Most ovarian cysts, even complex ones, are benign especially if you do not have a genetic predisposition for ovarian cancer. A woman's lifetime risk of ovarian cancer is less than 2% (1.3% per U.S. government statistics).
MANY women lose an ovary or ovaries unnecessarily for ovarian cysts. Surgeons who have good cystectomy skills are almost always able to remove cysts leaving the ovary or a good amount of ovarian tissue intact as explained here http://ovaryresearch.com/ovarian_cysts.htm. The cyst can then be biopsied while you are in the operating room (frozen section) and should typically dictate the course of surgery.
We need all our "reproductive" organs (uterus, ovaries, tubes) our whole lives for proper hormone production. The ovaries produce hormones our whole lives if we have all our parts. Numerous studies show that these hormones are essential for health. Ovary removal or compromised function is associated with abnormal aging and many health problems - heart disease, osteoporosis, dementia, Parkinson's, lung cancer, mood disorders, and others.
Hysterectomy and oophorectomy (ovary removal) are two of the most overused surgeries. Only 10% of hysterectomies are necessary. Healthy ovaries are removed at the time of hysterectomy around 70% of the time despite the vital functions (lifelong hormone production) of these endocrine glands.
All my parts were removed for a 9.5cm complex cyst that was shown to be benign on frozen section. My surgeon (long-time gynecologist) even waited for the results of the frozen section and then proceeded to remove the rest of my organs.
If there is concern of ovarian cancer, you should see a gynecologic oncologist. But even still, if the cyst is benign, you should not need to lose any parts. You may need to revise your surgical consent form to protect yourself from the unnecessary removal of your ovary and other organs.
Best of luck to you. Please keep us posted on what you find out.