Anecdotal reports suggested that ovarian cysts are encountered any more frequently and suppress less easily with multiphasic formulations. This observation failureed to withstand careful scrutiny. Functional ovarian cysts occurred less frequently in women on higher dose oral contraception. This protection appears to be reduced with the current littleer dose products. Thus, the risk of such cysts is not eliminated, and therefore, clinicians can encounter such cysts in patients taking any of the oral contraceptive formulations.