Expert: Norman Solberg - 1/24/2009

Question
I was started on birthcontrol pills (loestrin)on cd3 to help shrink a residual follicular cyst that was 34mm. On cd 24 the cyst was still there but was 8x14mm. Shouldn't the birthcontroll pills have made it go away completly?

Answer
No, I think it's pretty good that it shrunk from 34 mm to 14 mm in 21 days.  The pill stops the stimulation to the cyst, but the cyst needs time to disappear on its own.  14 mm is only a little more than 1/2 inch, so it's pretty small.  Most premenopausal women not on the pill are walking around with cysts that size.