Oophorectomy is the removal of one or two ovaries in women. They are removed if there is a cyst or suspected infection or cancer. A woman can still have children with only one ovary. The operation is performed under anesthesia.

Oophorectomy is a surgical operation that involves removing one or more ovaries. It is also called oophrectomie, or castration if it concerns both ovaries.

Remove one or two ovaries

The ovaries are the reproductive organs in women, they are located on either side of the uterus, in the lower abdomen. The ovaries produce eggs (the egg fertilized by the sperm to create a human embryo), as well as the hormones estrogen and progesterone.

The operation is performed in case of tumors, cysts or infections of the ovaries, especially after 50 years.

It is also frequently used on animals such as cats and dogs, to prevent them from procreating (castration).

Removing the ovaries from an oophorectomy is a cumbersome measure, and is only used to treat life-threatening infections.

Cysts on the ovary

Cysts are growths in the tissue, inside or on the surface, that harbor a liquid (and sometimes solid) substance. They interfere with the functioning of affected organs.

In the case of the ovary, the presence of a cyst may require complete removal of the ovary if it is too deep, or if other drug treatments have failed.

Ectopic pregnancy

Ectopic pregnancy is an abnormal pregnancy, when the egg develops in a fallopian tube or in an ovary. In the case of the ovary, it will have to be removed by oophorectomy.

endometriosis

Endometriosis is a disease internal to the uterus, in particular it affects the walls and cells that surround it. In some cases, they can affect one or more ovaries.

Presence of a tumor

A tumor can grow on the ovaries, forcing them to be removed to prevent contagion to other parts of the body.

Partial hysterectomy

It is the operation which consists in removing the uterus in the woman. It may be accompanied by the removal of one or more ovaries, for example in women over 50 years old.

Cancers or cancer risks

Oophorectomy is sometimes used as a preventive measure, to prevent the probable development of cancer. The doctor relies on the patient’s family history, or genetic disorders.

This method is more common after menopause, the cessation of reproductive functions of the ovaries in women.

Oophorectomy is sometimes necessary in case of breast cancer, to limit the production of hormones.

One ovary is enough to get pregnant

A woman only needs one healthy ovary to get pregnant, because it will continue to produce eggs (until menopause) and the rest of the reproductive organs continue to function as usual.

Possible complications

It is necessary to differentiate the complications during the operation and those which can occur in the days which follow.

During the operation:

• Accidental injuries, with increased risk to the digestive system, or internal bleeding.
• Compression of the nerves, if the patient’s position is bad during the procedure. The patient notices this after the operation and experiences tingling or numbness.

After the operation:

• Infections: the risk of any surgery.
• New cysts: Even after being removed, a cyst can come back in the following weeks.

In the vast majority of cases, oophorectomy is not followed by any major complications.

Preparing for an oophorectomy

There are no particular prerequisites before an oophorectomy, apart from the usual conditions: do not smoke or drink in the days preceding the operation, notify your doctor of any infection before the day of the operation.

Two possible operations

Two methods are possible to perform an oophorectomy:

• Treatment by Laparoscopy for a cyst

  This is the most common method of performing an oophorectomy because it saves the ovary if it is successful. The gynecological surgeon begins by injecting carbon dioxide directly into the abdomen using a needle and a thin tube. He can then insert an optical cable to follow the operation on a video screen. Incisions are made in the abdomen, to introduce the instruments necessary for the removal of the cyst. Its contents are aspirated using a tube, before being detached from the ovary. This operation has a high success rate to remove the cyst without touching the ovary, which can therefore be saved.

• Treatment by laparotomy

  In cases where the cyst is too large, or if a cancerous tumor is present, the entire ovary should be removed. Here again, the surgeon makes an incision in the abdomen, and inserts instruments there to cut and recover the ovary.