The
surgical removal of one or both ovaries is called
oophorectomy. The ovaries are a part of woman's
reproductive system. They store and release eggs for
fertilization and produce estrogen and progesterone. If
one ovary is removed, a woman may continue to menstruate
and can still bear children. If both ovaries are
removed, menstruation stops and the woman loses her
ability to have children.
Oophorectomy
or ovary
removal is performed to:
- remove
cancerous ovaries
- remove
the source of estrogen (ovaries) that stimulates some
cancers
- remove
large ovarian cysts in women with polycystic ovarian
syndrome (PCOS)
- excise
an abscess
- treat
endometriosis
- lower
the risk of an ectopic
pregnancy
- lower
the risk of cancer in a woman with a family history of
ovarian or breast cancer.
Removal
of both the ovaries
is called bilateral oophorectomy. In younger women who
have yet to complete their families, fertility sparing
approach is used where only one ovary is removed. This
is called unilateral oophorectomy. When uterus is
removed along with ovaries and fallopian tubes, the
surgery is called "Total abdominal hysterectomy with
bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy". A prophylactic
oophorectomy is performed where there is a strong family
history of ovarian or breast tumors. The ovaries
are surgically removed through small incisions in the
abdomen, using an instrument called a
laparoscope.
Removal of
the ovaries does
eliminate the risk of ovarian cancer but to begin with
most women are at extremely low risk for the disease to
start with. Ovarian cancer accounts for only 6% of
female cancer deaths. But ovarian cancer is usually
fatal because it is often detected during the late
stages of the disease. On the other hand, removing a
woman's ovaries to prevent ovarian cancer appears to put
other parts of her body at risk. The ovaries after
menopause still produce androgens that the body converts
to estrogen. The continuing hormone production
post-menopause not only affects a woman's sex drive and
mood, but it also appears to offer additional protection
to the bones and heart. So, women with a strong family
history of ovarian cancer have more to benefit from removal of the
ovary than women with a strong family history of
heart disease or osteoporosis. Also, women
with a history of psychological problems before an
oophorectomy are more likely to experience psychological
difficulties post the
operation.
Since
there is so much controversy involving the removal of
ovaries and the procedure itself has its inherent risks,
it is best to avoid it unless the condition is
life-threatening. Ovary problems are best treated with
holistic medicine which will eliminate the primary cause
of the problem and aim at improving general health. As
health improves the functioning of the ovaries along
with other vital organs will also perk
up.
