What Is the Best Birth Control Pill for Ovarian Cysts?

Functional cysts are fluid-filled sacs that can occur on or in a woman's ovary after ovulation. They can swell and cause a great deal of pain, or have no symptoms at all. While there is no definitive cure for ovarian cysts, many doctors prescribe birth control pills to shrink and get rid of them. The birth control pills that are the most effective have a combination of high levels of estrogen and progestin.

Combination Birth Control Pills

• Ortho-Novum is a birth control pill that contains high levels of estrogen and progestin. When combined, the hormones prevent ovulation. It is one of the most prescribed birth control pills for ovarian cysts. Other birth control pills recommended for this condition include Alesse, Loestrin, Orthocyclin, Ortho-Trycyclin, Triphasil, Yasmin and Zovia.

How it Works

• The combination of high levels of estrogen and progestin work together to prevent ovulation. When ovulation does not occur, no ovarian cyst forms as a result. The birth control pills are taken for 20 to 21 days of the menstrual cycle and are then stopped for 7 days to allow the woman to have a menstrual period.

  When ovulation has occurred and a cyst has formed, the administration of the combination birth control pill can shrink the cyst over a several month time span.

Side Effects

• Birth control pills can commonly cause light or missed periods, spotting between menstrual periods, nausea, weight gain and sore breasts. Other moderate symptoms include mood swings and chloasma, a change in skin pigmentation around the forehead, eyes and upper lip.

  There is also a collection of more rare, but serious symptoms called ACHES. It is important to see a doctor immediately if you are on birth control pills and experience any of these symptoms.
  Abdominal pain can indicate the presence of thrombophlebitis, or pelvic blood clots, liver blood clots or tumors, or gall bladder disease.
  Chest pain may indicate the presence of blood clots in the lungs.
  Headaches may indicate that blood pressure is extremely elevated or that a stroke is in progress.
  Eye problems, such as blurriness or sudden blindness, may point to changes in the cornea, eye blood clots or the onset of a serious migraine.
  Severe leg pains or sudden swelling of one leg may indicate deep vein thrombosis or phlebitis, a presence of leg blood clots. These clots are particularly serious, as they could move to the lungs or heart, causing death.

Warnings

• The whole idea of using birth control pills to prevent ovarian cysts is predicated upon the fact that they stop ovulation. You must take the pill at the same time each day for the first 20 to 21 of your menstrual cycle to prevent ovulation. Taking your birth control even a few hours late can result in ovulation.

  Other medications can reduce the effectiveness of birth control pills, resulting in ovulation. Antibiotics and St. John's Wort can affect how well birth control pills work.