Oophorectomy (from "oophoro" meaning "egg bearing", and "ectomy" meaning "cutting" is the surgical removal of ovary(s). Removal of the ovaries in women is the biological equivalent of castration in males.

• Partial oophorectomy (aka ovariotomy) describe surgeries such as ovarian cyst removal or resection of parts of the ovaries. It is fertility-preserving, although ovarian failure may be relatively frequent. Risks are less [or not present at all] in partial's
• Salpingectomy is a related procedure, involving surgical removal of the fallopian tube. It is often used in ectopic pregnancies [in the tube], and is preferred over tube-sparing counterparts because of the high rates of recurrence
• Salpingo-oophorectomy is removal of an ovary, together with the fallopian tube. Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy is when both ovaries and both fallopian tubes are removed. Oophorectomy and salpingo-oophorectomy aren't common forms of birth control; tubal ligation is more usual (i.e. where fallopian tubes are blocked, but the ovaries remain intact)
• Ovariohysterectomy (aka total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy) is the removal of a woman's entire reproductive system (i.e. ovaries, Fallopian tubes, and uterus)

Patient information

Salpingectomy. That sounds like a funny word. So does hysterectomy. Where do these words come from?
"Ectomy" is from Greek, and it means "the cutting out of". "Salping" comes from the Greek word meaning "trumpet", from the tubular shape of the fallopian tubes. "Hystera" is from Greek, and was thought to make women suffer, and hence hysterical .

• Diseases, e.g.:
  • Ovarian cysts
  • Benign tumor
  • Cancer
  • Inflammation
  • Endometriosis, rarely, by eliminating the menstrual cycle
• Prophylaxis, to reduce chances of developing:
  • Ovarian cancer, e.g. high-risk BRCA mutation, and women with endometriosis who also suffer from frequent ovarian cysts
  • Breast cancer
• In conjunction with hysterectomy (removal of the uterus)

• Surgical risks, as it is an intraabdominal surgery. When performed together with hysterectomy, it is much less likely to be performed by vaginal hysterectomy. Laparotomic adnexal surgeries are associated with a high rate of adhesive small bowel obstructions
• Long term hormone effects, due to removing the ovaries, causing Sx similar to but more severe than menopause. HRT doesn't always reduce the adverse effects. It includes:
  • Premature death
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Cognitive impairment or dementia
  • Parkinsonism
  • Osteoporosis
  • Bone fractures
  • Decline in psychological wellbeing
  • Decline in sexual function
• Mortality, except when performed for cancer prevention in carriers of high risk BRCA mutations. It is particularly pronounced for women <45yo, who face a mortality risk 170% higher. Retaining the ovaries when a hysterectomy is performed is associated with better long term survival. This reduced survival continues until 60yo, although as time goes by, by less. Most of the effect is due to excess cardiovascular risk and hip fractures
• Menopausal effects, in bilateral oophorectomy losing most of the ability to produce the hormones estrogen and progesterone, and lose 50% of their ability to produce testosterone, entering surgical menopause. In natural menopause, the ovaries generally continue to produce low level hormones, especially androgens, long after menopause. These Sx are commonly addressed via hormone therapy, utilizing a combination of estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone
• Cardiovascular risk (7x)
• Osteoporosis, and bone fractures. Reduced levels of testosterone causes height loss, which can be due to reduced bone density
• Adverse effect on sexuality, causing libido loss, difficulty with sexual arousal, and vaginal dryness, and HRT was found not to improve these Sx

• Most BILATERLY oophorectomies (63%) are performed without any medical indication
• Most BILATERAL oophorectomies (87%) are performed together with a hysterectomy
• Unilateral oophorectomy is commonly performed for a medical indication (73%), and less commonly in conjunction with hysterectomy (61%)

• Hysterectomy