Do oral contraceptives or injectable progestins (DepoProvera®) prevent the formation of ovarian cysts?
Oral contraceptives are known to block ovulation in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome as well as lower the circulating androgens which can cause excessive hair growth (6). They are also used as pretreatment to decrease cyst formation when giving LHRF for in vitro fertilization (7). Thus they can be used to lessen the risk of new ovarian cyst formation even though they will not suppress any currently existing cysts. Neither oral contraceptives nor injectable progestins totally suppress all follicle development but they do suppress large follicles in the range of 3.0 cm (8). Should ovarian cysts be aspirated or removed or is it best to just wait and see if they regress? There seems to be little difference as to whether the cysts are aspirated under ultrasound guidance or followed (9). About half of the cysts regress by themselves. The rest may need to be explored surgically and cystectomies performed.
