What type of ovarian cyst occurs when an ovarian follicle is stimulated but fails to reach maturity?

The type of ovarian cyst that forms when an ovarian follicle is stimulated but does not reach maturity is a follicular cyst. These cysts develop during the normal menstrual cycle when the follicle, which is responsible for releasing an egg, grows but fails to ovulate. As a result, the fluid that surrounds the immature follicle accumulates, leading to the formation of a cyst.

In contrast, a corpus luteum cyst arises after ovulation when the follicle transforms into the corpus luteum, which is responsible for producing hormones necessary for maintaining early pregnancy. Benign ovarian cyst is a more general term that can refer to various non-cancerous cysts, while a cystic teratoma is a type of germ cell tumor that can contain different tissue types but is not directly related to the failure of follicle maturation. Each of these options represents different mechanisms and processes in ovarian function.