Most birth control pills or contraceptive pills contain progestin and estrogen which helps to prevent ovulation thus also preventing functional ovarian cyst from forming. So these pills are used to treat recurrent ovarian cysts among women. Women who take higher dose of birth control pills have lower risk of developing ovarian cysts. But these pills cannot cure cysts which have already been formed in the body.

Ovarian cyst is a cyst which is a sac filled with fluid which forms in the ovaries. They sometimes swell up and cause great pain. The most effective way of preventing ovarian cyst from forming is by taking birth control pills containing both estrogen and progestin.  Functional ovarian cyst is the most common form of cyst which develops during the menstrual cycle. Ortho-Novum is an example of birth control pill which when combined with hormones effectively helps in preventing ovulation.

Other such examples are Orthocyclin, Alesse, Triphasil, Zovia, Loestrin, Yasmin, and Ortho-Tryciclin. Like other medicines birth control pills also have certain side effects like irregular periods, weight gain, sore breasts, nausea, depression, anxiety and spotting between menstrual periods. Other symptoms are chloasma which changes the facial skin pigmentation around the eyes, upper lip and forehead.