National Institutes of Health
- The primary NIH organization for research on Ovarian Cysts is the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
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National Institutes of Health
Ovarian Cysts
A cyst is a fluid-filled sac. In most cases a cyst on the ovary does no harm and goes away by itself. Most women have them sometime during their lives. Cysts are rarely cancerous in women under 50. Cysts sometimes hurt - but not always. Often, a woman finds out about a cyst when she has a pelvic exam.
If you're in your childbearing years or past menopause, have no symptoms, and have a fluid-filled cyst, you may choose to monitor the cyst. You may need surgery if you have pain, are past menopause or if the cyst does not go away. Birth control pills can help prevent new cysts.
A health problem that may involve ovarian cysts is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Women with PCOS can have high levels of male hormones, irregular or no periods and small ovarian cysts.
Dept. of Health and Human Services Office on Women's Health
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Start Here
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Ovarian Cysts
(Patient Education Institute)
- Also available in Spanish
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Ovarian Cysts
The top row in the table of contents box contains the following groups:
Basics
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Learn More
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Multimedia & Cool Tools
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For group Learn More
For group Multimedia & Cool Tools
The bottom row in the table of contents box contains the following groups:
Research
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Reference Shelf
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For You
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Overviews
- Ovarian Cysts(American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) - PDF
- Ovarian Cysts(Dept. of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health)
- Ovarian Cysts(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
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Diagnosis/Symptoms
- Pelvic laparoscopy - slideshow
- Also available in Spanish
- Ultrasound Imaging of the Pelvis(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)
- Also available in Spanish
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Related Issues
- Ovarian Cysts and Fertility: Is There a Connection?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
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Tutorials
- Ovarian Cysts(Patient Education Institute)
- Also available in Spanish
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Anatomy/Physiology
- Atlas of Human Body: Female Reproductive Organs(American Medical Association)
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Clinical Trials
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Ovarian Cysts(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Ovarian Cysts
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Research
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No Difference Between Actual and Simulated Acupuncture for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
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No Difference Between Actual and Simulated Acupuncture for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
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Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
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Directories
- ACOG's Physician Directory(American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists)
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Organizations
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National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
- womenshealth.gov(Dept. of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health)
- Also available in Spanish
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National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
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Patient Handouts
- Ovarian cysts
- Also available in Spanish
- Pelvic laparoscopy
- Also available in Spanish
- Pelvis MRI scan
- Also available in Spanish
- Transvaginal ultrasound
- Also available in Spanish
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You may also be interested in these related encyclopedia pages:
MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA
Ovarian Cysts - Multiple Languages