Are the ovaries removed in a hysterectomy?

Medically reviewed by our consultant obstetrician & gynaecologist (MBBS, MS OBG). Last reviewed: 30 October 2026.

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This short video gives the wider picture of a hysterectomy; the guide on this page looks closely at one question many women ask before the operation: what happens to my ovaries?

Is the ovary part of a hysterectomy?

A hysterectomy is the removal of the womb. Sometimes the neck of the womb (cervix) is removed with it. The ovaries are two small organs that sit on either side of the womb, joined to it by the fallopian tubes. They are not part of the womb, so they are not taken out automatically.

Removing an ovary has its own name: oophorectomy. When both ovaries are removed, it is called a bilateral oophorectomy. Removing a tube is called a salpingectomy. You may see these words on your admission papers or consent form. Why a hysterectomy may be advised, and the different ways it can be done, are explained in our hysterectomy overview.

Why are the ovaries usually kept before menopause?

Until menopause, the ovaries make the hormones oestrogen and progesterone, and a little testosterone. Even after menopause, they keep making small amounts of some hormones for years. These hormones do more than run the monthly cycle. They help to:

• keep the bones strong and lower the risk of thinning bones (osteoporosis);
• protect the heart and blood vessels;
• support mood, sleep, sex drive and the comfort of the vagina and bladder.

So when a hysterectomy is done for a non-cancerous problem, such as fibroids or adenomyosis, and the ovaries look healthy, keeping them is often advised for a woman who has not yet reached menopause. Your periods will stop, because the womb is gone, but your ovaries usually carry on working much as before.

When might removing the ovaries be advised?

Every woman is different, and the decision is always made with you. Removal may be discussed when:

• An ovary has a cyst or lump that needs a closer look: some cysts can be removed while keeping the ovary; with others, the ovary itself needs to be removed and checked.
• There is a strong family history: for example, several close relatives with ovarian or breast cancer, or a known change in the BRCA genes. In this case, you may first be referred for genetic counselling and testing before any decision is made.
• Endometriosis affects the ovaries: in some women with severe endometriosis, removing one or both ovaries may be considered. In others, keeping them is possible. This depends on age, symptoms and wishes.
• You have already reached menopause: by then the ovaries make far fewer hormones, so removing them lowers the small risk of ovarian cancer with less hormonal cost. Others keep them. The balance of benefits and risks is discussed with you individually.

Sometimes only one ovary is removed and the other is kept. One healthy ovary can usually make enough hormones on its own.

Why are the fallopian tubes often removed?

Once the womb is removed, the tubes no longer have any job to do, because pregnancy is no longer possible. Many doctors now suggest removing them during the hysterectomy. Research suggests that some ovarian cancers may begin in the tubes; this is especially true of the most common serious type of ovarian cancer. Removing them may lower that chance, though it cannot rule it out.

Taking out the tubes does not change your hormones, because the hormones come from the ovaries, not the tubes. Removing them usually adds little to the operation. As with the ovaries, it is discussed with you first and written on your consent form.

What is surgical menopause?

If both ovaries are removed before natural menopause, the menopause begins straight after the operation. This is called surgical menopause. In natural menopause, hormone levels fall slowly over several years. In surgical menopause they fall within days. Symptoms usually start within days to weeks and vary from woman to woman; for some, the changes can feel sudden.

Common symptoms include hot flushes, night sweats, poor sleep, mood changes, vaginal dryness and a lower sex drive. Over the longer term, the loss of hormones at a younger age can affect bone and heart health.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may be discussed. For many younger women whose ovaries are removed, HRT is often considered until around the usual age of menopause, unless there is a medical reason against it, such as some hormone-sensitive cancers. Because there is no womb to protect after a hysterectomy, HRT is usually oestrogen-only, with no progestogen needed; some women with endometriosis may be advised combined HRT instead. Whether it suits you is a decision for you and your doctor. Lifestyle steps such as regular exercise, enough calcium and vitamin D, and not smoking also help protect the bones and heart.

If my ovaries are kept, can they still cause problems?

Most women who keep their ovaries have no further trouble from them. Some reach menopause a little earlier than they otherwise would have. A small number later develop a cyst on an ovary that was kept, and very rarely a further operation is needed. Since you will no longer have periods, you may not notice when menopause arrives. Tell your doctor about hot flushes, night sweats or other new symptoms.

What is decided and written down before surgery?

Before the day of the operation, you and your doctor agree the plan for your cervix, ovaries and tubes, and your choices are written on the consent form; what that form covers is explained in our article on the day of a laparoscopic hysterectomy.

Take your time with these choices. It can help to bring your partner or a family member, and to write down your questions beforehand. The weeks at home after surgery are covered in our guide to keyhole surgery recovery.

Where is a hysterectomy done in Goa?

Written by the Pai Hospital Team. All hysterectomy operations at Pai Hospital take place in our own operating theatre in Vasco. If Vasco is far for you, you can talk the choices through at one of our consultation points in Panjim, Margao or Mapusa, which offer appointments before and after surgery but no operations. Whatever you decide about your ovaries and tubes, we make sure you understand the plan before you sign.

For questions, message us on WhatsApp at +91 77989 73345. Consultations are by appointment; to book one, call +91 77989 73345, or +91 95459 20817, or +91 75582 52088. This article is for education only and is not personal medical advice; please speak to your doctor about your own situation.

What else do women ask about their ovaries and hysterectomy?

Or call +91 95459 20817 · +91 75582 52088 · 0832 251 3641

This page is for general education and is not personal medical advice. Treatment depends on your own examination and reports, so please speak to a doctor about your situation. We do not carry out or offer sex determination of any kind.