Surgery to lower fallopian tube, ovarian and primary peritoneal  cancer risk

This section covers the following topics:

• Types of surgery
• Expert guidelines
• Hysterectomy during risk-reducing removal of ovaries and tubes
• Surgical risks
• Recovery

Note that when we use "women" we are referring to the sex you were assigned at birth.

Types of surgery

• Salpingo-oophorectomy is surgery to remove the fallopian tubes and ovaries to treat or prevent disease. "Risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy" (RRSO) refers to the removal of the healthy ovaries and fallopian tubes to reduce a person's risk of developing cancer. Research on RRSO in high risk women has shown that:
  • It is an effective way to lower the risk for ovarian and fallopian tube cancer. There is a remaining risk for primary peritoneal cancer even after the ovaries and tubes have been removed. 
  • it can lower the risk for death in high-risk women.
  • It may also lower the risk for breast cancer in certain high-risk women. 
  • It does not completely eliminate the risk for cancer. After RRSO, there is still a risk for primary peritoneal cancer. The risk for primary peritoneal cancer is very small and varies by gene mutation. 
• Salpingectomy involves removal of the fallopian tubes only. Research suggests that the fallopian tubes may be the source of many ovarian cancers. This has led researchers to study if it is safe to remove the fallopian tubes only before menopause and delay removal of the ovaries until after menopause. Studies looking at salpingectomy to lower risk are currently enrolling people. Until these studies are completed, experts cannot say for certain that salpingectomy lowers the ovarian cancer risk in high-risk people. 
• Open surgery (also known as a laparotomy) involves one incision in the lower abdomen to remove the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and (for those undergoing hysterectomy) uterus.
• Laparoscopic surgery involves a small incision made in the abdomen to insert a flexible scope with a camera, which is used to see the ovaries and tubes. Addition small incisions are made to insert surgical instruments needed to perform the salpingo-oophorectomy. In general, people who have surgery by laparoscopy may heal quicker and spend a shorter time in the hospital than people who have open surgery. Most RRSO can be performed by laparascopic surgery. 

Surgery can have risks and side effects. It's important for people to speak with experts in order to learn as much as possible about their ovarian cancer risk and to make an informed decision about the best option for lowering their risk.  

Expert guidelines on RRSO

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), is an organization of cancer experts that creates guidelines on cancer care and updates them yearly. NCCN's guidelines recommend RRSO for people with a mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2 after they are done having children. (Each gene has a slightly different recommendation, see the link for the full risk-management recommendation).

• BRCA1 
• BRCA2

NCCN suggests that people with a mutation in one of the genes below "consider RRSO" after they are done having children. This includes having a conversation about the benefits, risks and best timing for surgery. 

• BRIP1
• PALB2
• RAD51C
• RAD51D
• EPCAM 
• MLH1
• MSH2

For people with mutations in other genes or a strong family history of ovarian cancer with no known mutation, the decision of RRSO may be based on personal and family history of cancer. 

Hysterectomy during risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy

Hysterectomy can be performed at the same time as RRSO. Mutations in the following genes increase the risk for both ovarian and endometrial cancer.  

• EPCAM 
• MLH1
• MSH2

People who have increased risk for ovarian cancer and average risk for endometrial cancer may still choose to remove their uterus at the same time that they undergo risk-reducing removal of their ovaries and fallopian tubes. Factors that may affect the decision to remove or spare the uterus at the time of risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy include:

• Uterine cancer risk: 
  Although the overall risk is not increased, some studies have shown that women with an inherited BRCA mutation may be at an increased risk of a very rare type of uterine cancer called “uterine serous papillary carcinoma.”  Women who have taken tamoxifen have increased risk for uterine cancer.
• Previous uterine or cervical abnormality:
  Hysterectomy is often considered if a woman has had any previous abnormal pap smears or any abnormality of the uterus.
• Considerations about hormone replacement
  Women who plan to take hormone replacement after RRSO may consider hysterectomy in order to simplify hormone replacement. There is an increased risk for uterine cancer in women who take estrogen alone compared to estrogen with progesterone. Women who have hysterectomy can take estrogen without progesterone. Estrogen alone may have fewer side effects than estrogen with progesterone. See our section on Surgical Menopause for more information. 
• Intra-operative risk of hysterectomy:
  Removing the uterus involves more surgery than oophorectomy alone. Therefore, there is a slight increase in operative complications and in the risk that a laparoscopic procedure will have to turn into an abdominal surgery with a full incision.
• Insurance coverage:
  Because of the surgery, recovery and hospitalization are lengthier; some insurance companies won’t pay for hysterectomy unless there is medical necessity.
• Possible long term effects of hysterectomy:
  Hysterectomy may increase the risk for some of the long term health issues which may be associated RRSO. 

Surgical risks

Every surgery has risks; some are more serious than others. Some RRSO risks can affect recovery or long term health 

• Infection
• Delayed healing
• Blood loss
• Blood clots
• Pain (post-operative and long term pain syndromes)
• Surgical menopause and related health issues (see our section on Side Effects of Menopause for more information)
• Injury to internal organs
• Bladder incontinence
• Sexual side effects

It is important for people to discuss possible surgical risks with a surgeon to understand the seriousness and likelihood of these risks before making the decision to have risk-reducing surgery.

Recovery

Average recovery time after RRSO is about 1-2 weeks.