Oophorectomy is a surgical procedure that is done to remove one, or both, of the ovaries.
The ovaries are small almond-shaped organs on each side of the uterus in the pelvis. They contain eggs and produce the hormones that control a woman’s menstrual cycle.
Oophorectomy can be done on its own, but it is often done as part of a larger surgery to remove the uterus (hysterectomy). It may also be done with surgery to remove the fallopian tubes (salpingectomy) as the ovaries and fallopian tubes share a common blood supply. When these 2 procedures are combined, it is known as a salpingo-oophorectomy.