Functional ovarian cysts are a fairly common problem among women and should usually not be a cause for concern. Most ovarian cysts do not lead to or indicate cancer.

Though some ovarian cysts may cause discomfort and others may require some treatment, the majority of functional ovarian cysts are asymptomatic and do not require treatment.

A follicular cyst is a simple type of ovarian cyst that can form when ovulation does not occur or when a mature follicle collapses on itself. It can grow to about 2.3 inches in diameter but usually produces no symptoms and disappears by itself after a few months.

The corpus luteum cyst can occur when an ovarian gland produces progesterone as an egg is released during the ovulation phase of the monthly menstrual cycle. A healthy corpus luteum is a round gland filled with fluid and roughly an inch in diameter.

It is important to note that cysts on the corpus luteum are known to be asymptomatic. They appear without the presence of noticeable symptoms and develop at the end of the monthly menstrual cycle, as well during the early stages of a pregnancy. Luckily, most corpus luteum cysts disappear without treatment.

A functional cyst on the ovaries that releases or contains blood is referred to as a hemorrhagic ovarian cyst. This type of cyst won't always burst, however when they do, it will cause a burning feeling in the pelvic area from leaking blood.

Hemorrhagic cysts are common, however, and most of the time nothing needs to be done to treat them. If a doctor thinks the cyst is an indicator of endometriosis, they may perform surgery to remove it.

Dermoid cysts are a type of ovarian cyst which develops out of the ovaries’ totipotential germ cell. The totipotential germ cell produces hair, teeth, bones, and similar tissues. Dermoid cysts can appear in women of any age. However, they are most common during women's prime reproductive period.

Different kinds of physical tissue can be found in dermoid cysts. It is possible for doctors to discover teeth and hair remnants in dermoid cysts. Since they can prevent blood flow to the ovaries, doctors frequently remove dermoid cysts through surgery.

A pathological ovarian cysts can include tumors and endometriosis. These are rare and can only be diagnosed after extensive examination by a doctor.

A tumor is a type of pathological ovarian cyst that can be found both in non-cancerous, benign forms as well as cancerous, malignant forms. Once found, tumors need to be treated quickly. They are usually persistent, larger than 6 cm, and thick walled. In contrast, an endometrioid cyst caused by endometriosis is formed when a patch of endometrial tissue bleeds, sloughs off, and becomes transplanted inside the ovaries. This usually occurs in women during their prime reproductive years. Again, pathological ovarian cysts are rarer than functional cysts.

ovarian cysts may differ in type; each type must be diagnosed properly and treated accordingly. Functional cysts are more common than pathological cysts.

All women should safeguard their health by learning about ovarian cysts and discussing the possibility of cysts with their physicians.