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The removal of the ovaries can induce surgical menopause, regardless of age at the time of the procedure. This procedure can help prevent certain cancers and relieve pain, but it isn’t for everyone.

Surgical menopause is when surgery, rather than the natural aging process, causes menopause. Surgical menopause occurs after an oophorectomy, a surgery that removes the ovaries.

While an oophorectomy can be a stand-alone procedure, it’s sometimes performed in addition to a hysterectomy to reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases.

Periods stop after a hysterectomy. But a hysterectomy doesn’t lead to menopause unless the ovaries are also removed.

Menopause usually takes place between the ages of 45 and 55.

You’re officially in menopause if your periods have stopped for 12 months. Some people, however, will experience perimenopausal symptoms years before that time.

Some common symptoms during perimenopause and menopause include:

Surgical menopause carries several risks beyond those of menopause, including:

Surgical menopause also causes hormonal imbalances, which increase your risk of developing a variety of conditions, including heart disease and osteoporosis.

The ovaries and adrenal glands produce progesterone and estrogen. When both ovaries are removed, the adrenal glands can’t produce enough hormones to maintain balance, causing you to enter menopause.

For this reason, and depending on your medical history, some doctors may or may not recommend hormone replacement therapy (HRT) after an oophorectomy to reduce the risk of disease.

Doctors will avoid giving estrogen to people who have a history of breast or ovarian cancer.

For some people, removing the ovaries and experiencing surgical menopause can be lifesaving.

But some cancers thrive on estrogen, which can cause people to develop cancer at an earlier age.

People who have a history of ovarian or breast cancer in their families have a greater risk of developing these diseases because their genes may be unable to suppress tumor growth.

In this case, oophorectomy can be used as a preventive measure to reduce the risk of developing cancer.

Oophorectomy can also help reduce pain from endometriosis, which causes uterine tissues to grow outside the uterus. This irregular tissue can affect the ovaries, fallopian tubes, or lymph nodes and cause significant pelvic pain.

A study published in 2023, using data from 120 people undergoing excisional endometriosis surgery (EES) and 100 people undergoing EES with hysterectomy, oophorectomy, and fallopian tube removal in 2009–2019, found that the latter procedures provided greater endometriosis relief.

Removing the ovaries can stop or slow estrogen production and reduce pain symptoms. Estrogen replacement therapy usually isn’t an option for people with this history.

In most cases, removing the ovaries is a preventive measure against disease.

Some people are predisposed to cancer from family history. To reduce the risk of developing cancers affecting their reproductive health, doctors may suggest removing one or both ovaries.

In some cases, they may also need their uterus removed.

Other people may elect to remove their ovaries to reduce symptoms from endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain.

While there are some success stories in oophorectomy pain management, this procedure may not always be effective.

In general, if your ovaries function as expected, it’s highly recommended that you do not remove them as a remedy for other pelvic conditions.

Other reasons people may want to remove both ovaries and induce surgical menopause are:

To reduce the side effects of surgical menopause, doctors may recommend HRT.

HRT counteracts the hormones you’ve lost after surgery. It also lowers the risk of developing heart disease and prevents bone density loss and osteoporosis.

This is especially important for younger people who have removed their ovaries before natural menopause.

People younger than 45 who have their ovaries removed and who aren’t taking HRT are at an increased risk of developing:

HRT has also been associated with an increased risk of breast cancer for people with a strong family history of cancer.

You can manage your surgical menopausal symptoms through lifestyle changes that help reduce stress and alleviate pain.

Try the following to reduce discomfort from hot flashes:

  • Carry a portable fan.
  • Drink water.
  • Avoid excessively spicy foods.
  • Limit alcohol intake.
  • Keep your bedroom cool at night.
  • Keep a fan at the bedside.

To relieve stress:

  • Maintain a regular sleep cycle.
  • Exercise.
  • Meditate.
  • Join a support group for pre- and postmenopausal women.

People who experience surgical menopause from an oophorectomy reduce their risk of developing reproductive cancers. Some might also elect to undergo an oophorectomy for endometriosis relief.

However, they’re at an increased risk of developing other health issues. This is especially significant for people who have their ovaries removed before menopause naturally occurs.

Surgical menopause can spur several uncomfortable side effects. Discuss all treatment options, such as hormone replacement therapy, with your doctor before deciding on an oophorectomy.