About this topic
Women have two ovaries. The ovaries are almond-shaped organs in your lower belly. The ovaries hold eggs and control your hormones and menstrual cycle. Women also have two fallopian tubes. The eggs travel down the tubes to reach the uterus or womb. ‚
One or both ovaries are taken out in a surgery called an oophorectomy. You may need this surgery for growths, cysts, or cancer in the ovaries. You may also need this surgery if you have had infection or pain for a long time. Sometimes, the ovaries are taken out if you have a family history of ovary or breast cancer. If the fallopian tubes are also removed, the surgery is called a salpingo-oophorectomy. ‚
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What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- Talk to your doctor about how to care for your cut site. Ask your doctor about:
- When you should change your bandages
- When you may take a bath or shower
- If you need to be careful with lifting things over 10 pounds
- When you may go back to your normal activities like work, driving, or sex
- Be sure to wash your hands before touching your wound or dressing.
- Your normal bowel habits may come back slowly. Eat small meals high in fiber to avoid hard stools. Drink 6 to 8 glasses of fluids per day to help to prevent hard stools.
- Use a small pillow to put pressure on your belly when you cough, laugh, sneeze, or change positions. Using a pillow can make you more comfortable.
What follow-up care is needed?
- Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits.
- If you have stitches or staples, you will need to have the stitches or staples taken out. Your doctor will often want to take them out in 1 to 2 weeks.
- You may need lubricants for sex if your hormones have changed. Talk to your doctor about your need for lubricants.
- If you have your uterus and want to try to get pregnant, talk to your doctor about what options may work for you.
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain
- Fight an infection
- Keep your bones strong (vitamin D and calcium)
If both of your ovaries were taken out, your doctor may order hormone replacement. Talk to your doctor to decide if hormone replacement is best for you. When both ovaries are taken out, you will have signs of menopause. ‚
- Hot flashes
- Trouble sleeping
- Mood swings
- Dryness in the vagina which may cause discomfort during sex
These are the same signs you would have if menopause had happened naturally. Ask your doctor how to lessen these signs if you decide not to take hormones. ‚
Will physical activity be limited?
- You may have to limit your activity. Talk to your doctor about the right amount of activity for you.
- Try to walk each day. Start by walking a little more than you did the day before. Walking boosts blood flow and helps prevent lung, belly, and blood problems.
What problems could happen?
- Not able to have children if both ovaries were removed
- Infection
- Wound opening
- Heavy bleeding
- Blood clots in your legs or lungs
- Injury to the intestines
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, pain with passing urine or not able to pass urine, vaginal itching.
- Signs of wound infection. These include swelling, redness, warmth around the wound; too much pain when touched; wound will not heal; yellowish, greenish, or bloody discharge; foul smell coming from the cut site; cut site opens up.
- Lots of blood in your sanitary pads, or more than 6 soaked pads per day
- Foul smelling green or yellow vaginal discharge
- Upset stomach, throwing up, very bad belly pain, or not able to have a bowel movement for 3 days
- Pain not helped by prescribed drugs
- Swelling in your leg or arm that is much greater on one side than on the other
- Mood changes
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my procedure.
- I can tell you how to care for my cut site.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have a fever, chills, too much blood from my vagina, bad smelling drainage from my vagina, or bad belly pain.
Where can I learn more?
Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered ‚
http://www.facingourrisk.org/info_research/risk-management/oophorectomy/index.php ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚