Functional Ovarian Cysts

Medications

Treatment with medication may be useful if you have recurrent, painful functional ovarian cysts.

• Birth control pills (oral contraceptives) are used to prevent ovulation. Without ovulation, the chance that ovarian cysts will form is reduced and your symptoms may be relieved.
• Although birth control pills do not make ovarian cysts go away any faster, their use may prevent new cysts from forming.

Medication Choices

Birth control pills (oral contraceptives) to stop ovulation by controlling hormone levels in the body

What To Think About

Experts disagree about the use of birth control pills to shrink and eliminate ovarian cysts that have already formed. Some studies show that the cysts shrink at the same rate with or without birth control pill use.⁴

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Author:	Monica Rhodes	Last Updated: November 22, 2006
Medical Review:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology
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