If you have experienced ovarian cysts at one time or another, they either went away on their own or they caused you significant pain and discomfort.
In order to plan the best way of action, you need information on ovarian cysts - what they are and how they affect you.
What are ovaries? These are the female reproductive organs located in the pelvis on each side of the uterus.
The uterus is the pear shaped and hollow organ in which the baby grows in a normal pregnancy.
Ovaries are about the size and shape of an almond.
Ovaries produce the female hormones estrogen and progesterone which affects the way the breast and hair grows, the body shape, menstrual cycle and pregnancy.
Ovaries also produce eggs each month.
Each month during the menstrual cycle, an egg grows inside an ovary in a tiny sac called a follicle.
At maturity, the sac opens and releases the egg which travels through the fallopian tube to the uterus for fertilization.
The sac then dissolves.
What are ovarian cysts? Cysts are fluid filled sacs.
An ovarian cyst grows on or in the ovaries.
The most common types of cysts are functional cysts that grow during a normal menstrual cycle.
These types are rarely cancerous.
The two types of functional cysts are;

1. Follicle cysts which grow when the sac carrying the egg does not break open to release the egg at maturity.
   The sac simply keeps growing.
   These cysts usually go away on their own after one to two months.
   
2. Corpus luteum cysts form when the sac does not dissolve after the sac releases the egg.
   Instead, it seals itself and fluid builds up inside the sac.
   These usually disappear after a few weeks however they may bleed and lead to discomfort and pain when they twist the ovary.
   Certain drugs can be administered to cause ovulation but can sometimes raise the risk of getting more of these cysts.
   

There are many other types of cysts that can cause infertility or affect sexual intercourse.
Some others may grow to large sizes and cause a lot of pain and discomfort during sex and menstruation.
Some cysts may also be filled with hair, teeth, bones and other tissues.
How ovarian cysts are found

1. Ovarian cysts may be found during normal pelvic exams.
   
2. An ultrasound can show the presence of cysts.
   
3. A pregnancy test may be given to rule out pregnancy.
   
4. Hormone level tests may be checked to determine whether there are any hormone related issues.
   
5. A blood test may be performed to determine whether a cyst may be cancerous.
   

How ovarian cysts are treated

1. Your doctor may tell you to wait and have a second test in about one to three months to see if there has been a change in the size of the cyst.
   This is the usual suggestion for women in the childbearing age, who have no symptoms and have a fluid filled cyst.
   
2. Surgery may be suggested if the woman is post menopausal or if the cyst has not dissolved after several menstrual cycles, grows larger, causes significant pain or has an odd appearance.
   
3. Birth control pills may be prescribed in order for the woman to stop ovulating.
   Without ovulation, the less likely it is for cysts to develop.
   
4. When are cysts likely to develop?
5. During the childbearing ages women are likely to develop ovarian cysts most of which are benign (non-cancerous).
   
6. Women who are past menopause who develop ovarian cysts or prepubescent girls have a higher risk of the cyst being cancerous.
   

There are many holistic remedies to treat and prevent ovarian cysts and are less expensive that traditional medicine and have few side effects.
Prevention should always be the focus and most traditional approaches do not address this.