The surgical removal of one or both ovaries. It is also called ovariectomy or ovarian ablation. If one ovary is removed, a woman may continue to menstruate and produce eggs. If both ovaries are removed, menstruation stops and a woman loses the ability to produce eggs. When oophorectomy is done to treat cancer, both ovaries are always removed. This is called a bilateral oophorectomy. Oophorectomies are sometimes performed on pre-menopausal women who have estrogen-sensitive breast cancer in an effort to remove the main source of estrogen from their bodies.
Posted by