O

oophorectomy A surgical OPERATIONto remove
one ovary (unilateral oophorectomy) or both
OVARIES (bilateral oophorectomy) in a woman.
Oophorectomy may be therapeutic (to treat a
health condition) or prophylactic (to prevent a
health condition).
The key health conditions for which therapeu-
tic oophorectomy is an option include OVARIAN
CANCER, severe ENDOMETRIOSIS, ovarian ABSCESS
(INFECTION of the ovary), and large or multiple
ovarian cysts. Prophylactic oophorectomy is an
effort to lower the possibility for developing HOR-
MONE-DRIVEN CANCERS (ovarian, breast, endome-
trial) in a woman who has unusually high risk for
such cancers, either genetically or because of a
prior such cancer. Removing both ovaries cuts a
woman’s estrogen production to almost nothing,
mostly depriving hormone-sensitive cancer cells of
the substance they require to thrive.
Unilateral oophorectomy often allows a woman
to preserve her FERTILITY because the remaining
ovary, if healthy, continues to produce hormones
and OVA(eggs) that maintain the MENSTRUAL CYCLE.
Bilateral oophorectomy entirely ends ovarian
function and the menstrual cycle, resulting in
abrupt MENOPAUSEin women who are still men-
struating at the time of surgery. Such surgically
induced menopause, because it is sudden, may
thrust the body into significant symptoms such as
HOT FLASHES.
The operation for either unilateral or bilateral
oophorectomy may be OPEN SURGERY, in which the
surgeon makes an incision in the lower abdomen
large enough to expose the ovary, or MINIMALLY
INVASIVE SURGERY, in which the surgeon makes sev-
eral small incisions in the lower abdomen and
visualizes the operative site using a laparoscope.
The type of operation depends on multiple factors

including the reason for the oophorectomy and

the woman’s general health status. Open

oophorectomy requires three to five days of hospi-

talization and six to eight weeks for recovery.

Laparoscopic oophorectomy is often an ambula-

tory (outpatient) surgery with rapid recovery and

return to regular activities within a week or two.

About half of total hysterectomies (operations to

remove the UTERUS) also include removal of the

ovaries (hystero-oophorectomy) or the ovaries

and the FALLOPIAN TUBES (hysterosalpingo-

oophorectomy).

The short-term risks of oophorectomy include

excessive bleeding and postoperative infection.

The key long-term complication of bilateral

oophorectomy is OSTEOPOROSIS (loss of BONE

DENSITY), the risk for which arises from the deple-

tion of estrogen.

See also BRCA- 1 /BRCA- 2 ; BREAST CANCER; CANCER

TREATMENT OPTIONS AND DECISIONS; CA- 125 ; ENDOME-

TRIAL CANCER; HYSTERECTOMY; LASER SURGERY; MINI-

MALLY INVASIVE SURGERY; ORCHIECTOMY; OVARIAN CYST;

SURGERY BENEFIT AND RISK ASSESSMENT.

orchiectomy A surgical OPERATIONto remove one

testicle (unilateral orchiectomy) or both TESTICLES

(bilateral orchiectomy) in a man. Unilateral

orchiectomy is typically a treatment for TESTICULAR

CANCERor severe TESTICULAR TORSIONin which the

testicle becomes gangrenous due to prolonged loss

of BLOODcirculation. Bilateral orchiectomy is typi-

cally a treatment for advanced PROSTATE CANCER.

The testicles produce both TESTOSTERONE and

SPERM. Many men who undergo unilateral

orchiectomy retain their FERTILITYand full sexual

function. However, other treatment such as

CHEMOTHERAPYmay affect sperm production and

thus fertility. Bilateral orchiectomy ends produc-

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