[Becky]

Hystersisters deals more with hysterectomy than just an oophorectomy (which always includes the tubes - make sure of that as the tubes and ovaries are made of the same kind of cells and you at least want the operation to reduce your chances of ovarian cancer even though the primary reason is to stop the estrogen).

How old is your friend? If she is young (in her 30's) she may want to wait. She will still have to take an antihormonal regardless of the ovaries. However, when the ovaries are removed, she can use an Aromotase inhibitor (Arimidex, Femara or Aromosin) instead of Tamoxifen or she can stay on Tamoxifen for 5 years and then have the option of switching to Femara for 5 years (what is her ER and PR % as that makes a difference in that decision). But basically, yes she has to remain on something.

Oophorectomy done laproscopically is a breeze. She may be sorer than the average woman if she has had abdominal surgery in the past and has some scar tissue that needs to be cleaned up. This happened to me with a previous C-section. Still was nothing.

There are various side effects that can occur. These include hot flashes and night sweats, dry vagina, bladder infections, bone loss (osteopenia or osteoporesis), joint and muscle pain. You have probably heard them all here on the board by any postmenopausal woman taking an AI. These can be managed. The hystersister site will probably have more off beat ones too as they "specialize" in this.