During an oophorectomy, our highly trained surgeons remove a woman’s ovaries
Our skilled Grapevine and Fort Worth obgyns perform a surgery called an oophorectomy if a woman needs to have one or both of her ovaries removed. She may also require additional procedures to remove other organs as part of a hysterectomy. For example, if a patient requires a total hysterectomy, along with an oophorectomy, our obgyns remove the entire uterus, including the cervix, the ovaries and Fallopian tubes.
Reasons why a woman may need an oophorectomy
Women may require an oophorectomy for a variety of reasons.
- Ovarian cancer
- Benign ovarian masses, tumors or cysts
- Twisted ovaries, or ovarian torsion
- Endometriosis
- A tubo-ovarian abscess, or an abscess that develops on an ovary and a Fallopian tube
Patients with a high risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer may have a prophylactic bilateral oophorectomy to significantly reduce their risk. Our Grapevine and Fort Worth obgyns help women make this decision by discussing the risks and benefits of the procedure.
Risks associated with the surgery
As with any surgery, there are certain risks associated with an oophorectomy, although these problems do not occur often.
- Excessive bleeding
- Infection
- The rupture of a malignant tumor that could spread cancerous cells
- Ovarian remnant syndrome may occur in premenopausal women, meaning ovarian cells remain and cause symptoms such as pelvic pain
- Damage to other organs, such as the bowel and bladder, although this occurs in fewer than 1% of patients
If a woman is premenopausal, removing both ovaries will cause premature menopause. Our Grapevine and Fort Worth obgyns can prescribe low-dose hormone replacement therapy to combat menopausal symptoms.
What to know about an oophorectomy
An oophorectomy is almost always a minimally invasive gynecological surgery. Usually, this involves a laparoscopic surgery, with or without robotic assistance. Minimally invasive surgery cuts down on a woman’s risk of excessive bleeding and infection and shortens her overall recovery time.
After the oophorectomy, patients move to the recovery room. Most women go home the same day, but some women may need to stay in the hospital for a day or two. Patients can usually return to many of their regular activities as soon as two weeks after surgery. Our physicians and staff members provide patients with specific instructions about care after surgery, including which symptoms to look for and which symptoms to report to our obgyns.
Our Grapevine and Fort Worth obgyns have the experience and special training necessary to perform an oophorectomy and other surgeries that women may require to return to their best health. Contact us for an appointment.