"While breast cancer and ovarian cancer were less frequent in women who had their ovaries removed, the overall risk of death from all types of cancer was higher among women who had their ovaries removed. When we considered just the women who never used estrogen therapy after surgery, we found that women who had removal of their ovaries had a higher risk of stroke and lung cancer, and women who had removal of their ovaries before age 50 had a higher risk of heart disease, stroke and death from any cause. " Although this site isn't identified as to source, it seems to be wholly devoted to this one study and medically sound in the information it presents

"Compared with ovarian conservation, bilateral oophorectomy at the time of hysterectomy for benign disease is associated with a decreased risk of breast and ovarian cancer but an increased risk of all-cause mortality, fatal and nonfatal coronary heart disease, and lung cancer," the study authors write. "In no analysis or age group was oophorectomy associated with increased survival."

For every 24 women having bilateral oophorectomy, at least one women will die prematurely from any cause as a result of the oophorectomy.

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A new study has found that women who underwent preventive bilateral oophorectomy--removal of both ovaries--before the age of 45 were at increased risk of cardiovascular death some 20 to 30 years later [1]. But the results also show that this increased mortality can be attenuated by estrogen treatment (free signup required to read)

"Until more data becomes available," he said, "prophylactic oophorectomy should be approached with great caution."

They suggest that the premature estrogen deficiency caused by the removal of the ovaries robs neurons of the protective benefits associated with the hormone, thereby raising the risk of parkinsonism and other neurologic disorders. (free signup required to read)

More reason to hang onto ovaries. Note that the risk exists with only 1 ovary and menopause is likely to be premature in women who have 1 ovary removed. (free signup required to read)

Describes the steps in the surgical procedure for an "open" (ie--using an incision as opposed to laparascopic) surgery. THIS IS NOT FOR THE SQUEAMISH.

We were struck by the fact that instead of benefiting from the procedure, women age 45 or younger who undergo oophorectomy for the prevention of ovarian cancer are at a distinct long-term disadvantage as shown by a 70% increased mortality risk