Objective. To evaluate the surgery in simple ovarian cysts.Methods. From Jan.1994 to Dec.1999

221 women with simple ovarian cysts were admitted into our hospital. The diameter of cysts was <5 cm in 76 cases

and was>5 cm in 145 cases ultrasonically. One hundred and eighty-four patients underwent laparosocopy

and thirty-seven underwent laparotomy.Results. Histological findings showed no malignancy in this series. Simple cysts

paraovarian cysts and corpus luteum were found histologically in 90.8% of cases with cysts <5 cm

and 60% of those with cysts >1 cm respectively

their difference was significant （x2=37.13

P<0.001）. The simple cysts

paraovarian cysts and corpus luteum cysts were found in 81.5% of postmenopausal women and 84.0% of pre-menopausal women.Conclusion. Patients with cysts >1 cm are indicated for surgical procedures

while a period of fol-lowup is acceptable for patients with cysts <7 cm

and surgery is advisable if the cyst is persistent during followup. Postmenopausal women with cysts should have operations.