Ovariectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the ovary that can be unilateral, when only one ovary, or bilateral, is removed, in which both ovaries are removed, which is performed primarily when there is a risk of ovarian cancer.
This surgery should be recommended by the gynecologist based on the alteration identified by the examinations and gynecological evaluation, and can often be performed during a hysterectomy, which is surgery to remove the uterus, when uterine alteration reaches the ovary. Understand what hysterectomy is and how it’s done.
- Oophorectomy may be indicated by the gynecologist when.
- After a physical exam and gynecological examinations.
- Certain changes are identified.
- Such as:.
In addition, your doctor may recommend a prophylactic oophorectomy, which is done to prevent the development 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 and breast cancer. Cancer.
The type of oophorectomy, i.e. unilateral or bilateral, is indicated by your doctor based on the type of change, the severity of the disease, and the affected area.
When only one of the ovaries is removed, there is usually not much impact in the short or medium term, as the other ovary is in charge of hormone production. However, it’s important for your doctor to keep monitoring to check if hormone levels are within the normal range or if some type of replacement is needed, especially if the woman wants to get pregnant.
On the other hand, when a woman undergoes a bilateral oophorectomy, hormone production is compromised and, as a result, there may be a decrease in libido, an intensification of menopause symptoms, an increased risk of fractures due to the increased risk of developing osteoporosis. and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
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 are not yet menopausal.