Only a cyst which lasts for a long time or causes significant symptoms will need medical attention. Some cysts do not cause any symptoms or discomfort at all, but may be discovered by a doctor during a routine exam. If this happens, you may need to be examined again in several weeks to make sure the cyst is not causing any problems that require treatment. In some cases, you may need treatment when the cyst is found. There are several different types of ovarian cysts.
Functional cysts are the most common type of ovarian cyst.
These cysts can persist when eggs are either not released by the ovary and they continue to swell inside the ovary, or when unfertilized eggs are released by the ovary, but do not dissolve. Functional cysts usually don't cause symptoms or require treatment. They usually disappear within one to three menstrual cycles. While they are common in menstruating women, they are far less common soon after menopause and are very rare after menopause is well established. Dermoid cysts arise from the cells that normally make eggs and contain oily fluid and possibly small solid particles.