Final answer:
OCPs are used to treat ovarian cysts by regulating hormonal levels, preventing the normal hormonal fluctuations that cause egg release, and consequently reducing the chance of cyst formation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ovarian cysts are treated with oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) because OCPs can regulate hormone levels, which may help reduce the formation of new cysts. Birth control pills contain combinations of the hormones estrogen and progesterone, which mimic the hormonal effects of pregnancy, causing the uterine lining to thin and altering the normal menstrual cycle. When OCPs are used, they prevent the hormone fluctuations that would normally cause the ovaries to release eggs, thus decreasing the likelihood of cyst formation. By providing a steady level of hormones, OCPs suppress the production of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), the hormones that cause eggs to develop in the ovaries and be released. Without FSH and LH surges, ovarian follicles do not mature and ovulation is prevented, which means that cysts are less likely to form.