An ovarian cystectomy is a surgical procedure to remove a benign ovarian cyst while leaving the affected ovary intact. In cases where cancer is detected, this surgery may extend to removal of one or both of the ovaries. The procedure can be performed via a minimally invasive, laparoscopic approach that allows the patient to return to normal, low-exertion activities within just one day, or via laparotomy where a two to four-day hospital stay may be required. Women may undergo the procedure to confirm the presence of a cyst, to have a symptomatic cyst removed and/or to rule out the possibility of ovarian cancer. While many women have asymptomatic ovarian cysts that do not require surgical intervention, this may be recommended when a cyst becomes larger than three inches in diameter, when it persists for several months or more, or when imaging studies indicate that it is not a simple “functional” cyst. Other cases in which a cystectomy may be recommended include when multiple cysts are detected on both ovaries; when a cyst is detected in a prepubescent girl who has not yet started having a menstrual cycle; and when a cyst is detected in a post-menopausal woman.
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