The term prophylactic oophorectomy implies that the ovaries are normal at the time of their surgical removal and that it is performed for possible future benefits, such as prevention of ovarian cancer or to avoid eventual gynecological surgical interventions. However, it has been suggested that the production of androgens in the ovaries in perimenopausal women has an important rol in the quality of life and sexual well being. Bilateral oophorectomy has also been related with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality in women that did not use hormonal replacement therapy. Until more research of better methodological quality becomes available, prophylactic oophorectomy at the time of an elective hysterectomy in ovarian cancer low risk women should be approached with great caution. The poor and limited evidence suggests that the decision to perform or not a prophylactic bilateral oophorectomy at the time of an elective hysterectomy, is mostly opinion-based than evidence-based, and it does not justify the elevated number of prophylactic oophorectomies seen in current clinical practice.

Ovariectomy; prophylactic oophorectomy; hysterectomy; hormone replacement therapy