Ovarian cyst removal (Ovarian cystectomy (often laparoscopic))
An operation, usually keyhole, to remove a cyst from the ovary — for symptoms, growth, or to check it is not cancer — while trying to keep the healthy ovary.
✓ Medically reviewed by a GMC-registered consultant · last reviewed September 2026 · next review September 2027 · how we review
In short
- Surgery removes an ovarian cyst when it is large, painful, growing or needs checking for cancer — many cysts do not need surgery and are just monitored.
- It is usually keyhole, aiming to keep the healthy ovary; sometimes the whole ovary, or rarely the tube too, has to be removed.
- Keyhole recovery is usually about 2 weeks; if the surgeon needs to switch to open surgery, recovery is longer (around 6 weeks).
- The cyst is always sent to the laboratory, and results take a few weeks; surgery aims to preserve fertility wherever possible.
A plain-English summary. The detail — including risks and recovery — is below.
At a glance
A general guide. Your surgeon will give you advice for your situation.
Relieves pain or pressure caused by the cyst
The cyst is small, simple and likely to disappear on its own, where monitoring is safer than surgery.
You wake in recovery and most people go home the same day or after one night. Expect tummy and shoulder-tip pain from the gas, controlled with painkillers.
Clear warning-sign advice for infection, internal bleeding and blood clots, with a named contact.
You wake in recovery and most people go home the same day or after one night. Expect tummy and shoulder-tip pain...
Bloating and tiredness ease. Walk gently to reduce the risk of clots. Keep the small wounds clean and dry. Light...
Most people return to desk work and light activity at around 2 weeks. Avoid heavy lifting and strenuous exercise...
If you had open surgery, recovery is slower, with more wound care, a longer time off work and a gradual return to...
What is ovarian cyst removal?
An ovarian cyst is a fluid-filled sac on or in an ovary. Most are harmless and many disappear on their own, so they are often just monitored. Surgery to remove a cyst (ovarian cystectomy) is usually advised when a cyst is large, causing symptoms such as pain, growing, looks unusual on scans, or needs checking to make sure it is not cancer.
Most cysts are removed by keyhole (laparoscopic) surgery, under general anaesthetic. The surgeon makes a small cut near the belly button, fills the tummy with gas to create space, and uses a telescope-like camera and instruments through a few small cuts. The cyst is carefully peeled away from the ovary, aiming to keep as much healthy ovary as possible so fertility is preserved.
Sometimes more than the cyst has to be removed. If the ovary is very damaged, the cyst is very large, or there is a concern about cancer, the whole ovary (and sometimes the fallopian tube) may need to be taken out — this is called an oophorectomy. The removed cyst or ovary is always sent to the laboratory to be examined.
Keyhole surgery is usually preferred because it means less pain and a quicker recovery, but occasionally the surgeon has to switch to a larger 'open' cut (a laparotomy) — for example if the cyst is very large, stuck down, or there is bleeding. Your surgeon should explain in advance how likely this is for you.
Types & techniques
There isn't one single operation. The right approach depends on you — which is something to discuss with your surgeon.
Options at a glance
These are the main approaches described in this guide. The right option depends on the diagnosis, your goals and what your clinician thinks is safe.
Laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy
Keyhole removal of the cyst from the ovary, keeping the healthy ovarian tissue. The usual approach for most cysts, with small scars and a quicker recovery.
Oophorectomy (removing the ovary)
Removal of the whole ovary, sometimes with the fallopian tube, if the ovary is badly damaged, the cyst is very large, or there is concern about cancer.
Open surgery (laparotomy)
A larger single cut in the tummy, used for very large, complex or suspicious cysts, or if keyhole surgery cannot be completed safely. Recovery is longer.
Cyst drainage (selected cases)
Occasionally a cyst is drained rather than removed, but this is used selectively as cysts can refill and drainage does not allow full laboratory examination.
Preparing for your surgery
- Have the scans and blood tests your team arranges, which help judge the type of cyst and the right operation.
- Discuss your fertility plans, as these influence how much the surgeon tries to preserve the ovary.
- Talk through what would happen if the surgeon needed to remove the whole ovary, or switch to open surgery — and consent to these possibilities.
- Tell the team about all medicines, especially blood thinners, and any allergies.
- Follow fasting instructions for the general anaesthetic.
- Stop smoking where possible, as it slows healing and raises anaesthetic risk.
- Arrange a lift home and help at home for the first days, and time off work (about 2 weeks for keyhole).
What happens
The operation is done under general anaesthetic, so you are asleep. For keyhole surgery, the surgeon makes a small cut at or near the belly button and gently fills the tummy with carbon dioxide gas to make space. A laparoscope (a thin telescope with a camera and light) is passed in, with two or three more small cuts, usually under 1 cm, for the instruments.
The surgeon makes a small opening in the surface of the ovary and carefully peels the cyst away from the healthy tissue. Bleeding is controlled with heat, stitches or special products. The cyst is placed in a bag and removed through one of the small cuts, often after draining its fluid; the surgeon takes care to limit any spillage. If the ovary is too damaged or there is a concern about cancer, the whole ovary may be removed instead.
The gas is let out, the small cuts are closed with stitches or glue, and the cyst is sent to the laboratory. If the operation cannot be completed by keyhole, the surgeon may need to switch to a larger open cut. The operation usually takes about 1 to 2 hours, and many people go home the same day or after one night.
Is this operation right for me?
A good consultation should explore whether it's the right choice for you now — including reasons to wait or consider something else.
May not be suitable if…
- The cyst is small, simple and likely to disappear on its own, where monitoring is safer than surgery.
- You are not fit enough for a general anaesthetic without optimisation first.
- An untreated infection or another acute problem needs dealing with first.
- A simple cyst found incidentally with no symptoms, where watchful waiting is appropriate.
Delay surgery if…
- You have an active infection or are acutely unwell.
- You are pregnant, unless surgery is urgent.
- Important scans or tumour-marker blood tests are missing.
- Blood-thinning medicines need to be managed first.
- You cannot arrange a lift home, help at home or time off to recover.
Alternatives to discuss
- Watchful waiting with repeat scans for simple cysts that often resolve.
- Hormonal treatment (such as the combined pill) to reduce the chance of new functional cysts forming.
- Cyst drainage in selected cases, though cysts can refill and it does not allow full laboratory testing.
- Treating an underlying cause, such as endometriosis or PCOS, rather than just the cyst.
- Specialist gynaecology-oncology referral first if cancer is suspected.
Before you decide
Use this as a shared-decision checklist. The aim is not just “can this be done?”, but whether it is right for you, now, with the risks and alternatives clearly understood.
What matters most to me?
Think about symptoms, daily life, work, caring responsibilities, sport, fertility, travel, appearance and anxiety — the right choice depends on your priorities, not just the medical facts.
What are all my options?
Ask about waiting, monitoring, medicines, rehabilitation, a smaller or larger procedure, a different test, NHS referral, or a second opinion where that would help.
What would make me pause?
Active infection, pregnancy, unstable medical problems, smoking, medicines that increase bleeding, poor support at home, or feeling pressured are all reasons to slow down and get tailored advice.
What happens if I do nothing today?
For some problems, waiting is safe; for others, delay can make treatment harder. A good consultation should explain the trade-off in plain English.
Anaesthetic choices
The safest option depends on the operation, your health, the facility and your surgeon/anaesthetist. Ask what is planned and why.
Benefits
- Relieves pain or pressure caused by the cyst
- Removes a cyst that is growing or unlikely to settle on its own
- Allows the cyst to be examined in the laboratory to check it is not cancer
- Aims to keep the healthy ovary, protecting fertility where possible
- Reduces the risk of complications such as the ovary twisting (torsion) or the cyst bursting
Risks & complications
- Pain and bruising around the small cuts for a few days
- Shoulder-tip pain and bloating from the gas used in keyhole surgery
- Tiredness for a week or two
- Light vaginal bleeding or spotting
- Wound infection or a urine infection
- Needing to switch from keyhole to open surgery (a larger cut and longer recovery)
- Needing to remove the whole ovary, and sometimes the fallopian tube
- The cyst contents spilling into the tummy during removal
- A collection of blood (haematoma) or a hernia at a cut site later
- Damage to nearby organs such as the bowel, bladder, ureter or blood vessels
- Blood clots in the legs or lungs (DVT or pulmonary embolism)
- Heavy bleeding needing a blood transfusion or further surgery
- The cyst turning out to be cancer, needing further treatment
- Serious anaesthetic complications, which are rare
The key things to discuss are how likely you are to keep the whole ovary, how likely the surgeon is to need to switch to open surgery, and what would happen if the laboratory found cancer. If you want children, ask specifically how the surgery might affect your ovarian reserve (your egg supply) and fertility. Surgery on an ovary can reduce its reserve even when the ovary is kept.
Published figures to discuss
Most ovarian cyst surgery is straightforward and the great majority of cysts are benign, but the figures worth discussing are the chance of needing to convert to open surgery, the chance of removing the whole ovary, the small risk of damage to nearby organs, and the effect on ovarian reserve. These vary with the cyst's size and type and the patient, so they should be discussed individually rather than quoted as fixed odds.
| Figure | Reported range | How to interpret it | Source / confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conversion from keyhole to open surgery | Uncommon, but more likely with very large, complex or stuck-down cysts | Means a larger scar and longer recovery; the chance depends on your cyst, so ask your surgeon for your individual estimate. | Guide sourcesClinical context |
| Damage to nearby organs (bowel, bladder, ureter, vessels) | Rare | A recognised risk of any abdominal keyhole surgery; may need repair and longer recovery. | NHS — Ovarian cyst: treatmentnhs.ukSource-linked context |
| Cyst turning out to be cancer | Uncommon overall; higher if scans look suspicious or after the menopause | Why the cyst is always examined in the laboratory and why suspicious cysts may go to a specialist centre. | Guide sourcesClinical context |
These are literature figures, not a personalised prediction. Your own risks and likely benefits depend on your circumstances, your health, and how your care is carried out and followed up.
Recovery — what to expect, and when
Recovery from keyhole surgery is usually quick — most people are back to normal within about 2 weeks. If the surgeon needs to switch to an open operation, recovery takes longer, often around 6 weeks. Mild pain, tiredness and bloating are normal at first.
- Tummy and shoulder-tip pain from the gas, easing over a few days
- Bloating and a swollen feeling for several days
- Tiredness for a week or two
- Light vaginal bleeding or spotting
- Small wounds that are sore at first and heal over a couple of weeks
Aftercare
- Take painkillers as advised and move gently to ease the gas and reduce clot risk.
- Keep the wounds clean and dry; follow advice on showering and removing dressings.
- Avoid heavy lifting and strenuous exercise until your surgeon clears you.
- Build activity up gradually; short walks help recovery.
- Watch for signs of infection, clots or internal bleeding (see warning signs).
- Stay hydrated and eat normally; constipation is common after surgery, so fibre and fluids help.
- Make sure you know when and how you will get the laboratory results.
- Ask when it is safe to drive (often when you can do an emergency stop without pain) and to have sex.
- A lift home arranged (you cannot drive after a general anaesthetic)
- Help at home for the first day or two
- Painkillers and any prescribed medicines collected
- Comfortable, loose clothing for a bloated tummy
- Time off work booked (about 2 weeks for keyhole; longer for open)
- A note of when results are due and who to contact
- The ward or clinic's contact number for concerns
Scars and how they heal
Keyhole surgery usually leaves a few small scars, typically under 1 cm: one near or in the belly button and two or three lower down on the tummy. These usually heal to be small and discreet, fading over months, though one is often hidden in the navel. If the surgeon needs to switch to open surgery, there is a single larger scar across or down the lower tummy, similar to a caesarean scar, which is more noticeable and takes longer to settle. All scars are pink or firm at first and fade gradually; protecting them from the sun helps them settle.
⚠ Get urgent help if…
- A high temperature, severe pain, or feeling very unwell (possible infection or internal bleeding)
- Increasing tummy pain or swelling rather than improving
- Redness, heat, swelling or discharge from a wound
- A red, hot, swollen or painful calf, or breathlessness or chest pain (possible clot)
- Heavy vaginal bleeding or passing large clots
- Difficulty passing urine, or pain and burning when you do
- Persistent vomiting or being unable to keep fluids down
Who to contact: your surgeon or clinic first (keep their number to hand). For urgent advice when you can't reach them, call NHS 111. In an emergency, call 999.
General guidance — it doesn't replace the specific advice your surgeon gives you.
Results & realistic expectations
Most cysts turn out to be benign (not cancer), and removing them relieves symptoms and confirms the diagnosis when the laboratory examines the tissue, usually within a few weeks. Where the surgeon was able to keep the healthy ovary, fertility is usually preserved, though any ovarian surgery can slightly reduce the ovary's egg reserve.
A good outcome is symptom relief, healthy ovary preserved where possible, and a reassuring laboratory result. Occasionally the result shows something that needs further treatment or specialist (gynaecology-oncology) referral. Surgery cannot guarantee that new cysts will not form in future, especially if you have a tendency to develop them.
Removing a cyst deals with that cyst, but new ovarian cysts can develop later, particularly before the menopause or in conditions that cause cysts. If a whole ovary was removed, the other ovary usually continues to work normally. Your team will advise whether any monitoring is needed based on the type of cyst found.
Combining with other procedures
Ovarian cyst surgery is sometimes combined with treatment of related conditions found at the same operation, such as removing endometriosis or freeing adhesions. If you have endometriosis, an endometrioma (chocolate cyst) may be removed as part of that care. Your surgeon should explain in advance what else might be done if it is found.
Follow-up & long-term care
You are usually seen or contacted with the laboratory results a few weeks after surgery, and the wounds may be checked. The team explains what the cyst was and whether any further monitoring or treatment is needed. Report wound problems, severe pain or signs of a clot before then.
- Attend the follow-up appointment to hear your laboratory results.
- Report any return of pain or symptoms that might suggest a new cyst.
- If you have a condition that causes cysts (such as endometriosis or PCOS), follow the management plan for it.
- Continue routine cervical screening and other gynaecological care as normal.
- Discuss fertility timing with your team if you are planning a pregnancy, especially if ovarian reserve is a concern.
Revision and secondary surgery reality
- New cysts can form later, especially before the menopause or with conditions that cause cysts.
- If a whole ovary was removed, the other usually continues to work normally.
- Occasionally further surgery or specialist referral is needed depending on the laboratory result.
- Treating an underlying cause (such as endometriosis or PCOS) reduces the chance of recurrence.
Ask your surgeon for their own revision rate, what counts as a revision, and what is included in the written aftercare policy.
What good aftercare looks like
- Clear warning-sign advice for infection, internal bleeding and blood clots, with a named contact.
- A plan for delivering the laboratory results and explaining what they mean.
- Wound-care advice and guidance on returning to activity, driving and work.
- Onward referral arranged promptly if the result needs specialist input.
What affects the cost
Costs vary a great deal between people and providers, and we don't publish prices. What matters is understanding what drives the cost and making sure your quote is complete. The main things that affect it:
- The surgeon's fee and the anaesthetist's fee
- Theatre and facility costs, and length of hospital stay
- Whether keyhole or open surgery is needed (open usually means a longer stay)
- Pre-operative scans and blood tests
- Laboratory examination of the removed cyst or ovary
- Follow-up appointments and any further treatment if results require it
- The surgeon's and anaesthetist's fees, and theatre and facility costs
- What is included if open surgery is needed instead of keyhole
- Laboratory (histology) reporting of the removed tissue
- Length of stay covered, and what an extra night would cost
- Follow-up appointments and how results are given
- What happens, and what it would cost, if a complication occurs or further treatment is needed
On the NHS? Ovarian cyst removal is available on the NHS when clinically needed and also privately, often for speed or choice; whether surgery is advised depends on the cyst and your symptoms.
You're entitled to your total cost in writing — including aftercare and any revision — before you decide.
Consent traps and marketing red flags
These are not small details. They are often where patients lose choice, time to reflect, or realistic expectations.
Consent traps
- Not consenting in advance to removing the whole ovary or switching to open surgery if needed.
- Not discussing the effect of ovarian surgery on egg reserve and fertility.
- No clear plan for what happens if the cyst is found to be cancer.
- Underplaying the chance of needing a bigger operation than planned.
- No written aftercare or warning-sign advice for clots, infection or bleeding.
Marketing red flags
- Promising 'scarless' surgery or no chance of removing the ovary.
- Recommending surgery for a small, simple cyst that would likely resolve on its own.
- Guaranteeing fertility will be unaffected.
- Not mentioning the possibility of conversion to open surgery or laboratory testing for cancer.
Choosing a surgeon safely
- Check your surgeon is on the GMC Specialist Register for this area.
- Make sure they practise at a CQC-registered location, and look for membership of bodies like BAAPS or BAPRAS.
- You're entitled to a two-stage consent process with time to reflect (a cooling-off period). The surgeon who will operate must consent you — not a salesperson.
- Be wary of pressure: time-limited offers, discounts or deposits taken before you've had time to think are red flags, not bargains.
- You're entitled to your total cost in writing — including aftercare and any revision — before you decide.
Questions to ask your medical professional
Take this to your consultation. A good surgeon will welcome every one of these.
- How likely is it that you can keep my whole ovary?
- How likely is it that you would need to switch to open surgery, for my cyst?
- What would happen, and what would you do, if the cyst looked suspicious for cancer?
- I want children — how might this affect my ovarian reserve and fertility?
- Will this be keyhole, and how many cuts and scars should I expect?
- When will I get the laboratory results, and what follow-up will I have?
- Are you on the GMC Specialist Register for this area, and which Royal College or professional body are you a member of?
- Will you be the surgeon who carries out my operation, and who looks after me afterwards?
- What are the risks for someone like me, and how often do your own patients have a problem or need it repeated or redone?
- What does a realistic result look like — and what can this operation not achieve?
- What are my options, including waiting, doing nothing for now, or choosing a different approach?
- Can I have written information, results and aftercare instructions in a format I can use, including any accessibility or communication support I need?
- What is the total cost in writing, including any follow-ups, and how much time do I have to decide?
Frequently asked questions
Will I lose my ovary?
Will it affect my fertility?
How long is the recovery?
Why is the cyst sent to a laboratory?
Could the operation be bigger than planned?
Can I have this on the NHS?
Find a verified surgeon for ovarian cyst removal
Every consultant is GMC-checked and independently reviewed. Search by postcode and distance, or switch to a map. Ordered by rating, relevance and recency — never by who pays.
No verified consultants list this procedure yet — browse the full directory.
How we made this page
Medically reviewed by a GMC-registered consultant. Written in plain English, checked against NHS, NICE, GMC and relevant Royal College / specialist-society guidance, and kept under review. No clinic paid to appear on this page, and we publish no pricing. This is general information to help you prepare — it is not a substitute for advice from your own clinician. How we review our guides →
Source hierarchy: UK regulator and NHS/NICE guidance first, then relevant Royal College or specialist-society guidance, then peer-reviewed evidence for procedure-specific figures where available.
Sources & standards: NHS — Ovarian cyst: treatment Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS — Laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy Royal Berkshire NHS — Laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy leaflet RCOG — Patient information (women's health)
Reviews reflect patients' experience of care, not clinical outcomes. For procedure volumes and outcome data see PHIN.
Last medically reviewed 2026-09-21. Spotted something wrong or out of date? Report an error in this guide.
Related guides: Endometriosis diagnosis and treatment · Uterine fibroid embolisation · Female sterilisation · Hysterectomy (womb removal) · Vaginal prolapse repair