Laparoscopic oophorectomy

Laparoscopic oophorectomy in Turkey: what it is and how it works

Laparoscopic oophorectomy is keyhole surgery to remove one ovary (unilateral) or both (bilateral). Through three small cuts in the abdomen, the surgeon sees the pelvis on a camera screen, seals the blood vessels that supply the ovary and the ligament that holds it, separates it from the pelvic wall and lifts it out inside a retrieval bag so that nothing spills into the abdomen. The fallopian tube on the same side is often removed at the same time, which is called salpingo-oophorectomy. Most patients go home the same day or the next morning.

Removing an ovary is a permanent step with consequences for hormones and fertility, so the decision rests on a clear medical reason and on an honest comparison with ovary-saving options. This guide covers when oophorectomy is advised, what it does to the body, what it costs compared with the UK, US and Germany, recovery and how to check a hospital. See also our gynecology treatments in Turkey.

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When is ovary removal advised?

The main reasons are:

• an ovarian cyst or mass that cannot be treated by removing the cyst alone, or that looks suspicious on scans or tumour markers;
• torsion, where the ovary twists on its stalk and loses blood supply, if the ovary cannot be saved;
• severe endometriosis, endometriomas or chronic pelvic infection that has destroyed the ovary;
• risk-reducing surgery for women with a high inherited risk of ovarian and breast cancer, for example BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations;
• treatment of hormone-sensitive breast cancer in some premenopausal women, or removal together with the womb during hysterectomy.

If the problem is only a benign cyst, removing the cyst and keeping the ovary is often possible; compare laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy before agreeing to remove an ovary.

How is the operation done, and how long does it take?

You have general anaesthesia and a catheter. Gas inflates the abdomen, a camera goes in at the navel and two instrument ports are placed in the lower abdomen. The surgeon inspects the pelvis, may wash it for cell testing when cancer is suspected, and then removes the ovary. A suspicious mass is always removed in a bag and sent for pathology. The ports are removed, the gas is released and the cuts are closed with dissolving stitches or glue. The operation takes about 45 to 90 minutes for one ovary and a little longer for both or for difficult adhesions.

What does oophorectomy do to hormones, menopause and fertility?

With one healthy ovary left, hormones and periods normally continue and pregnancy remains possible, though fertility may be reduced. Removing both ovaries ends natural oestrogen production. Before menopause this causes surgical menopause: hot flushes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, mood and sleep changes, sometimes abruptly within days. Oestrogen loss at a young age also increases the long-term risk of bone thinning and probably heart disease, which is why doctors discuss hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for many women who have both ovaries removed before about 50, unless a hormone-sensitive cancer makes it unsuitable. After the age of natural menopause the effect is smaller.

If you may want children, ask about fertility preservation before surgery, such as egg freezing, and discuss whether a single ovary can be left in place. For women who carry a BRCA mutation, current medical guidance supports removing the ovaries and tubes once childbearing is complete, usually between roughly 35 and 45 depending on the gene, because this lowers ovarian cancer risk.

Laparoscopic, open or robotic oophorectomy, or another operation?

Keyhole surgery is standard for benign disease and for risk-reducing surgery, with less pain and a faster recovery than open surgery. Open surgery is used for very large masses or when cancer is likely and needs full staging. Robotic assistance is available but has no clear benefit for a straightforward ovarian removal. The nearest alternatives are cystectomy (remove only the cyst), salpingectomy (remove the tubes but leave the ovaries) and hysterectomy, covered in laparoscopic hysterectomy.

Laparoscopic oophorectomy cost in Turkey compared with the UK, US and Germany

The ranges below are approximate for the operation and short hospital stay, not hospital quotes. Each hospital confirms its price in writing after reviewing your scans.

The price depends on whether one or both ovaries are removed, whether the tubes are removed too, the complexity (adhesions or endometriosis lengthen the operation), pathology testing and the length of stay. A package should list pre-operative scans and blood tests, surgeon and anaesthetist fees, hospital nights, medication, follow-up and transfers. Ask whether tumour-marker tests and the pathology report are included.

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Who is a candidate, and who should wait or get a second opinion?

Oophorectomy suits women with a clear indication and the right pre-operative workup: an ultrasound or MRI, sometimes CA-125 and other markers, and for inherited risk a genetics report. Seek a second opinion or further tests if the operation is advised for a cyst smaller than about 5 cm in a premenopausal woman, since simple cysts often resolve alone, as NHS guidance explains. If you are planning pregnancy, ask for an ovary-saving option first. If cancer is suspected, the operation should be done by a team able to stage and treat cancer, because an ovary-only operation might not be enough.

How long is recovery from laparoscopic ovary removal?

Most women leave hospital within 24 hours. Shoulder-tip pain from the gas, bloating and mild cramping last a few days, and walking helps.

Plan on four to six nights in Turkey, and a longer stay if surgery is combined with other procedures or if pathology is awaited. Menopausal symptoms after removal of both ovaries may begin within days; discuss HRT with your doctor before you travel.

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What are the risks of laparoscopic oophorectomy?

Complications are uncommon but real: bleeding, infection, injury to the ureter, bladder or bowel, scar tissue, wound hernia, conversion to open surgery and clots in the legs or lungs. Spillage of cyst contents is a particular concern when a mass could be cancerous or a dermoid, which is why a retrieval bag is used. Long-term effects of losing both ovaries, discussed above, are more important for most women than operative risk. Patient information from the NHS, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) and ACOG describes these risks in detail.

How to choose a surgeon and hospital, and red flags

Choose a gynaecological surgeon with regular laparoscopic experience, preferably with training in gynaecological oncology if the mass is suspicious, in a licensed hospital with pathology and intensive care. Ask what the pathology report will show and who explains it. Red flags include advising ovary removal without scans, no discussion of keeping the ovary, no plan for hormone symptoms and pressure to pay a deposit quickly. Read how our process works and ask for a plan through our free quote page. A related guide on oophorectomy covers the operation in general.

Questions to ask the clinic

• Why is removal advised, and could the ovary be saved by cystectomy instead?
• Will one or both ovaries be removed, and will the tubes be removed too?
• What will my hormones do afterwards, and is HRT suitable for me?
• What happens if the mass proves cancerous during the operation?
• What is included in the price, and who reviews my pathology report?

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Hospitals with Gynaecology in Turkey

Academic Hospital

Üsküdar, Istanbul

MoHHealth Tourism Licence+2

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Lokman Hekim Istanbul Hospital

Pendik, Istanbul

JCIMoH+2

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