Many women have cystic ovaries and are fertile. Others have no cysts and they still don't ovulate. For many women being told that they have cystic ovaries comes as a shock and leads to a fear of infertility. In some cases this fear is well founded - cystic ovaries are one sign of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) a serious health problem that can cause infertility. However, for other women cystic ovaries do not appear to change their fertility.

A study at Tufts University shows that even if an ultrasound reveals that you have polycystic ovaries, you may be as fertile as other women. Even if you have PCOS this study suggests that if you can reduce your symptoms of polycystic ovarian syndrome, you may become more fertile in spite of having polycystic ovaries. (Hassan, M et al, Fertility and Sterility, 2003, 80(4):966-975).

Researchers used ultrasound to identify 210 women as having polycystic ovaries. One-third of these women had none of the typical symptoms of PCOS. The non-symptomatic women took no longer to get pregnant than women with normal ovaries. In other words, the asymptomatic polycystic women were just as fertile as women with normal ovaries.

Some women seem to have cysts on their ovaries with no other symptoms. Those who have other symptoms may find that if they can improve their overall health they can improve their fertility, whether or not their ovarian cysts disappear. Women with PCOS often find that if their health improves and their hormones become balanced their ovarian cysts go away on their own.

The typical cysts found in polycystic ovaries are small and while they may cause some minor pain or tenderness, they are not usually a serious health problem. Most cysts are actually fluid filled and often disappear on their own. Some ovarian cysts are filled with tissue and are called dermoid cysts.

Large cysts can be removed, if necessary, through surgery or in some cases by having the fluid removed with a syringe in laporoscopic surgery. Talk to your doctor about the risks of surgery and whether it is possible to wait a few months to see if the cysts resolve on their own. In rare cases ovarian cysts can be cancerous. In that case it is vital to have treatment as soon as possible to prevent it from spreading.


If you have larger cysts, constant or sharp pain, or your doctor recommends further treatment it is wise to have the cysts treated. Large ovarian cysts can rupture causing internal bleeding or may cause they ovary to twist and lead to severe pain or even loss of the ovary.