Solid material in cysts may indicate the need for further evaluation. Complications Benign or noncancerous tumors do not invade neighboring tissue the way malignant tumors do. However, if a benign tumor or ovarian cyst is large, it can cause abdominal discomfort. In some cases it may interfere with the production of ovarian hormones and result in irregular bleeding from the vagina or an increase in body hair. If a large tumor or cyst presses on your bladder, you may need to urinate more frequently because its capacity is reduced.
Some women develop less common types of cysts that in rare cases can become cancerous.
These cysts may not even have symptoms but may be found by your physician during a pelvic examination. Women who develop such cysts between ages 50 and 70 are at a higher risk of ovarian cancer. Cysts that form after menopause have a greater chance of being cancerous. All of these factors make regular pelvic examinations important. The following types of cysts are less common.