Oophorectomy: Preparation, Recovery, and Long-Term Care

Oophorectomy—surgery to remove one or both ovaries—can be performed for conditions such as ovarian cancer or endometriosis or to reduce ovarian cancer risk. It may involve unilateral removal, bilateral removal, salpingo-oophorectomy (ovary plus fallopian tube), bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, or hysterectomy combined with salpingo-oophorectomy. Typically done under general anesthesia by an OB/GYN, it can be scheduled or done emergently when there’s an immediate health risk. Approaches include laparoscopic surgery, laparotomy, or vaginal surgery, with laparoscopic generally linked to fewer infections and a shorter hospital stay. There are no absolute contraindications, though preventive bilateral surgery is discouraged in average-risk premenopausal women under 46 due to higher risk of severe chronic conditions.