Home > Encyclopedia of Medicine > Oophorectomy

Definition

Oophorectomy is the surgical removal of one or both ovaries. It is also called ovariectomy. If one ovary is removed, a woman may continue to menstruate and have children. If both ovaries are removed, menstruation stops and a woman loses the ability to have children.

Purpose

Oophorectomy is performed to:

• remove cancerous ovaries
• remove the source of estrogen that stimulates some cancers
• remove a large ovarian cyst
• excise an abscess
• treat endometriosis

In an oophorectomy one or a portion of one ovary may be removed or both ovaries may be removed. When oophorectomy is done to treat ovarian cancer or other spreading cancers, both ovaries are always removed. This is called a bilateral oophorectomy. Oophorectomies are sometimes performed on pre-menopausal women who have...