The management of ovarian cysts in premenopausal women

As high‐resolution transvaginal ultrasound becomes more widely available, asymptomatic cysts are diagnosed with increasing frequency. Womens' anxieties centre on the risk of cancer and possible loss of fertility due to the cyst and treatment complications. Investigations include measurement of serum tumour markers, basic assessment of ovarian function, transvaginal ultrasonography and possibly cyst fluid cytology. While a proportion of simple cysts will resolve spontaneously, others require surgical management. Laparoscopic surgery is the treatment of choice in young women at low risk of malignancy.