The current advice for women with a BRCA2 mutation is to have the fallopian tubes and ovaries removed at the same time between the ages of 40 and 45 years. This surgery greatly reduces the risk of ovarian cancer.
The ovaries produce hormones. When the ovaries are removed, the production of hormones stops. A woman then immediately goes into menopause.
Situation before surgery
Situation after surgery
Benefits
- This surgery greatly reduces your risk of ovarian cancer (up to 96%).
Downsides
- You will have surgery and you will need time to recover
- There is a chance of complications, but they are small (complications occur in about 2 out of 100 surgeries, such as bleeding, infection, or damage to the bowel or urinary tract). The effects are usually temporary and not serious.
- The costs are insured. How costs are handled depends on your country and healthcare insurance.
- You will go into early menopause immediately after surgery (see step 1E for the consequences of the (early) menopause and what can be done about it).