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By Mayo Clinic staff
During oophorectomy
During oophorectomy surgery you'll receive anesthetics to put you in a sleep-like state. You won't be aware during the procedure.
Oophorectomy can be performed two ways:
- Surgery using one large incision. During a traditional (open) oophorectomy, the surgeon makes an incision in your abdomen to access your ovaries. The surgeon separates each ovary from the blood supply and tissue that surrounds it and removes the ovary.
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Surgery using multiple small incisions. Laparoscopic surgery involves making three or four small incisions in your abdomen. The surgeon inserts a tiny camera through one incision and special surgical tools through the others. The camera transmits video to a monitor in the operating room that the surgeon uses to guide the surgical tools. Each ovary is separated from the blood supply and surrounding tissue and placed in a pouch. The pouch is pulled out of your abdomen through one of the small incisions.
Laparoscopic oophorectomy may also be robotically assisted in certain complicated cases. During robotic surgery, the surgeon watches a 3-D monitor and uses hand controls that allow finer movement of the surgical tools.
Whether your oophorectomy is an open, laparoscopic or robotic procedure depends on your situation. Laparoscopic or robotic oophorectomy usually offers quicker recovery, less pain and a shorter hospital stay. But it isn't appropriate for everyone, and in some cases, surgery that begins as laparoscopy may need to be converted to an open procedure during the operation.
After oophorectomy
After oophorectomy you can expect to:
- Spend several hours in a recovery room as your anesthesia wears off
- Move to a hospital room where you may spend a few hours to a few days, depending on your procedure
- Get up and about as soon as you're able in order to help your recovery
- Valea FA, et al. Oophorectomy and ovarian cystectomy. http://www.uptodate.com. Accessed Feb. 3, 2009.
- DeSimone CP, et al. Gynecologic laparoscopy. Surgical Clinics of North America. 2008;88:319.
- Stany MP, et al. Benign disorders of the ovary. Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of North America. 2008;35:271.
- Chobanian N, et al. Ovarian cancer. Surgical Clinics of North America. 2008;88:285.
- Boyle KJ, et al. Benign gynecologic conditions. Surgical Clinics of North America. 2008;88:245.
- DeCherney AH, et al. Current Diagnosis and Treatment: Obstetrics and Gynecology. 10th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2007.
- Shuster LT, et al. Prophylactic oophorectomy in pre-menopausal women and long term health - A review. Menopause International. 2008;14:111.
- Schorge JO, et al. Surgeries for Benign Gynecologic Conditions. In: Schorge JO, et al. Williams Gynecology. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=3166442. Accessed Feb. 7, 2009.
- Medeiros LR, et al. Laparoscopy versus laparotomy for benign ovarian tumor: A systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Gynecological Cancer. 2008;18:387.
- Gostout BS (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 16, 2009.
- Mettler L, et al. Robotic assistance in gynecological oncology. Current Opinion in Oncology. 2008;20:581.
