Ovarian removal

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Ovarian removal

Ovarian removal (oophorectomy) is used to treat or prevent cancer, remove ovarian cysts and abscesses, or treat endometriosis. The surgery may take out a portion of an ovary, an entire ovary (unilateral oophorectomy), or both ovaries (bilateral oophorectomy). If both ovaries are removed, menstruation stops, resulting in a loss of fertility.

The procedure is usually performed by laparoscopy, a minimally invasive method involving a few small abdominal incisions and use of a thin lighted instrument. This method is performed under general anesthesia and usually lasts 45 to 90 minutes. Most laparoscopic patients will not spend the night in the hospital.

Patients who have had ovaries removed by open surgery (laparotomy) may have a hospital stay of one to three days. Hormone replacement therapy may be needed if both ovaries were removed.

Why choose UAB Medicine

UAB Obstetrics and Gynecology offers complete women’s health care, delivered by physicians and nurses dedicated to excellence. Our physicians are nationally recognized specialists in their fields, so you can rest assured that you are receiving the most advanced care available. Our program is consistently ranked among the best of its kind in the country by U.S. News & World Report.

As part of the UAB Division of Women’s Reproductive Healthcare, UAB Obstetrics and Gynecology’s services range from complete obstetric care to the medical and surgical treatment of complex gynecological concerns. Because UAB Medicine is a major center for research, patients may have access to promising new techniques and treatments not available at other medical centers. Our physicians are here for you at every stage of life, from your first gynecological exam to delivering your baby and helping guide you through menopause.

UAB Medicine’s Division of Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility (REI) is led by nationally recognized physicians who have years of experience diagnosing and treating both male and female infertility. We take a team approach to treating infertility, including expertise from a reproductive endocrinologist, urologist, genetic counselors, specialized nurses, and laboratory scientists.

We offer a variety of conventional fertility treatments, including corrective microsurgery. When treatment does not restore fertility, we may perform other procedures to help couples get pregnant, such as intrauterine insemination or in vitro fertilization (IVF). Our fertility experts will determine the best treatment plan for each patient’s needs.

As a major center for research, UAB Medicine continues to investigate new advances in fertility treatment aimed at increasing the chances of conceiving healthy babies.

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