Ovarian cystectomy

The ovaries can form cysts for a number of reasons. When you ovulate you normally form a small cyst called a follicle which grows to about 2cm in diameter through the cycle and then subsides by the end of the cycle. However other cysts can form which do not regress spontaneously and continue to grow over months or years. There are a number of different kinds of cyst - dermoid cysts, endometriotic cysts, serous and mucinous cystadenomas. When these cysts grow to a certain size they begin to cause pain. Most of these cysts are benign in young women, but the older you become, the more likely these cysts will undergo malignant (cancerous) change. Cysts that are not related to ovulation generally need to be surgically removed. If the cysts are not obviously cancerous, this can usually be carried out through keyhole surgery. When the cyst is removed we send it to the pathology laboratory to be tested for cancer. If you have a laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy you are normally in hospital for 24hours and recovering for 2-3 days

Ovarian cyst due to endometriosis