Surgery: Oophorectomy

An oophorectomy is a procedure to remove one or both of a woman’s ovaries and is often executed as part of a complete or total hysterectomy.

The procedure may be done laparoscopicaly through small incisions or via slightly larger abdominal incisions. Patients are sedated throughout the procedure, which generally lasts no more than an hour.

An oophorectomy may be necessary if the patient has a disease process that involves her ovaries including cancer in her reproductive systems, ovarian cysts, or endometriosis.

Since an oophorectomy involves removing the source of oocytes, it has a major impact on fertility and alternative procedures should be investigated.