Should i have ovaries removed with hysterectomy

Surgery to remove your breasts bilateral mastectomy may reduce your risk of breast cancer by 90 percent. As an example, if your risk of developing breast cancer at some point in your lifetime is 50 percent, a preventive mastectomy may lower your risk to 5 percent. Put another way, for every women with that same level of risk who undergo preventive mastectomy, five could be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their lives.

These benefits have to be balanced against the risks of oophorectomy and the early menopause that occurs as a result. The decision to have prophylactic oophorectomy is a challenging and difficult one with no clearly right or wrong answer.

It comes down to a personal choice you alone can make, but advice from a genetic counselor, a breast health specialist or a gynecologic oncologist can help you make a more informed decision. Determining whether prophylactic oophorectomy is right for you — and when it might be right for you — depends on your individual risk of cancer and how aggressive you want to be in your cancer prevention efforts. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission.

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Mayo Clinic does not endorse any of the third party products and services advertised. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. See more conditions. Prophylactic oophorectomy: Preventing cancer by surgically removing your ovaries.

Products and services. Free E-newsletter Subscribe to Housecall Our general interest e-newsletter keeps you up to date on a wide variety of health topics. Sign up now. Prophylactic oophorectomy: Preventing cancer by surgically removing your ovaries Prophylactic oophorectomy oh-of-uh-REK-tuh-me significantly reduces your odds of developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer if you're at high risk. By Mayo Clinic Staff. Multimedia Female reproductive system. Show references Muto MG. Risk-reducing bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy in women at high risk of epithelial ovarian and fallopian tubal cancer.

Accessed Jan. Risk-reducing bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Rochester, Minn. Ovarian cancer screening. Rocca WA, et al. Premature menopause or early menopause and risk of ischemic stroke. De Felice F, et al. Cancer Treatment Reviews. Contemporary hormonal contraception and the risk of breast cancer. New England Journal of Medicine. If you are at high risk for ovarian cancer, will you benefit by having your ovaries removed during a hysterectomy? Can you have menopause at the normal time of life if you have your ovaries removed?

Can removing your ovaries increase your chances of getting heart disease and osteoporosis? Are you clear about which benefits and side effects matter most to you? Do you have enough support and advice from others to make a choice? Author: Healthwise Staff. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use.

Learn how we develop our content. To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. Please turn on JavaScript and try again. Important Phone Numbers.

Get the facts. Your options Have your uterus and your ovaries removed hysterectomy with oophorectomy. Have your uterus removed, but keep your ovaries hysterectomy only. Key points to remember The main reason doctors recommend removing the ovaries during hysterectomy is to lower the risk of ovarian cancer.

If you aren't at high risk for cancer, having your ovaries removed isn't recommended. It's important to know your risk for cancer when deciding whether to have your ovaries removed during your hysterectomy. Your doctor will help you find out your risk by talking to you about your medical history and your family history. Removing the ovaries if you're at risk is a different decision than if you're not at risk.

Removing the ovaries may increase your risk of heart disease and osteoporosis. If you have your ovaries removed before menopause, you will go into early menopause. You may get hot flashes and other symptoms. What is oophorectomy? What are the benefits of oophorectomy?

Have a family history of ovarian cancer before age What are the risks of having your ovaries removed? Having your ovaries removed before age 65 may increase your chance of getting: Osteoporosis , which can lead to broken bones and hip fractures. Why might your doctor recommend having your ovaries removed? Your doctor may recommend having your ovaries removed when you have a hysterectomy if: You have a BRCA gene change. You have a strong family history of early ovarian cancer.

You have a higher risk of ovarian cancer if a close family member, especially your mother or sister, has had breast cancer. You have a type of breast cancer that estrogen causes to grow. You have severe premenstrual syndrome that could be helped by having your ovaries removed. You have had pelvic pain that involved your ovaries.

Compare your options. Compare Option 1 Have ovaries removed along with hysterectomy Have hysterectomy only. Compare Option 2 Have ovaries removed along with hysterectomy Have hysterectomy only. Have ovaries removed along with hysterectomy Have ovaries removed along with hysterectomy The ovaries are removed through the same incision made for the hysterectomy.

You stay in the hospital for 1 to 2 days. Some women stay for up to 4 days. You may take estrogen therapy. If you are at high risk for breast cancer or ovarian cancer, removing the ovaries greatly reduces your risk. If you have severe PMS, you may feel better after you have your ovaries removed. Removing the ovaries increases the risk of heart disease and osteoporosis. If you have your ovaries removed before menopause , you will go into early menopause.

Removing the ovaries during hysterectomy poses no additional surgical risks than having a hysterectomy alone. Have hysterectomy only Have hysterectomy only You stay in the hospital for 1 to 2 days. For women at average risk: The benefits of keeping the ovaries usually outweigh the risks, especially for younger women. Hysterectomy itself can reduce the risk of ovarian cancer.

You have a strong family history of early ovarian cancer. You have a higher risk of ovarian cancer if a close family member, especially your mother or sister, has had breast cancer. You have a type of breast cancer that estrogen causes to grow. You have severe premenstrual syndrome that could be helped by having your ovaries removed. You have had pelvic pain that involved your ovaries. Compare your options.

Compare Option 1 Have ovaries removed along with hysterectomy Have hysterectomy only. Compare Option 2 Have ovaries removed along with hysterectomy Have hysterectomy only. Have ovaries removed along with hysterectomy Have ovaries removed along with hysterectomy The ovaries are removed through the same incision made for the hysterectomy. You stay in the hospital for 1 to 2 days. Some women stay for up to 4 days.

You may take estrogen therapy. If you are at high risk for breast cancer or ovarian cancer, removing the ovaries greatly reduces your risk. If you have severe PMS, you may feel better after you have your ovaries removed. Removing the ovaries increases the risk of heart disease and osteoporosis. If you have your ovaries removed before menopause , you will go into early menopause. Removing the ovaries during hysterectomy poses no additional surgical risks than having a hysterectomy alone.

Have hysterectomy only Have hysterectomy only You stay in the hospital for 1 to 2 days. For women at average risk: The benefits of keeping the ovaries usually outweigh the risks, especially for younger women.

Hysterectomy itself can reduce the risk of ovarian cancer. If you are at high risk for breast cancer or ovarian cancer, you will still be at risk. Personal stories about having an oophorectomy with a hysterectomy These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers.

What matters most to you? Reasons to have your ovaries removed during hysterectomy Reasons not to have your ovaries removed during hysterectomy. I will worry less about cancer if I have my ovaries removed. I'm not that worried about cancer. I don't mind going into early menopause. I don't want to go into early menopause.

I don't have severe PMS symptoms. My other important reasons: My other important reasons:. Where are you leaning now? Having my ovaries removed NOT having my ovaries removed. What else do you need to make your decision? Check the facts. Yes You're right. Studies show that if you are at high risk for ovarian cancer, surgery to remove your ovaries may greatly lower your risk.

No Sorry, that's not right. I'm not sure It may help to go back and read "Get the Facts. Yes Sorry, that's not right. No You're right. Having your ovaries removed before age 65 can increase your chances of getting heart disease and osteoporosis. Decide what's next. Yes No. I'm ready to take action. I want to discuss the options with others. I want to learn more about my options. Use the following space to list questions, concerns, and next steps.

Your Summary. Your decision Next steps. Which way you're leaning. How sure you are. Your comments. Your knowledge of the facts Key concepts that you understood.