Recruiting

Removing fallopian tubes first, ovaries later for high-risk women

Plain-English translation of NCT04294927 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated April 2026 · Translation generated June 2026 · How we translate trials

This study doesn't follow the usual testing phases — it may be an observational study or a different type of research.

What is this trial?

Women with certain inherited genetic mutations (like BRCA1 or BRCA2) have a much higher risk of ovarian cancer. Currently, the standard recommendation is to remove both the fallopian tubes and ovaries together, usually around age 40. This study is testing a new approach: removing just the fallopian tubes first, and then removing the ovaries later. The idea is based on recent research showing that most ovarian cancers actually start in the fallopian tubes, so this approach might reduce cancer risk while delaying the side effects of removing the ovaries.

Removing the ovaries saves lives by preventing cancer, but it causes immediate menopause and other health problems. Doctors want to know if removing the fallopian tubes first—and waiting to remove the ovaries—could work just as well while giving women a few more years without menopausal side effects.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you have been diagnosed with a pathogenic mutation in one of these genes: BRCA1, BRCA2, RAD51C, RAD51D, or BRIP1
you are between 25–40 years old (for BRCA1), 25–45 years old (for BRCA2), or 25–50 years old (for RAD51C, RAD51D, or BRIP1)
you have finished having children or do not plan to have more children
you still have at least one fallopian tube
you have not yet gone through natural menopause

You likely don't qualify if…

you are already postmenopausal
you have already had both fallopian tubes removed
you have a personal history of ovarian, fallopian tube, or peritoneal cancer
you are currently being treated for cancer
you want to have your ovaries removed within two years of having your fallopian tubes removed

What participation looks like

You would be randomly assigned to one of two groups: one group would have surgery to remove just the fallopian tubes (and ovaries removed later), and the other group would have both the fallopian tubes and ovaries removed together, as is standard care now. The study will follow you over many years to see how safe each approach is and whether the new approach works to prevent ovarian cancer. You will have regular check-ups and monitoring during the study.

AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 12, 2026 · Not medical advice

Trial locations(66 sites)

United States

UChicago Medicine, Chicago, Illinois

Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts

Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota

Washington University Medical Center, St Louis, Missouri

Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, New York