Reviews oophorectomy, a surgical procedure for removing the ovaries

Apart from surgery to remove the uterus (hysterectomy), have you ever heard of surgery to remove the ovaries (oophorectomy)? Oophorectomy is a surgical procedure that aims to prevent or even treat certain medical conditions. So that you don't get mistaken, let's look at complete information about oophorectomy.

Oophorectomy, a female ovum removal procedure

The ovary or more familiarly known as the ovary, is a female organ that consists of two, right and left. The two female ovaries are located on the right and left of the pelvic cavity that intersects the upper uterus.

Normally, the ovaries are responsible for producing eggs (ova) and female sex hormones (estrogen and progesterone). Unfortunately, several medical problems in this important organ sometimes inevitably make it necessary to remove it through a surgical procedure.

Oophorectomy is a surgical procedure that aims to remove either one or both ovaries. If the removal of the ovaries is only one, it is referred to as unilateral oophorectomy. Meanwhile, if both are appointed, it is called bilateral oophorectomy.

Oophorectomy is also sometimes known as ovariectomy surgery. The main goal of oophorectomy surgery is to prevent or treat certain medical conditions, such as endometriosis and ovarian cancer. Sometimes, surgery to remove the ovaries can be done alone.

This means that the operation is only intended to remove the problematic ovary. However, in some cases, oophorectomy can be part of a hysterectomy (surgery to remove the uterus) by involving several organs or surrounding tissue.

Who needs oophorectomy surgery?

Oophorectomy cannot be done by just anyone. This surgical procedure to remove the ovaries is only recommended by doctors for some people as a way out to treat certain medical conditions.

Some of the conditions that require oophorectomy are as follows:

Ovarian tube abscess, a pus-filled sac in the fallopian tubes and ovaries
Ovarian cancer
Endometriosis
Benign ovarian tumors or cysts that don't cause cancer
Ovarian torsion (twisted ovary)
Reducing the risk of an ectopic pregnancy (outside the womb)

In addition, oophorectomy is also useful for reducing the risk of ovarian and breast cancer in high-risk women. In this case, surgical removal of the ovaries can later reduce the production of the hormone estrogen which is thought to trigger the growth of the cancer.

It should be noted, oophorectomy which is intended to reduce the risk of ovarian cancer is generally done in conjunction with removal of the closest fallopian tube (salpingectomy). When combined like this, this type of surgery to remove the ovaries is namedsalpingo oophorectomy.

Not only that. Oophorectomy is a treatment that can be performed on women with the BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 genes. The reason is that these two genes can stimulate the growth of certain cancer cells in the body.

The procedure for removing the ovaries that aims to reduce the risk of certain diseases in the future is elective or prophylactic oophorectomy.

Are there any possible risks from oophorectomy?

Oophorectomy is actually a relatively safe surgical procedure. However, every medical procedure does not escape the risks and complications behind it. That is why, always discuss it before having any medical procedure, including oophorectomy, with your doctor.

The risks of oophorectomy usually include:

Infection
Bleeding
Problems with the organs around the ovaries
The tumor ruptures, placing the risk of spreading cells that can potentially lead to cancer
Difficulty getting pregnant, especially when both ovaries are removed

In addition, if you have not experienced menopause during this oophorectomy operation, the chances of menopause occurring are usually faster. This is because when one or both ovaries are removed, there will automatically be a decrease in the levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone in the body.

If you experience complaints after undergoing surgery to remove the ovaries, do not delay to immediately consult a doctor.