Cystectomy is the surgical removal of a cyst. Ovarian cysts usually do not require surgery, with some exceptions:

  1. When they do not go away after several weeks
  2. When they continue to grow and/or are very large
  3. When cancer is suspected
  4. When they cause severe pain

Benign cysts can be removed using laparoscopic surgery, or a “minilaparotomy” which are minimally invasive and allows a speedy recovery. Usually a laparoscopic cystectomy can be done on an outpatient basis (you leave the hospital the same day) and normal activities can be resumed in a week or two. Because of new advances in laparoscopic instruments and techniques, even the entire ovary can be removed this way if the need arises, for example, if the cyst is very large and has destroyed the ovary.

When cancer is suspected, a laparotomy will be performed so that the surgeon can directly see and feel the surrounding tissues.