When Should Prophylactic Oophorectomy Be Recommended at the Time of Elective Hysterectomy?

Gynecologists are frequently confronted with the decision of when to recommend oophorectomy at the time of an elective hysterectomy. When deciding if oophorectomy should be recommended, first a careful history and risk assessment must be performed to determine if a patient is a candidate for a risk-reducing oophorectomy. If the patient does not have a hereditary ovarian cancer risk, then it is recommended the surgeon carefully consider the implications of ovarian removal on the health of their patient. This review covers the potential benefits and risks of prophylactic oophorectomy and offers a decision aid for when to recommend this procedure.