I realize this is not a cancer question, but I couldn't figure out where to ask this. I’m 50 years old, perimenopausal (continue to have regular, but very light periods), and have a 4 cm dermoid cyst on my left ovary. My doctor has given me the option of watching and waiting or having it removed laproscopically. She suggested that if I choose to have it removed, I have the ovary removed also due to my age. The cyst was discovered while trying to determine the cause of abdominal pain that turned out to be a ruptured cyst on the right ovary. After reading a lot on the internet, it seems that removing it more common than watching and waiting, but I cannot find any discussion about removing the ovary in a perimenopausal woman. I understand that my right ovary would continue to function, but wonder if there is an underlying risk of which I am not aware.