What effect do chocolate cysts have on fertility?

Chocolate cysts can invade, damage, and take over healthy ovarian tissue. This can be a serious threat to fertility. These cysts can be difficult to treat, and the pelvic surgeries used to control or remove them can lead to ovarian scarring and reduced fertility.

When compared to women without chocolate cysts, women with them also tend to have:

• fewer eggs
• eggs that are less likely to mature
• higher levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which can indicate problems with the ovaries

Despite the damage chocolate cysts do to ovaries, many women with them can conceive naturally.