What are the treatment options for ovarian cysts?
Several factors are taken into account when deciding on the type of treatment for ovarian cysts; and whether to treat at all. The main factors are: • The patient’s age • Whether the patient is pre- or postmenopausal • The appearance of the cyst • The size of the cyst • Whether or not there are any symptoms Watchful waiting (observation) – sometimes watchful waiting, also known as observation is recommended, especially if the woman is pre-menopausal and she has a small functional cyst (2cm to 5cm). An ultrasound scan will be carried out about a month or so later to check it, and to see whether it has gone. Post-menopausal women are monitored with ultrasound scans, as well as blood tests to check their CA125 levels. The approach depends very much on the size of the cyst and whether it has changed over time. If a woman has small cysts in just one ovary her risk of developing cancer is very small. In most cases such cysts go away within three months. Post-menopausal women should undergo a
