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
September 22 is the 265th day of the year (266th in leap years). There are 100 days remaining. In the Northern Hemisphere autumn begins at 6:23 P.M. EDT.
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Events
1-1899
1900-1999
2000-2099
Births
1500-1899
- 1515 - Anne of Cleves, wife of Henry VIII of England (d. 1557)
- 1601 - Anne of Austria, wife of Louis XIII of France (d. 1666)
- 1606 - Li Zicheng, Chinese rebel (d. 1645)
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- 1898 - Katherine Alexander, actress (d. 1981)
1900-1999
- 1902 - John Houseman, actor and producer (d. 1988)
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Holidays and observances
September 21 · September 23 · August 22 · October 22 · more historical anniversaries
Last updated: 02-07-2005 09:26:35