Oophorectomy

An oophorectomy is a surgical procedure to remove one or both of your ovaries. The ovaries produce estrogen and progesterone and release eggs each month, so removing them has effects on hormone levels and fertility that your care team will discuss with you before any decision is made.

The surgery may be recommended for a variety of reasons: to treat ovarian cancer, to remove a large or painful cyst, to address severe endometriosis, or — in women who carry high-risk BRCA gene mutations — as a preventive step to substantially reduce the risk of developing ovarian or breast cancer. When both ovaries are removed in a woman who hasn't yet gone through menopause, the procedure triggers what's called surgical menopause, which tends to be more abrupt than natural menopause.

Oophorectomy is often performed laparoscopically, using small incisions and a camera, which typically means a shorter recovery than open surgery. Sometimes it is done at the same time as a hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) or as part of a salpingo-oophorectomy, which removes both the ovaries and the fallopian tubes together.

For women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations, bilateral oophorectomy can dramatically lower the lifetime risk of ovarian cancer — a cancer that is often difficult to detect early. It also reduces breast cancer risk in premenopausal women by eliminating the ovaries as a source of estrogen.

However, removing the ovaries before natural menopause has its own health considerations, including effects on bone density, cardiovascular health, and quality of life. Talking with a specialist about the timing, risks, and benefits — and exploring all the options — is an important part of making the right decision for your individual circumstances.