During laparoscopic surgery, a thin, cord-like instrument is inserted into a small cut near the navel. A tiny camera allows the surgeon to see and remove the ovary or ovaries. The process may leave less noticeable scars and have a shorter recovery time than open abdominal surgery. It is helpful for someone else to drive the woman home and care for her in the first few days after her surgery. Most surgeries will require at least 2—3 weeks away from work.
Regular check-ups allow doctors to monitor and alter the recovery process, as needed. Recovering from an oophorectomy will vary based on a few different factors, including the type of surgery. Laparoscopic surgery may require only 1 day in the hospital, but open abdominal surgery will typically need 2 or more days in the hospital.
Recovery recommendations will vary, depending on the individual, but some general recovery tips include:. Doctors will also instruct their patients on how to take care of their incision site, including regular cleaning, keeping the area dry, and monitoring it for signs of infection.
Although an oophorectomy is often performed to help treat or prevent diseases, it may put women at risk of other issues. Serious complications are rare, but people who smoke, are obese, or have diabetes may be more at risk for surgical complications. Women who have had pelvic surgery or serious infections in the past may also be more vulnerable to complications.
Women who have both ovaries removed will no longer be able to become pregnant. A woman who wishes to become pregnant or is considering pregnancy in the future should discuss alternative options to oophorectomy with a doctor. It is vital to report any signs of a complication to a doctor, as soon as possible.
These signs and symptoms include:. Women who have both of their ovaries removed before they have reached menopause usually take hormones to reduce the risk of menopause symptoms or other disorders.
Hormone therapy, comes with side effects, however, including mood swings, nausea, and headaches. A woman may choose to let the body go through menopause without taking replacement hormones. It is best to discuss any potential hormonal changes with a doctor before an oophorectomy. Some women will be treated with hormones, but not all are good candidates. A bilateral oophorectomy may also increase the risk of a woman developing osteoporosis , which causes weak and brittle bones.
This is because the body will no longer produce much estrogen. Women who keep their ovaries until at least the age of 50 may live longer than women who have a bilateral oophorectomy before then. One study noted that while a bilateral oophorectomy does reduce the risk of death from ovarian cancer and breast cancer in some cases, it may increase the risks of death from all other causes. A review in the Journal of Clinical Oncology noted that women with these genes who have their ovaries removed have an 80 percent reduction in the risk of death from specific cancers and a 77 percent reduction in risk of death from all causes.
When my older sister had her hysterectomy, they also took her ovaries. But my doctor said it's probably a good idea to save my ovaries, especially since I am small-boned and my mother has osteoporosis. Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts.
Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements. Reasons not to have your ovaries removed during hysterectomy. I feel that there are more benefits to removing my ovaries than keeping them. I feel that there are more benefits to keeping my ovaries than removing them. Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision.
Show which way you are leaning right now. How sure do you feel right now about your decision? Here's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision.
Having your ovaries removed before age 65 may increase your chance of getting: 1. I think that removing my ovaries will help with my severe PMS symptoms. If you are at high risk for ovarian cancer, will you benefit by having your ovaries removed during a hysterectomy?
Can you have menopause at the normal time of life if you have your ovaries removed? Can removing your ovaries increase your chances of getting heart disease and osteoporosis? Are you clear about which benefits and side effects matter most to you? Do you have enough support and advice from others to make a choice? Author: Healthwise Staff.
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content. To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.
Updated visitor guidelines. Get the facts. Your options Have your uterus and your ovaries removed hysterectomy with oophorectomy.
Have your uterus removed, but keep your ovaries hysterectomy only. Key points to remember The main reason doctors recommend removing the ovaries during hysterectomy is to lower the risk of ovarian cancer. If you aren't at high risk for cancer, having your ovaries removed isn't recommended. It's important to know your risk for cancer when deciding whether to have your ovaries removed during your hysterectomy. Your doctor will help you find out your risk by talking to you about your medical history and your family history.
Removing the ovaries if you're at risk is a different decision than if you're not at risk. Removing the ovaries may increase your risk of heart disease and osteoporosis.
If you have your ovaries removed before menopause, you will go into early menopause. You may get hot flashes and other symptoms. What is oophorectomy? What are the benefits of oophorectomy? Have a family history of ovarian cancer before age What are the risks of having your ovaries removed?
Having your ovaries removed before age 65 may increase your chance of getting: footnote 1 Osteoporosis , which can lead to broken bones and hip fractures. Heart disease , which is the number one cause of death in women in the United States. Why might your doctor recommend having your ovaries removed? Your doctor may recommend having your ovaries removed when you have a hysterectomy if: You have a BRCA gene change.
You have a strong family history of early ovarian cancer. You have a higher risk of ovarian cancer if a close family member, especially your mother or sister, has had breast cancer. You have a type of breast cancer that estrogen causes to grow. You have severe premenstrual syndrome that could be helped by having your ovaries removed. You have had pelvic pain that involved your ovaries.
Compare your options. Compare Option 1 Have ovaries removed along with hysterectomy Have hysterectomy only. Many studies show that prophylactic ovary removal reduces the risk of breast cancer among high-risk women who haven't been diagnosed with disease.
Being high-risk also can mean that you have a strong family history of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, or both. This benefit occurs only if the ovary removal is performed before menopause.
A study showed that reduction in breast cancer risk after ovary removal is higher in women with an abnormal BRCA2 gene.
For more information, please visit the Prophylactic Ovary Removal section. Medicines can be used to temporarily stop the ovaries from making estrogen. Two of the most common ovarian shutdown medicines are:. These medicines work by telling the brain to stop the ovaries from making estrogen.
The medicines are given as injections once a month for several months or every few months. Once you stop taking the medicine, the ovaries begin functioning again. The time it takes for the ovaries to recover can vary from woman to woman.
Women who want to bear children after breast cancer treatment may prefer medical shutdown of the ovaries over surgical ovary removal. There have been cases of women getting pregnant while on these medications, so if you are premenopausal and have a male partner, it's important to use non-hormonal birth control such as condoms, a diaphragm, or a non-hormonal I.
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