Most ovarian cysts are never noticed and resolved without women ever realizing that they are there. When a cyst causes symptoms, pain in the abdomen or pelvis is the most common one. The pain can be caused from:

• rupture of the cyst,
• rapid growth and stretching,
• bleeding into the cyst, or
• twisting of the cyst around its blood supply (known as torsion).

If the cyst has reached a large size, other symptoms may arise as a result of pressure or distortion of adjacent anatomical structures. These other symptoms can include:

• abdominal fullness, expansion of the abdomen, or bloating,
• low back pain,
• indigestion,
• feeling full after eating only a small amount (early satiety),
• urinary urgency,
• difficulty with emptying the bladder,
• feeling an urge to defecate
• having difficult bowel movements, or
• pain with sexual intercourse.

A ruptured (burst) ovarian cyst will not always cause symptoms, particularly if the cyst is small. However, sometimes a ruptured ovarian cyst can lead to severe pain and internal bleeding. The pain with a ruptured ovarian cyst typically comes on suddenly and occurs on one side only. The pain may begin during physical activity such as vigorous exercise or may begin during sexual intercourse. A ruptured ovarian cyst usually does not cause fever or gastrointestinal symptoms.

• Follicular cysts: The most common type is a follicular cyst, which results from the growth of a follicle. A follicle is the normal fluid-filled sac that contains an egg. Follicular cysts form when the follicle grows larger than normal during the menstrual cycle and does not open to release the egg. Usually, follicular cysts resolve on their own for days to months. Follicular cysts can contain blood (hemorrhagic cysts) from leakage of blood into the egg sac.
• Corpus luteum cysts: A Corpus luteum cyst is related to the menstrual cycle. The corpus luteum is an area of tissue within the ovary that occurs after an egg has been released from a follicle. If a pregnancy doesn’t occur, the corpus luteum usually breaks down and disappears. It may, however, fill with fluid or blood and persist as a cyst on the ovary. Usually, this cyst is found on only one side, produces no symptoms, and resolves spontaneously.
• “Chocolate cysts:” Endometriosis is a condition in which cells that normally grow inside as a lining of the uterus (womb), instead grow outside of the uterus in other locations. The ovary is a common site for endometriosis. When endometriosis involves the ovary, the area of endometrial tissue may grow and bleed over time, forming a blood-filled cyst with red- or brown-colored contents called an endometrioma, sometimes referred to as a “chocolate cyst.”
• Polycystic ovarian syndrome: The condition known as a polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by the presence of multiple small cysts within both ovaries. PCOS is associated with several hormonal problems and is the most common cause of infertility in women.
• Dermoid cysts (benign cystic teratomas): Both benign and malignant tumors of the ovary may also be cystic. Occasionally, the tissues of the ovary develop abnormally to form other body tissues such as hair or teeth. Cysts with these abnormal tissues are tumors called benign cystic teratomas or dermoid cysts.
• Tubo-ovarian abscesses: Infections of the pelvic organs can involve the ovaries and Fallopian tubes. In severe cases, pus-filled cystic spaces may be present on, in, or around the ovary or tubes. These are known as tube-ovarian abscesses.

Most ovarian cysts are not due to cancer, and having an ovarian cyst does not cause ovarian cancer. However, some ovarian cancers develop cystic areas inside the tumor. Ovarian cancer is much less common than benign ovarian cysts.

Ovarian cysts are sometimes discovered during pregnancy. In most cases, they are an incidental finding at the time of routine prenatal ultrasound screening. The majority of ovarian cysts found during pregnancy are benign conditions that do not require surgical intervention. However, surgery may be indicated if there is a suspicion of malignancy, if an acute complication such as rupture or torsion (twisting of the cyst, disrupting the blood supply) develops, or if the size of the cyst is likely to present problems with the pregnancy.

Most ovarian cysts in women of childbearing age are follicular or corpus luteum cysts (functional cysts) that disappear naturally in one to three months, although they can rupture and cause pain. They are benign and have no long-term medical consequences. They may be diagnosed incidentally during a pelvic examination in women who do not have any related symptoms. All women have follicular cysts at some point that generally go unnoticed.

Ultrasound is useful to determine if the cyst is simple (just fluid with no solid tissue, suggesting a benign condition) or compound (with solid components that often require surgical resection).

In summary, the ideal treatment of ovarian cysts depends on the likely cause of the cysts and whether or not it is producing symptoms. The woman’s age, the size (and any change in size) of the cyst, and the cyst’s appearance on ultrasound help determine the treatment. Functional cysts are usually observed (watchful waiting) with frequent monitoring unless they rupture and cause significant bleeding, in which case, surgical treatment is required. Benign and malignant tumors require an operation.

Treatment can consist of simple observation, or it can involve evaluating blood tests such as a CA-125 to help determine the potential for cancer (keeping in mind the many limitations of CA-125 testing described above).

There are no natural or home remedies to treat ovarian cysts, other than taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for pain management.

Diminution of sexual desire in women. Cysts. Catamenia too feeble, and of too short duration. Leucorrhoea a little before the catamenia. Swelling and induration of the glands. Tumours. Warts.

Lachesis Muta

Lachesis Muta is best for left sided ovarian cysts. Swelling and pain in the left ovary that gets better during menses, short and scanty menses, and menstrual bleeding that is blackish in color. Climacteric troubles, palpitation, flashes of heat, hemorrhages, vertex headache, fainting spells; worse, pressure of clothes. Menses too short, too feeble; pains all relieved by the flow. Left ovary very painful and swollen, indurated. Mammae inflamed, bluish. Coccyx and sacrum pain (ovarian cysts), especially on rising from sitting posture. Acts especially well at beginning and close of menstruation.

Eupionum

Amenorrhea. Cramps. Glandular swellings. Groins, pain in. Hemorrhages. Headache. Leucorrhea. Menorrhagia. Neuralgia. Night-sweats. Phthisis. Pruritus. Toothache. Tumors. Vicarious menstruation.

Lobelia Erinus

Menses come on too often, Bearing down. Cancer.

Lobelia Inflata

During menstruation violent pain in sacrum. Violent pain in the sacrum, with fever. Suppression of the menses. Amenorrhea. Dysmenorrhea. Serous discharges from vagina.

Lilium Tigrinum

Bearing down sensation. Sharp or gasping pains in ovarian region. Pains in ovaries extending into inside of thighs. Ovaries sore and painful to touch. Feels pressure on ovaries. Severe neuralgic pain in uterus. Fundus of uterus low down. Leucorrhea, leaving brown spots on clothes.

Medorrhinum

Severe pain in ovaries, sensation of sac in abdomen. Intense, excruciating, neuralgic pains in whole pelvic region, extending downwards through ovarian region to uterus. Profuse menses: dark clotted, stains difficult to wash out; also, bright blood, with faintness and some pain. Intense menstrual colic.

Thuja Occidentalis

Thuja occ is excellent for ovarian cyst, especially left side. Inflammation of left ovary with severe pain , at every menstrual period. The menses is scanty or retarded, too early or too short.

Lycopodium Clavatum

Lycopodium Clavatum is best for right side ovarian cysts. Burning or boring pains may be felt in the ovary. Menses too late; last too long, too profuse. Vagina dry. Coition painful. Right ovarian pain, Ovarian cyst. Varicose veins of pudenda. Leucorrhea, acrid, with burning in vagina. Discharge of blood from genitals during stool. Nymphomania with terrible teasing desire in external organs. Itching, burning, and gnawing in vulva.

Menstruation too late; lasts too long; sometimes suppression of; profuse, protracted; flow partly black, clotted, partly bright red or partly serum; with labor-like pains followed by swooning. Varices on the genitals.

Mercurious

Suppression of catamenia. Catamenia too copious, with uneasiness and colic. Metrorrhagia. Discharge of blood in an old woman, eleven years after menses had ceased. Before catamenia: dry heat, with ebullition of blood, and congestion in head. Congestion of blood to uterus. Inflammation of ovaries and uterus. Purulent, corrosive leucorrhea, with itching in the parts. Hard tubercles on labia majora. Itching pimples, and nodosities in labia. Itching of genitals. Prolapsus uteri. Sterility with too profuse menstruation.

Piper Nigrum

Ovaries and uterus congested, with pricking and lancinating pains. Contraction of uterus with sensation as if something strove to penetrate into it. Burning and distending pains in uterus. Menses: difficult, retarded; capricious, irregular, with colic and black blood. Cysts. Infections in uterus.

Colocynthis

Boring pain in ovary. Must draw up double, with great restlessness. Round, small cystic tumors in ovaries or broad ligaments. Wants abdomen supported by pressure. Bearing-down cramps, causing her to bend double. Ovarian Cysts.

The pain varies in character, ranging from cramping, stitching to tensive. Burning sensation in the ovaries that gets better upon bending over double and a sensitive ovarian region that seems hard and swollen are the symptoms that indicate the need for this medicine.

Apis Mellifica

Cysts that cause pain during intercourse. A stinging, sharp, cutting pain from the ovary radiating down the thigh, soreness and tenderness over the ovarian region, heaviness in the ovarian region and pain in the ovaries during menstruation. Edema of labia; relieved by cold water. Soreness and stinging pains; ovaritis; worse in right ovary.

Amenorrhea or menorrhagia. Inflammation, induration, swelling, and dropsy of the ovaries. Weight and pain in either ovarian region, predominantly right side. Ovarian cysts. The ovaries feel better by lying on right side. Enlargement of the right ovary with pain in the left pectoral region and cough. Sharp, cutting, stinging pain in the swollen ovary; worse during menstruation.

Ovarian tumors, with stinging pains like bee stings. Metritis, peritonitis, with stinging, thrusting pains. Dropsy of the ovaries; dropsy of the uterus. Threatened miscarriage in the early months. Abortion. Dropsy in the latter part of pregnancy attended with puerperal convulsions. Ulceration and engorgement of os-uteri. Large and painful swelling of the labia, with heat and stinging pains.

Erysipelatous inflammation of the breasts. Swelling and hardness of the mammae threatening to ulcerate. Scirrhous or open cancer of the mammae, with stinging, burning pains. Dysmenorrhea, with severe ovarian pains. Ovarian cysts. Metrorrhagia profuse, with heavy abdomen, faintness, stinging pain. Sense of tightness. Bearing down, as if menses were to appear. Ovarian tumors, metritis with stinging pains. Great tenderness over abdomen and uterine region.

Pulsatilla Nigricans

Nymphomania. Drawing, pressive, spasmodic and contractive pain extending towards uterus with qualmishness, ovarian cysts. Burning (sticking) pain in vagina and pudenda. Metrorrhagia (discharge now stopping, and then stronger again, of coagulated, clotted blood, or with false labour-pains). Menstrual blood black, with clots of mucus, or pale and serous. Catamenia irregular, tardy, or premature, of too short or too long duration, or entirely suppressed, with colic, hysterical spasms in abdomen, hepatic pains, gastralgia, pain in loins, nausea and vomiting, shivering and paleness of face, megrim, vertigo, moral affections, tenesmus of anus and bladder, stitches inside, and many other sufferings before, during, or after period.

Suppression of menses (especially in elderly women in whom they usually occur at full moon). Delay of first menses.

Leucorrhea, thick, like cream. False pregnancy. During pregnancy: nausea, morning sickness; varicose veins, bluish (cyanotic).

Kali Bromatum

Sebaceous cysts. There is ovarian neuralgia with great nervous uneasiness from ungratified sexual desire. Aversion to sex. Pruritus. Ovarian neuralgia with great nervous uneasiness. Exaggerated sexual desire. Cystic tumors of ovaries.

Sabina Officinalis

Almost insatiable desire for coition with corresponding gratification. Sexual desire greatly increased (almost amounting to nymphomania). Contractive pain in region of uterus. Ovarian cysts. Stitches deep in vagina. Sanguineous congestion in uterus. Hemorrhages of partly pale red, partly clotted, or of very thin, discolored, offensive-smelling blood.

Metrorrhagia with discharge of clotted or bright-red blood, and pains resembling labour pains in the sacrum and in the groins. Metrorrhagia, bright blood. Menses continue too long. Menstrual discharge partly fluid, partly clotted and offensive; it may be either bright red or dark and coagulated; flows mostly in paroxysms, which are brought on by slightest motion; or flow ceases when walking about (menses only when lying down).

Suppressed catamenia with very offensive-smelling leucorrhea (like rotten meat). Miscarriage (especially in the third month). Perceptible swelling of mammae. Tingling in mammae. Inflammation of the uterus after parturition. Retained placenta. After-pains with sensitiveness of abdomen.

Sepia Succus

Pelvic organs relaxed. Bearing-down sensation as if everything would escape through vulva, must cross limbs to prevent protrusion, or press against vulva. Leucorrhea yellow, greenish; with much itching. Menses Too late and scanty, irregular; early and profuse; sharp clutching pains. Violent stitches upward in the vagina, from uterus to umbilicus. Ovarian cysts. Prolapse of uterus and vagina. Morning sickness. Vagina painful, especially on coition.

Silica Tera

Menses too early and too feeble, or else too profuse, with paroxysms of icy coldness over whole body. Suppression of the menses. Discharge of blood before proper period; menses too late; protracted; blood acrid. Metrorrhagia. During the menses, pains in the abdomen, pale appearance of objects, or burning sensation and excoriation in vulva. Itching, burning, and soreness in pudenda; during menses. Abortion. Leucorrhea, which flows when urinating, or after the menses. Leucorrhea, like milk, flowing at intervals, and preceded by griping in umbilical region. Acrid, corrosive leucorrhea.

Kreosotum

Premature catamenia, of too long continuance, and too copious, with a discharge of black blood. Appearance of menses during pregnancy. Abdominal spasms; pressure in the genitals; leucorrhoea.

Plumbum Metallicum

Retarded menstruation. Amenorrhea, chloro-anemia. Nymphomania. Wants to stretch limbs during ovarian pains. Spasmodic dysmenorrhea. Cessation of menses on invasion of colic; may reappear after paroxysm, or not again until next period. Metrorrhagia with sensation of strong pulling from abdomen to back; during climacteric, dark clots alternating with fluid blood or bloody serum. Strangulation of prolapsed portion of vagina, intense pain. Mucous discharge per Vagini. Feels a lack of room for fetus in uterus; inability of uterus to expand; threatened abortion.

Most functional (related to the menstrual cycle) ovarian cysts resolve on their own and do not cause long-term problems. Benign cysts or benign tumors can be surgically removed. The vast majority of ovarian cysts do not cause any long-term problems. Rarely, cysts may be present within ovarian cancer. In this case, the prognosis depends upon the extent of spread and the exact type of cancer that is present.