Recuperating After Laparoscopic Oophorectomy (How long does it take?) (2024)

You may be searching for oophorectomy recovery stories from women who had ovary removal surgery. A few months ago, I underwent a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. This procedure consisted of my OB-Gyn removing both ovaries and fallopian tubes.

Since my surgery was a laparoscopic oophorectomy, the recovery time after the procedure was not as long as that of a major surgery. Still, the bilateral oophorectomy came with its own set of side effects, which I will discuss in more detail below. I will also provide some of the ovary removal recovery tips that I found most useful post surgery.

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Removing the Ovaries and Tubes

Women who are planning to undergo surgery for removing the ovaries and tubes may find that they have a lot of questions about the procedure.

What is oophorectomy surgery?

An oophorectomy surgery is a procedure where a doctor removes one or both ovaries. These two types of oophorectomy procedures are known as:

• Bilateral Oophorectomy- removing both ovaries
• Unilateral Oophorectomy- removing one ovary

In addition to the terms listed above, your doctor may discuss a salpingo-oophorectomy with you. This procedure is when the doctor removes the ovary (or ovaries) AND the fallopian tubes. Since I recently recovered from a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, this is the procedure I will focus on in this post.

Why would you need an oophorectomy?

According to mayoclinic.org, women may undergo ovary removal surgery for several reasons. These can include:

• endometriosis
• cancer (including risk prevention)
• an abscess or ovarian torsion
• benign tumors or cysts

Personally, Iopted to schedule an oophorectomy because I have an increased risk for breast cancer.I was diagnosed with breast cancer a few years ago and underwent a bilateral mastectomy, chemo, and radiation treatment. Since my tumor was categorized as estrogen positive, my doctor had been monitoring the levels of estrogen in my body.

Once my estrogen levels started spiking, my doctor and I agreed that a bilateral oophorectomy was in the best interest of my overall health.If you are a breast cancer survivor in a similar situation, make sure you discuss your options with your oncologist. You may be eligible for an oophorectomy, a certain injection that “turns off” your ovaries, or another way to manage the estrogen.

Pros and Cons of Removing Ovaries

Prior to my bilateral oophorectomy surgery, I scheduled an appointment with my OB-Gyn. She explained the side effects of having my ovaries removed. Some of these side effects are a relief and others are annoying. They include:

• hot flashes
• vagin*l dryness
• infertility
• end of menstrual cycles

In addition to the side effects listed above, women who have their ovaries removed may also experience more serious side effects like depression, anxiety, heart disease, and Osteoporosis. Your doctor should discuss all of these side effects with you. He/she may also be able to monitor or relieve some of the side effects as well.

Removing Ovaries Surgery

As mentioned above, my surgery was a laparoscopic oophorectomy which is minimally invasive. My OB-Gyn performed the ovary removal procedure in just under two hours. Since the laparoscopic oophorectomy was an outpatient procedure, I did not have to spend the night in the hospital.

I arrived at the hospital two hours before surgery. After changing into the hospital gown, the nurse inserted an IV. My OB-Gyn and the anesthesiologist each came to talk to me before the procedure. I was in the operating room for just over an hour and in recovery for about another hour. Then, I was able to go home with a prescription for pain relievers.

How long does it take to recuperate after laparoscopic oophorectomy?

Overall, I was able to recuperate and feel a lot better about a week after surgery. Once I hit 10-14 days post surgery, I pretty much felt like myself again. My doctor made three incisions for the laparoscopic oophorectomy: one in my lower left pelvis, one in my lower right pelvis, and another in my belly button.

The OB-Gyn had explained to me at my initial consult that one of the pelvic incisions would be bigger than the other. This is because she would “drag” both ovaries and my fallopian tubes out of the larger incision. In my case, my left incision was slightly bigger than the right. This larger incision is also the only area that really caused me pain as I recuperated.

I didn’t feel the incisions on my right pelvic area or in my belly button. The left incision was quite sore though. This pain mostly came when I attempted to lay down or get up.It also hurt to cough and to sneeze. Even though I felt this discomfort, I did not need the pain medication for a very long time.

I took the prescription pain meds for two days and then ibuprofen for two additional days. You may not need to take pain medication for as long as I did though. I just don’t tolerate pain well, so I tend to baby myself for a few days!

9 Laparoscopic Oophorectomy Recovery Tips

I didn’t really prepare for this surgery as much as I did my bilateral mastectomy. But, I did keep a list of things I found helpful post oophorectomy. If you are planning to have your ovaries and fallopian tubes removed, it can be helpful to know what is involved with recovery. Here are some tips that may make your life easier when dealing with a laparoscopic oophorectomy procedure:

1. Wear loose clothing that does not put pressure on your stomach or incision.

This will help to ensure that you do not experience any pain or discomfort. I actually wore maternity pants since they didn’t have a tight drawstring band that rubbed against the incisions.

2. Purchase some large padded bandages to wear over your pelvic incisions.

These are the cushioned bandages I bought. I didn’t put one over my belly button, but I did use one on each of the other cuts. These bandages provided extra padding that acted as a barrier between the incision and underwear/pants. I bought multiple packs of the bandaids because I used two per day for around 10 days.

3. When getting out of bed, roll to your side before getting up.

This uses less of your pelvic muscles and causes much less pain. Likewise, when getting into bed, try to lay on your side before rolling to your back to sleep.

4. Recliners are your friend.

I found sitting in a recliner to be the most comfortable spot for at least the first week. I was able to use the arms of the chair to pull myself up with very little pain. It also felt more comfortable to keep my feet up.

5. Make sure you purchase maxi pads before surgery.

You will bleed (similar to having a period) for the first few days after surgery.

6. Talk to your doctor about a gas reliever to take.

My OB-Gyn recommended Gas-X. She explained that she would be blowing a bunch of air into my abdomen to help with the scope. This was probably the most painful part of recuperating. My abdomen was bloated and full of air/gas for the first few days. It got worse after meals and was especially bad by the end of the day. Luckily this resolved itself within a few days.

7. Don’t be alarmed by a bulge near your incisions.

My larger incision bulged out in a way that looked like I could possibly have a hernia. I had my breast surgeon (who performed my bilateral mastectomy) take a look at the bulge at a check up. He assured me that it was just part of the healing process and that it was NOT a hernia. So, don’t be alarmed if you notice this. Once I met with my OB-Gyn for my follow up appointment, she echoed what my breast surgeon had told me.

8. Try not to drive for at least a week.

Avoid the temptation of taking the wheel, even if you have had no beverages or medications that may affect your ability behind it.

9. Do not lift anything heavy for four weeks after surgery unless told otherwise by your doctor.

Take it easy! You may be eager to get back to your normal routine, but rushing things can only lead to further problems. Make sure you take the time necessary for healing so that you can return to your normal life.

Life after Oophorectomy

At the time of this post, I am about one month post bilateral oophorectomy. I was able to resume all regular activities, including exercising, within three weeks of surgery. I am experiencing hot flashes and night sweats, but they are not any worse than they were with my chemo induced menopause. Other than those side effects, I really haven’t had any issues after the ovary removal surgery.

Do you have any recovery tips for women who are removing ovaries and fallopian tubes? Comment below to share!