BC pills, do they prevent cysts?

Well ladies, how many of you have tried birth control pills to prevent cysts?  Do they work?  What has been your experience with them?  My Dr. suggested I try them to prevent cysts from occuring again, I also get menstural migraines, so I am wondering what effect the pill may have on them.

[elizza]

Yes I am on BC pills to prevent cysts and seem to be working.  My gyn also said that being on the pill for 10 years, cuts ur chance of getting ovca by 80%.  I never knew this, but hope its true.

[SimplyStar]

Here is one of those differences in opinions again. While taking my daughters history at Mayo, they asked if she had ever taken BC pills, she told them no, it seems they consider if you had taken them it is one of the markers for OVCA. Of course I have no idea what they do  after surgery or for cysts. I see that quite a few ladies are placed on them for cyst reduction.

[Best59]

And BREAST Cancer too...Sue

[Helmar]

I know of about 3 ladies who have taken BC pills but still ended up with Ovca. I guess it depends on the individual.

[RavenLady]

Alrighty!  BC (hormones) are thought to prevent the growth of exsisting cysts but have never proven effective in preventing new cysts.  A common bit of lore that way too many GYNs tend to perpetuate out of frustration.  So often, younger women suffer from recurrent "functional" cysts, I know, I did.  They are the product of normal ovulation gone awry.  When it is correctly diagnosed as "Middle-pian" or its Deutch moniker, Mittleschmirtz", there have been several US and an experienced GYN in addition to over a six months of observation.  This is what it takes to rule out the dragon, ovca, peering over the edge of the abbys.  Any GYN worth their salt will still have to rely on statistics.  Tough call.  I have had recurring functional cysts since puberty, and that was long ago for me.  The dreadful pain decreased to three or four cycles a year once I had kids and just about the time it tapered off, I got two aliens on the left ovary that were not going anywhere.  Same gig, watchful wait, but with careful US observation it was obvious within a couple of months that these aliens were growing slowly and not going anywhere.  Thing is, I am just shy of fifty but if I had been just shy of thrity, the watchful wait would have been much longer.  Both aliens were benign and anything but functional!  I had the left ovary and both aliens removed last year and am fine but hope with all my heart for a more conclusive diagnostic method within my daughters lifetime.  I don't want her to endure what we all have, 1% or 99% club.  The BC gig makes me tired!  IF you choose to go on Birth control bills as your method of BC, fine, but don't expect them to prevent cysts.  Cysts suck!  No "silver bullets" I'm afraid!  MV

[nyc lady]

Because the BC pill stops you from ovulation it well prevent the formation of follicle cysts.  Follicle cysts can remain and eventually develop into complex cysts.

The theory behind being on the pill, being pregnant, nursing, beginning mensruation late in life lowering the risk of developing OvCa is because you reduce the amount of times you ovulate thus reducing the risk of developing follicle cysts...etc.  And that is of course if OvCa can develop from follicle cysts.