Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is an Ovarian Cyst?Preparing for SurgeryProceduresRecoveryRisks and ComplicationsBenefitsQuestions to Ask Your Healthcare ProviderFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is an Ovarian Cyst?
Preparing for Surgery
Procedures
Recovery
Risks and Complications
Benefits
Questions to Ask Your Healthcare Provider
Frequently Asked Questions
While mostovarian cystsgo away on their own, some of these fluid-filled sacs might need to be surgically removed. Patients with largeovarian cysts, painful symptoms, or suspicious imaging may be recommended for ovarian cyst surgery.
Ovarian cyst surgery is the removal of cysts from the ovaries either through small incisions (laparoscopically) or through one larger incision (laparotomy) in the abdomen. The recovery time depends on which surgery you have, and can range from a week to months.
This article discusses more about how to prepare for these procedures, what they entail, and any risks and complications.
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Ovarian cystsare fluid-filled sacs that can develop on or inside an ovary. Most of the time they develop during a person’s reproductive years but in rare instances can occur after menopause. There are several types, the most common of which are functional cysts formed during ovulation.
Most of the time ovarian cysts come with no symptoms, but they can sometimes cause a dull ache, pressure, or a sense of bloating in the abdomen.
While most ovarian cysts resolve on their own, surgery is sometimes necessary to treat ovarian cysts. A healthcare provider may advise surgery when:
Surgery may be considered an elective procedure and will be scheduled through your medical provider’s office in advance. Forruptured ovarian cysts, there may be blood and fluid loss, necessitating an emergency surgery for cyst removal.
You should expect to take a few days off from work for the procedure and for the recovery period after the surgery.
Before the surgery, you may be told to do the following:
You may also be instructed to avoid:
Healthcare providers generally recommend laparotomy or laparoscopic surgery to remove cysts.
Laparoscopy
Most cysts are removed using laparoscopy. This is a minimally invasive surgery that’s recommended unless the cyst is unusually large or is suspected of being cancerous.
During laparoscopic surgery:
Most patients will be discharged following laparoscopic surgery and can return to normal activities within a week.
Laparotomy
Laparotomy surgerymay be performed for large cysts that cannot be easily removed from tiny incisions or for cysts that are suspected to be cancerous.
A single larger incision is made in the abdomen to access the cyst. The layers of muscle and skin are sewn back together and dressings are placed after the procedure is done.
Patients who had a laparotomy procedure will stay in the hospital for two to four days, and most people return to normal activities at 12 weeks.
People can typically leave the hospital not long after laparoscopy surgery and can resume normal activities within a week. It’s best to rest and relax within 24 hours of your surgery. After that, there are no restrictions on the activities you can do as long as you’re not taking narcotics, which can make you drowsy. If you’re taking narcotics, refrain from driving, playing sports, or using heavy equipment.
Postoperative symptoms for laparoscopy recovery can include:
For a laparotomy, it can take about three months to fully recover. It’s important to follow your surgeon’s post-operative instructions, which may include:
You will have a couple follow-up appointments with your surgeon so that they can check your incision, remove any stitches or tape, and answer your questions. If the incisions begin to bleed or leak pus, it’s important to get in touch with your surgeon right away because it may be infected.
As with any surgery, there are risks with ovarian cyst removal surgery, including:
Will Ovarian Cysts Return After Surgery?The only way to guarantee that ovarian cysts will not return is to surgically remove the ovaries, initiating menopause (having no monthly periods).The cause of the ovarian cysts is crucial in determining whether it’s possible for cysts to recur.
Will Ovarian Cysts Return After Surgery?
The only way to guarantee that ovarian cysts will not return is to surgically remove the ovaries, initiating menopause (having no monthly periods).The cause of the ovarian cysts is crucial in determining whether it’s possible for cysts to recur.
The purpose of ovarian cyst surgery is to remove the cysts that are either causing symptoms or are cancerous. Some benefits of removal include:
How Often Do People Need Ovarian Cyst Surgery?It’s estimated that only 5%–10% of ovarian cysts require surgical removal, and of those removed, only 13%–21% are found to be cancerous.
How Often Do People Need Ovarian Cyst Surgery?
It’s estimated that only 5%–10% of ovarian cysts require surgical removal, and of those removed, only 13%–21% are found to be cancerous.
What Are Nabothian Cysts?
If a healthcare provider recommends ovarian cyst surgery, some questions to ask include:
Summary
Ovarian cyst surgery is a procedure through which ovarian cysts, fluid-filled sacs that develop on the ovaries, are removed. Your healthcare provider may recommend surgery if your cysts are particularly large, are causing problems, or are cancerous.
Frequently Asked QuestionsSome ovarian cysts can cause infertility, such as those resulting from endometriosis or PCOS. Functional cysts, cystadenomas, and dermoid cysts are not associated with infertility. Surgical removal of cysts does not affect fertility unless the ovaries themselves are removed (oophorectomy) because the ovaries secrete hormones associated with reproduction and pregnancy.Medicare.gov estimates that for ovarian cyst surgery, the procedure costs about $2,700 if it’s done at an ambulatory (walk-in) surgery center and about $5,500 for hospital outpatient surgery.Patients with Medicare would pay $549 for walk-in surgery and $1,110 for outpatient surgery.Medical professionals agree that large ovarian cysts should be removed typically when cysts are at least 2 to 4 inches in diameter. Ovarian cyst removal is easier and has fewer surgical risks when the cysts are smaller, compared with waiting until they are much larger (such as 20 inches).Cysts that are suspected to be ovarian cancer are removed regardless of size.
Some ovarian cysts can cause infertility, such as those resulting from endometriosis or PCOS. Functional cysts, cystadenomas, and dermoid cysts are not associated with infertility. Surgical removal of cysts does not affect fertility unless the ovaries themselves are removed (oophorectomy) because the ovaries secrete hormones associated with reproduction and pregnancy.
Medicare.gov estimates that for ovarian cyst surgery, the procedure costs about $2,700 if it’s done at an ambulatory (walk-in) surgery center and about $5,500 for hospital outpatient surgery.Patients with Medicare would pay $549 for walk-in surgery and $1,110 for outpatient surgery.
Medical professionals agree that large ovarian cysts should be removed typically when cysts are at least 2 to 4 inches in diameter. Ovarian cyst removal is easier and has fewer surgical risks when the cysts are smaller, compared with waiting until they are much larger (such as 20 inches).Cysts that are suspected to be ovarian cancer are removed regardless of size.
Oophorectomy: Everything You Need to Know
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Ovarian cysts.Boston Center for Endometriosis.After your laparoscopy.University of Michigan Health.Surgery for ovarian cysts.Office on Women’s Health.Ovarian cysts.Medicare.Ovarian cystectomy, unilateral or bilateral.University of Utah Health. Ovarian cysts:The good, the bad, and the ugly.The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Ovarian cysts.
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Ovarian cysts.Boston Center for Endometriosis.After your laparoscopy.University of Michigan Health.Surgery for ovarian cysts.Office on Women’s Health.Ovarian cysts.Medicare.Ovarian cystectomy, unilateral or bilateral.University of Utah Health. Ovarian cysts:The good, the bad, and the ugly.The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Ovarian cysts.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MedlinePlus.Ovarian cysts.Boston Center for Endometriosis.After your laparoscopy.University of Michigan Health.Surgery for ovarian cysts.Office on Women’s Health.Ovarian cysts.Medicare.Ovarian cystectomy, unilateral or bilateral.University of Utah Health. Ovarian cysts:The good, the bad, and the ugly.The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Ovarian cysts.
MedlinePlus.Ovarian cysts.
Boston Center for Endometriosis.After your laparoscopy.
University of Michigan Health.Surgery for ovarian cysts.
Office on Women’s Health.Ovarian cysts.
Medicare.Ovarian cystectomy, unilateral or bilateral.
University of Utah Health. Ovarian cysts:The good, the bad, and the ugly.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Ovarian cysts.
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