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Ask Dr. Carolle |
 Why do some women have a tendency to develop an
ovarian cyst?
 "Functional
cysts" are the most common type of ovarian cysts. Changes in the hormonal levels in a
woman's body sometimes result in the formation of a follicle, a saclike structure that
forms inside an ovary when an egg is produced.
During normal ovulation, the follicle
bursts, releasing an egg, then dissolves in two to three weeks. If the follicle fails to
burst, it may become a cyst called a "follicular cyst."
Most follicular cysts resolve after six
to eight weeks. Another type of benign hormonal ovarian cyst is called a "corpus
luteum cyst." The corpus luteum is a yellow glandular mass formed by an ovarian
follicle after ovulation. When the structure stays intact, it eventually becomes a cyst.
Usually, follicular and corpus luteum cysts have no symptoms.
Most health-care providers choose to
observe them since they have atendency to go away on their own.
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