How are ovarian cysts treated?

Most ovarian cysts in women of reproductive age are physiological (functional) and patients have been treated for years with oral contraceptives to obtain the resolution of these cysts. Expectant management has been suggested to have the same effectiveness as hormonal treatment but such suggestions come from studies including all kinds of cysts. The objective of the present study was to assess the resolution of functional ovarian cysts, observed after ovulation induction, with expectant management and hormonal treatment and also to determine the period of time necessary for the resolution of the cysts. For this purpose, 53 patients with ovarian cysts, observed by transvaginal ultrasound within the first 5 days of a cycle after ovulation induction, were randomized to have expectant management (group A) or to receive oral contraception (group B) for one cycle. If the cyst persisted, the patient was followed for another cycle, without any treatment. Within the 50 women who completed the trial, a complete resolution of the cysts was observed in 19/25 (76%) and 18/25 (72%) in groups A and B respectively. On the other hand, all the persistent cysts disappeared after a second cycle without any treatment. In conclusion, expectant management is as effective as oral contraceptives for the resolution of functional ovarian cysts induced by ovarian stimulation. However, studies with a larger number of cases are needed to increase the power of the results and to obtain a firm conclusion.

Please click on the required question.

• 1 Pelvic Pain. Is this a common problem?
• 2 What are the common causes of pelvic pain in women?
• 3 What are the more common gynaecological causes of pelvic pain?
• 4 What are the more common non-gynaecological causes of pelvic pain?
• 5 What are primary and secondary dysmenorrhoea - painful periods?
• 6 What is retrograde menstruation?
• 7 How can dysmenorrhoea - painful periods be treated?
• 8 What are ovarian cysts?
• 9 How do ovarian cysts cause pain?
• 10 How are ovarian cysts diagnosed?
• 11 How are ovarian cysts treated?
• 12 I think I may be pregnant and I have some pelvic pain. What should I do?
• 13 What is pelvic inflammatory disease and how can it be treated?
• Mittelschmertz

FIBROIDS

•  What are fibroids?
•  I have fibroids. What difficulties might they cause for me?
•  How are fibroids diagnosed?
•  How could my fibroids be treated?

  ENDOMETRIOSIS

•  What is endometriosis?
•  How prevalent is endometriosis?
•  What causes endometriosis?
•  How can my endometriosis be treated?
•  How can my doctor determine the cause of my pelvic pain?
•  What investigations might be recommended by my gynaecologist to investigate my pelvic pain?
•  What is laparoscopy?
•  What are pelvic adhesions?
•  I have chronic pelvic pain. Could this be related to adhesions?
•  What is uterine retroversion (retroverted uterus)
•   Does a retroverted uterus (backward tilted uterus) cause symptoms?
•  How is a retroverted uterus - backward tilted uterus - treated?
•  What is pelvic congestion?
•  What causes pain associated with sexual intercourse (dyspareunia)
•  How can painful sexual intercourse (dyspareunia) be treated?
•  What is a pelvic mass?

  IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME - IBS

•  What is irritable bowel syndrome?
•  How can we find out if I have irritable bowel syndrome?
•  Is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) a common condition?
•  What causes IBS?
•  What is the pain associated with IBS like?
•  Can IBS be mistaken for gynaecological problems?
•  How can my IBS be treated?
•  What other treatments are available for IBS?
•  What can be done to reduce the amount of bowel gas(flatus)
•  What is constipation?
•  What causes constipation?
•   How can constipation be treated?
•  How could we summarise the treatments that are available for my pelvic pain?
•  Where can I obtain more information?
•  Pelvic Pain Support Groups.
•  Endometriosis Support Groups.
•  IBS Support Groups.




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This is the personal website of David A Viniker MD FRCOG, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Whipps Cross University Hospital, London - Specialist Interests - Reproductive Medicine including Infertility, PCOS, PMS, Menopause and HRT.

I do hope that you find the answers to your women's health questions in the patient information and medical advice provided.