A gigantic cyst made up hundreds of hairs has been removed from the ovaries of woman, international media report.

Surgeons say some of the tangled hairs they took from the 30-year-old mother-of-two, were five inches in lengthand had been growing inside her since birth.

The unidentified Russian woman had sought medical help after suffering abdominal pain.

Chief doctor of Kolomna Perinatal Centre, Tatiana Shavrak, said: “Dermoid cysts are a noncancerous tumour of the ovary.

“They are capsules with rather thick walls which consist of mucus mixed with various human tissues.

“Inside the cyst we find the upper layer of our skin, fats, hair, bones and even teeth.”

The cysts - in this case was made up mainly of hair - were successfully removed by laparoscopy, and the woman's reproduction system was not affected.

Each weighed almost four ounces and had been growing into “tails of hair” in each of her ovaries.

The remarkable picture was released by the health ministry of Moscow region.