I was told I have a cyst on both ovaries. I ask what type and was told Nabothian. Can you give me information on this type of cyst? I'm worried about it because they have grown an inch or more in a year's time. Birth control pills haven't shrunk them at all. I'm 45 and was pregnant once (my son is 25).

F.

Nabothian cysts are cysts on the cervix, not the ovaries, caused by blockage of cervical glands. They are completely benign. If you do have cysts on your ovaries, they may be follicles, called functional cysts, which form with ovulation and come and go. If you have an ovarian cyst that persists and grows, and is not suppressed by oral contraceptives, then it is not a functional cyst. There are many possibilities for what these cysts are, ranging from benign causes like endometriosis all the way to ovarian cancer.

You need to discuss the exact characteristics of these cysts with your gynecologist. She or he should let you know if they are simple (filled with clear fluid) or complex (partly fluid-filled and partly solid, or with debris within the cyst, or with multiple compartments). A relatively small simple cyst may only need to be observed, but complex cysts, especially if they are growing, often need to be removed.