Surgery to remove only the ovaries, also called oophorectomy, serves to remove one or both ovaries and is usually done when diseases arise in these organs, such as:
- Ovarian abscess; Ovarian cancer; Endometriosis in the ovary; Ovarian cysts or tumors; Ovarian torsion;
In addition, the gynecologist may also recommend ovarian removal surgery to prevent the onset of ovarian cancer, especially in women with a family history of ovarian cancer or with mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, which increase the risk of ovarian cancer and in the breasts.
Surgery to remove the ovaries can be done on just one ovary or on both sides, the latter being called bilateral oophorectomy, depending on the severity of the disease and the affected regions.
What happens after surgery
Surgery to remove the ovaries causes the onset of early menopause and, therefore, the woman can no longer conceive naturally, since she stops producing eggs. However, if a woman wants to become pregnant even after removing the ovaries, she should consult a female fertility specialist, as there are some techniques, such as artificial insemination or in vitro fertilization that increase the chances of becoming pregnant.
In addition, with the removal of the ovaries the woman stops producing the ovarian hormones, which can lead to an increased risk of developing osteoporosis or heart problems.
Thus, the benefits and risks of surgery to remove the ovaries should be discussed with the gynecologist, in order to find the best treatment option, especially in women who have not yet entered menopause.
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