Thank you for your insight, and good luck with the surgery!!
I'm really sorry to hear about this. I too have been having severe pain for a 1.8cm complex cyst. My doctor says that while it sounds small, it's taking up 1/3 of my ovary, so that made me feel a little more justified for complaining about the pain. My doctor said that birth control will not help an existing cyst, it only prevents future ones. If your doctor believes that you have recurring cysts, rather than one that has been there all along, he or she might hope that birth control will prevent them from coming back. However, I was given that option too, and told that I might see relief in a few weeks, or it could take up to 3 months to be sure. For this reason, after 6 months of wait and sees, and 2 U/S and 6 doctors appointments, I'm going to have surgery instead of trying the pills. It is scheduled for the day after tomorrow.
Good luck!