Should I have my ovaries removed when I have a hysterectomy?
Introduction
This information will help you understand your choices, whether you share in the decision-making process or rely on your doctor's recommendation.
Key points in making your decision
There are many reasons a woman might have surgery to remove her uterus (hysterectomy), including fibroids or uterine bleeding that hasn't responded to other treatments. If you are having a hysterectomy, you may wonder if you should have your ovaries taken out at the same time. Consider the following when making your decision:
- The main reason doctors recommend removing the ovaries has been to prevent ovarian cancer. But for women at average risk of ovarian cancer, there seems to be no clear benefit in removing the ovaries at any age.
- Removing the ovaries may increase your risk of heart disease and osteoporosis. Most women are much more likely to die from these diseases than from breast or ovarian cancer. If you are at average risk for these cancers, you may be better off keeping your ovaries.
- If you have your ovaries removed before the age of menopause, you will go into early menopause. This can cause hot flashes and other unpleasant symptoms.
This Decision Point is for women at average risk for breast and ovarian cancer. The choices may be different for women at high risk for these cancers. If you are at high risk for breast or ovarian cancer, see:
What should I do if I'm at high risk for breast cancer?
Hysterectomy and oophorectomy are sometimes used as a last-resort treatment for endometriosis. If you are considering the surgery for this reason, see:
Medical Information
What is oophorectomy?
Surgery to remove the ovaries is called oophorectomy (say “oh-uh-fuh-REK-tuh-mee”). The ovaries are an important part of the female reproductive system
. They store eggs and produce sex hormones, including estrogen.
Of women who have a hysterectomy, about half of them have their ovaries removed at the same time.1 The main reason doctors recommend removing the ovaries along with the uterus has been to prevent ovarian cancer.
But some experts now feel that for women at average risk for ovarian cancer or breast cancer, the benefits of keeping the ovaries outweigh the risks. For women at average risk, there seems to be no clear benefit in removing the ovaries at any age. Hysterectomy itself can reduce your risk of ovarian cancer.1
What are the benefits of oophorectomy?
There are no clear benefits in having your ovaries removed if you are at average risk for breast and ovarian cancer.
If you have severe premenstrual syndrome (PMS), oophorectomy will stop the hormone changes caused by your ovaries. This may help you feel better.
If you are at high risk for breast or ovarian cancer, having your ovaries removed can greatly lower your risk. Women at high risk for these cancers include those who:
- Inherited a BRCA gene change (BRCA stands for BReast CAncer).
- Have a family history of ovarian cancer before age 50.
- Have a type of breast cancer that is affected by estrogen. (Estrogen is made by the ovaries.)
To learn more about your choices if you are at high risk for breast or ovarian cancer, see:
If you don't know whether you are at high risk for breast or ovarian cancer, talk to your doctor. If your doctor feels you could be at risk, you may want to think about gene testing. For more information, see:
What are the risks of oophorectomy?
Having your ovaries removed before age 65 may increase your chance of getting:1
- Heart disease, which is the number one cause of death in women in the United States.
- Osteoporosis, which can lead to broken bones. Hip fractures are a well-known cause of disability and death in older women.
Most women are much more likely to die from these diseases than from breast or ovarian cancer. Keeping your ovaries is one way to reduce your risk of these diseases.
Women who choose oophorectomy can take estrogen replacement therapy, which may lower their risk of osteoporosis. Other medicines can help protect their bones if they already have bone loss.
If you have your ovaries removed before the age of menopause, you will go into early menopause. This can cause hot flashes and other unpleasant symptoms.
Most women do not have problems after hysterectomy and oophorectomy, but any surgery has risks. The most common problems are:
- Fever. A slight fever is common after any surgery.
- Trouble urinating or loss of bladder control.
- Heavy vaginal bleeding. You can expect some vaginal bleeding for 4 to 6 weeks after a hysterectomy.
- Scar tissue (adhesions) in the pelvic area.
For more information, see the topic Hysterectomy.
Your Information
Your choices are:
- Have your uterus removed, but keep your ovaries (hysterectomy only).
- Have both your uterus and your ovaries removed (hysterectomy with oophorectomy).
The decision whether to have your ovaries removed when you have a hysterectomy takes into account your personal feelings and the medical facts.
Deciding about having an oophorectomy with a hysterectomy Reasons to have your ovaries removed
Reasons to keep your ovaries
- You have been tested and know you have a BRCA gene change.
- You have a strong family history of early ovarian cancer.
- You have a type of breast cancer that estrogen causes to grow.
- You have severe PMS that could be helped by having your ovaries removed.
- You have had pelvic pain that involved your ovaries.
Are there other reasons you might want to have your ovaries removed?
- You are at higher risk for heart disease or osteoporosis than for breast or ovarian cancer.
- You don't have breast cancer or a family history of ovarian or breast cancer.
- You are at average risk for breast and ovarian cancer.
- You are near menopause (around age 50). When menopause is complete, PMS symptoms usually go away.
- The risks of heart disease and osteoporosis that come with having your ovaries removed outweigh the short-term benefit of stopping PMS or pelvic pain.
Are there other reasons you might want to keep your ovaries?
These personal stories may help you make your decision.
Wise Health Decision
Use this worksheet to help you make your decision. After completing it, you should have a better idea of how you feel about having your ovaries removed when you have a hysterectomy. Discuss the worksheet with your doctor.
Circle the answer that best applies to you.
I have been tested, and I have a BRCA gene change. Yes No NA* I am at high risk for osteoporosis but only average risk for breast or ovarian cancer. Yes No Unsure I have breast cancer. Yes No NA There is a lot of heart disease in my family but no breast or ovarian cancer. Yes No Unsure I will worry less about cancer if I have my ovaries taken out. Yes No Unsure I want to keep my ovaries so I don't suddenly go into menopause. Yes No Unsure My mother had breast cancer, so I will do anything to lower my risk. Yes No NA Keeping my ovaries might lower my risk of heart disease and osteoporosis. Yes No Unsure *NA = Not applicable
Use the following space to list any other important concerns you have about this decision.
What is your overall impression?
Your answers in the above worksheet are meant to give you a general idea of where you stand on this decision. You may have one overriding reason to remove or keep your ovaries when you have a hysterectomy.
Check the box below that represents your overall impression about your decision.
Leaning toward having my ovaries removed
Leaning toward keeping my ovaries
Return to the topic:
| Author: | Kathe Gallagher, MSW | Last Updated: August 25, 2006 |
| Medical Review: | Joy Melnikow, MD, MPH - Family Medicine Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology | |
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