Oophorectomy is the surgical removal of the ovaries of a female animal. In the case of non-human animals, this is also called spaying. It is a form of sterilization.

The removal of the ovaries together with the Fallopian tubes is called salpingo-oophorectomy. Oophorectomy and salpingo-oophorectomy are not common forms of birth control in humans; more usual is tubal ligation, in which the Fallopian tubes are blocked but the ovaries remain intact.

In humans, oophorectomy is most usually performed together with a hysterectomy - the removal of the uterus. Its use in a hysterectomy when there are no other health problems is somewhat controversial.

In animals, spaying involves an invasive removal of the ovaries, but rarely has major complications; the superstition that it causes weight gain is not based on fact. Spaying is especially important for certain animals that require the ovum to be released at a certain interval (called estrus or "heat"), such as cats and dogs. If the cell is not released during these animal's heat, it can cause severe medical problems that can be averted by spaying or partnering the animal with a male.

Oophorectomy is sometimes referred to as castration, but that term is most often used to mean the removal of a male animal's testicles.

See also

• tubal ligation & birth control
• circumcision
• genital mutilation & female circumcision

For alternate uses, see Saint Helena (disambiguation).

Saint Helena refers to both an island in the South Atlantic Ocean 2,800 km off the west coast of Africa belonging to the United Kingdom, and to the administrative unit that includes it and as well the islands of Ascension, Gough Island, Inaccessible Island, Nightingale Island , and Tristan da Cunha; this article describes both.

Saint Helena

coat of arms (In Detail) (Full size )
National motto: ?
Official language	English
Political status	Overseas territory of the UK
Capital	Jamestown
Governor and Commander-in-Chief	David Hollamby
Area	410 km²
Population  - Total (2003 E)  - Density	7,367 18/km²
Currency	Saint Helenian pound (SHP) at parity with the UK Pound Sterling (GBP)
Time zone	UTC +0
National anthem	God Save the Queen, My St. Helena Island (unofficial)
Internet TLD	.sh
Calling Code	290

Contents

1 History 2 Demographics 3 Economy 4 Geography 5 Politics 6 Communications 7 Transportation 8 Military 9 External links

History

See main article History of Saint Helena.

The island was uninhabited in 1502 when it was discovered by Portuguese mariners.

Like every remote island in the age of sail, it was a crucial resource for sailing ships that ventured into its waters. (The important ships among these were of naval and commercial nature.) Its position on the only practical route, until construction of the Suez Canal, between Western Europe to the Indian Ocean enhanced that general role. It became a British military garrison for those reasons.

Napoleon Bonaparte spent the last part of his life in exile on St. Helena. Prominent Anglo-Boer War prisoners, including General Piet Cronje were also detained on St. Helena.

Demographics

See main article Demographics of Saint Helena.

St. Helena has a small population that remains loyal to Britain. However, the island's diminutive size and geopolitical insignificance has led many Islanders to accuse the British government of ignoring the island.

Economy

See main article Economy of Saint Helena.

The island's economy was a one crop economy for many years, but is now very weak, and is almost entirely sustained on aid from London.

The St. Helena tourist industry is heavily based around the promotion of Napoleon's imprisonment. Two sites where Napoleon lived and the valley where he was buried are French territory.

Geography

See main article Geography of Saint Helena.

Politics

See main article Politics of Saint Helena.

Communications

See main article Communications on Saint Helena.

Transportation

See main article Transportation on Saint Helena.

Military

See main article Military of Saint Helena.

External links

• Saint Helena - The Official Government Website http://www.sainthelena.gov.sh
• The French possessions on St Helena http://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/tourism/museums2.html
• Saint Helena http://www.sthelena.se -- St. Helena Foundation
• Saint Helena http://www.news.co.sh/ -- St. Helena News
• Saint Helena http://www.sthelena.tk -- Geographical research of the identity of the St. Helenians
• Bank of Saint Helena http://www.sainthelenabank.co.sh
• Images of Saint Helena http://www.travel-images.com/saint-helena.html

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