Oophorectomy

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


William deVries

William deVries is an American cardiothoracic surgeon, who performed the first successful permanent artificial heart implant for Barney Clark , by using an artificial device designed by Robert Jarvik.

After about 90 people received the Jarvik device, the artificial hearts were banned for permanent use in patients with heart failure, because most of the patients could not live more than half a year with these devices. However, it is used temporarily for some heart transplantation candidates who can not find a natural heart immediately but urgently need an efficiently working heart.

See also: Cardiology

Last updated: 02-10-2005 04:00:18