What is an oophorectomy, and why is it done?
An oophorectomy is the surgical removal of the ovaries. About half of American women who have a hysterectomy also have their ovaries removed (bilateral oophorectomy).3 When taking hormone therapy after an oophorectomy only (the uterus is not removed), it’s important to take estrogen plus progestin (hormone replacement therapy, or HRT). The progestin protects the uterus from the increased risk of estrogen-related endometrial cancer. Sometimes oophorectomy is intended to treat a condition that is triggered or made worse by the ovaries’ hormone changes, such as severe, untreatable premenstrual syndrome (PMS), endometriosis, or premenopausal breast cancer. In other cases, ovary removal is done to reduce the possibility of ovarian cancer (which is rare but difficult to detect). Oophorectomy may also be performed to remove a growth from one ovary or both ovaries.
