Posted on Oct 1, 2025
Unpublished
Increasingly, women are opting to protect themselves from ovarian cancer with opportunistic salpingectomy (OS)—a simple procedure to remove the fallopian tubes when already undergoing surgery. Data strongly suggest OS reduces the risk of developing ovarian cancer by up to 80%, with no difference in surgical outcomes or complications.
Three BC-based health care leaders are leading the charge to expand this practice from gynecologic surgeries to routine abdominal and pelvic surgeries. Drs Scott Cowie, Gillian Hanley, and Heather Stuart make the case that general and urologic surgeons should consider offering opportunistic salpingectomy where indicated.
Speak to your patients about whether this procedure is right for them. Find resources for doctors and patients at sscbc.ca/os.
This work was funded by the Specialist Services Committee and the Shared Care Committee, two of four joint collaborative committees of Doctors of BC and the Ministry of Health.
Initiative
Perioperative Clinical Action Network (PCAN)
