cyst in pregnancy go away on its own?

Usually, yes. The corpus luteum supports the pregnancy with progesterone until the placenta takes over toward the end of the first trimester, after which it is no longer needed and shrinks. Mainstream sources note functional cysts typically resolve within two to three months. That is why a corpus luteum cyst seen at the dating scan is frequently absent by the mid-pregnancy anatomy scan, with no treatment required.

How big does an ovarian cyst have to be before treatment is considered in pregnancy?

There is no single size that triggers surgery. Clinicians weigh size together with appearance, persistence and symptoms. Larger cysts raise the chance of torsion and are less likely to be functional, so they prompt more discussion, but a large simple cyst may still be watched while a smaller cyst with solid, blood-rich parts may need specialist review. Your treating team decides based on your specific scans.

Can an ovarian cyst harm my baby?

A benign ovarian cyst has no direct effect on the baby. It does not cross the placenta, affect fetal development or interfere with breastfeeding. The indirect concerns are torsion or rupture, which affect the mother and are treated urgently, and very large cysts that might obstruct labor, which the team plans around. Even when surgery is needed, timing and anesthetic technique are chosen to protect the pregnancy.

Will I need a cesarean if I still have an ovarian cyst at term?

Not usually. Most persistent cysts are small enough to have no bearing on delivery, and vaginal birth proceeds normally with the cyst reassessed afterward. A cesarean is considered only if a large cyst sits low enough to block the baby’s path, or if one is already planned for other reasons, in which case the surgeon may remove the cyst at the same time if appropriate.

Does an ovarian cyst mean I have ovarian cancer?

Almost never. Ovarian cancer in pregnancy is rare, and the vast majority of cysts, including those described as complex, turn out to be benign types such as corpus luteum cysts, dermoids or endometriomas. Monitoring with repeat ultrasound, and MRI where needed, exists to identify the small number that require closer attention. If a cyst has worrying features, specialist review is arranged, and any removed tissue is examined by a pathologist.

References

• NHS: Ovarian cyst
• Cleveland Clinic: Ovarian Cysts
• MedlinePlus: Ovarian cysts
• MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Ovarian cysts

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult a qualified doctor about your individual situation.