How can birth control help an ovarian cyst?

<p>One of the main ways hormonal birth control prevents pregnancy is by stopping ovulation&mdash;so the egg never leaves the carton, so to speak. The pill, the patch, the ring, and the shot are most reliable at blocking ovulation, so people using <a href="/articles-and-videos/ovarian-cysts-no-biggie-but-birth-control-can-help">these methods may have fewer ovarian cysts</a>. If you tend to get ovarian cysts, your provider may recommend one of these methods to prevent future cysts. /The progestin-only or mini-pill has an unpredictable effect on ovulation and may lead to more cysts. These almost always disappear on their own, but if you&rsquo;ve had problems with cysts in the past, the mini-pill may not be the best contraception for you.</p>