We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Health

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is a Laparoscopic Oophorectomy?

By D. Jeffress
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 11,468
Share

A laparoscopic oophorectomy is a surgical procedure performed to remove one or both of a woman's ovaries. A patient may need the surgery if she has ovarian cancer, endometriosis, or especially large or painful ovarian cysts. The ovaries may also be removed as a preventive measure against existing cancers elsewhere in the body that threaten to spread to the reproductive organs. Laparoscopic oophorectomy is performed through three or more tiny incisions in the abdomen and guided with a camera to avoid having to make large, invasive cuts. It is generally safer and offers a much faster recovery time than traditional open surgical procedures.

Before considering laparoscopic oophorectomy, a woman's doctor will typically exhaust more conservative treatment options such as medications and hormone therapy. If surgery is needed, the doctor can explain the risks, benefits, and details of the procedure in a preoperative meeting. Most patients are admitted to the hospital on the night before their procedures and instructed to avoid eating or drinking. They may be given diuretics to flush their bladders and reduce the risks of complications when their surgeries are underway.

An anesthesiologist or trained nurse typically administers a general anesthetic about one hour before a laparoscopic oophorectomy. The patient is fully sedated throughout the procedure to prevent pain. To begin the procedure, a small cut is made near the naval and a thin, flexible tube camera called a laparoscope is inserted into the abdomen. Two or more additional incisions are made in the lower abdomen through which scalpels, suction devices, and other surgical tools can be manipulated.

The laparoscope camera feed appears on a monitor inside the operating room, allowing the surgeon to carefully inspect the ovaries and guide the surgical tools. One or both ovaries are carefully separated from surrounding healthy tissue and extracted through one of the abdominal incisions. Once the ovaries have been removed, the surgeon inspects the reproductive tract to ensure internal bleeding or other complications have not occurred. Tools are then taken out and the incisions are sutured with stitches or glues. Laparoscopic oophorectomy can usually be performed in about half an hour.

Following surgery, a patient can expect to stay in the hospital for at least one day to begin her recovery. Doctors provide antibiotics to reduce the chances of infection and painkillers to ease postoperative stress. Full recovery generally takes about one month and may include following special dietary and exercise instructions. Early menopause is an unavoidable result of a laparoscopic oophorectomy in which both ovaries are removed, so a woman may need to begin taking hormone supplements to ease menopause symptoms.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-a-laparoscopic-oophorectomy.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.