Understanding Unilateral Salpingo-Oophorectomy

A unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy is a type of surgery. During the surgery, a surgeon removes one ovary and one fallopian tube from your pelvis. The ovaries are located on either side of the uterus. They store your eggs (ova). They also make the hormone estrogen. The fallopian tubes link the ovaries to the uterus. They carry the ova to the uterus.

You can still have children after you have this procedure as long as you have one ovary and fallopian tube left.

How to say it

sal-PING-goh-oh-oh-fuh-REK-tuh-mee

Why unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy is done

This procedure may be done if you have an ovarian cyst, an abscess, or certain types of cancer in an ovary or fallopian tube. Or you may have it to lower your risk for cancer in these parts of the body. This is because a unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy lowers your estrogen levels. You are at high risk if you have a family member who had ovarian or breast cancer. You may also have a mutation in the breast cancer susceptibility (BRCA) genes. These genes make tumor suppressor proteins. If these genes are mutated, they don't work as they should and cells are more likely to develop cancer. But if you have this cancer susceptibility, you may be advised to have a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. For that procedure, both ovaries and the fallopian tubes are removed.

This procedure may also be done if you have your uterus removed. This is called a hysterectomy. Other health problems may call for taking out an ovary and fallopian tube at the same time.

How unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy is done

You will check into a hospital. You may need to spend a few days there after this surgery. During the procedure:

• You are given medicine to make you fall asleep. You won’t feel any pain.

• The surgeon makes a cut (incision) in your belly to reach your reproductive organs.

• The surgeon removes the ovary and fallopian tube.

• The surgeon then ties and stitches up all open wounds. The cut in the abdomen is closed up.

Risks of unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy

• Stomach cancer

• Bleeding

• Infection