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

The Rupee (₨) is the common name for the currencies used in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Mauritius; in Indonesia the unit of currency is known as the rupiah and in the Maldives the rufiyah. An Indian rupee is equivalent to one hundred new paise or pice (singular paisa).

The origin of the word Rupee is found in the Sanskrit word rupya, meaning 'silver.' The derivative word Rupiya was used to denote the coin introduced by Sher Shah Suri during his reign from 1540 to 1545 CE. The original Rupiya was a silver coin weighing 178gm. The coin was used since then even during the times of British India. Formerly the rupee was divided into 16 annas, and the anna into 4 pice or 12 pie s. Decimalization occurred in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) in 1869, India in 1957 and in Pakistan in 1961.

Large denominations of Rupees are often counted in crore.

See also:

• Indian Rupee
• Mauritian Rupee
• Nepalese Rupee
• Pakistani Rupee
• Seychelles Rupee
• Sri Lankan Rupee

• Indonesian Rupiah
• Maldivian Rufiyah

Formerly used Rupees include:

• Burmese Rupee
• French Indian Rupee
• German East African Rupie
• Gulf Rupee
• Portuguese Indian Rupia

Rupees are also the unit of currency in the fictional land of Hyrule from the Legend of Zelda videogame series (see Rupee (Legend of Zelda)).

External links

• Picture of original Rupiya introduced by Sher Shah Suri http://www.rbi.org.in/currency/museum/c-mogul.html

Rupees
Indian Rupee | Mauritian Rupee | Nepalese Rupee | Pakistani Rupee | Seychelles Rupee | Sri Lankan Rupee | Indonesian Rupiah | Maldivian Rufiyah
Formerly used Rupees include: Burmese Rupee | French Indian Rupee | German East African Rupie | Gulf Rupee | Portuguese Indian Rupia