10/09/2025
A simple step during routine surgeries could be the key to helping prevent hard to detect ovarian cancers – and our amazing researchers are leading the way.
Most ovarian cancers actually start in the fallopian tubes, not the ovaries.
That’s a game-changer.
At the Women’s, Associate Professor Orla McNally and her team are pushing for a smart, preventative move: removing the fallopian tubes during other abdominal surgeries – like hysterectomies, gallbladder removal, or even hernia repairs.
It’s called opportunistic salpingectomy, and it’s already being adopted in Canada and Europe.
This approach is especially recommended for:
✅ anyone already having pelvic or abdominal surgery and
✅ women who’ve finished having children or
✅ those considering permanent contraception.
The Women’s is at the forefront of making this routine in Australia – with research underway to understand how women and surgeons feel about it.
What does it mean? Well, if you fit the criteria above and you're having surgery in your lower abdomen, you’d be encouraged to ask your doctor: Can my fallopian tubes be removed too?
It’s a small change. But it could be life-saving.
Learn more about opportunistic salpingectomy: http://bit.ly/4mduyvo
