Recruiting

Removing fallopian tubes early versus ovaries later for high-risk women

Plain-English translation of NCT05287451 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated June 2026 · Translation generated June 2026 · How we translate trials

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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 gene mutations (like BRCA1 or BRCA2) have a very high risk of ovarian cancer. This study is testing a new surgical approach: instead of removing both the fallopian tubes and ovaries together in your mid-30s to 40s, doctors would remove only the fallopian tubes now and wait until you're older (40-45 or 45-50) to remove the ovaries. The goal is to see if this delayed approach works just as well at preventing cancer while letting you avoid early menopause for several more years.

Currently, women with these high-risk gene mutations are advised to have both their fallopian tubes and ovaries removed relatively early to prevent cancer. But this causes sudden menopause and its side effects. This study exists to see if we can safely delay the removal of the ovaries, giving women more time before they face menopause and its related health effects.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you are premenopausal (still having periods) and between ages 25–40 for BRCA1, 25–45 for BRCA2, or 30–50 for other hereditary cancer gene mutations
you have been diagnosed with a gene mutation that increases ovarian cancer risk (BRCA1, BRCA2, BRIP1, RAD51C, RAD51D, or PALB2)
you do not plan to have biological children, or you plan to use in vitro fertilization (IVF) for future pregnancies
you have at least one fallopian tube that has not been surgically removed
you are able to give informed consent and understand the study details

You likely don't qualify if…

you have already gone through menopause (naturally or due to cancer treatment)
you have a personal history of ovarian cancer, fallopian tube cancer, or peritoneal cancer
you have already had both fallopian tubes surgically removed
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

If you qualify, you would have surgery to remove your fallopian tubes (the first step). Doctors would then monitor you with regular follow-up visits and screenings over several years while you wait until age 40–50 to decide about removing your ovaries. The study tracks your health, any cancer risk, side effects from surgery, and your experience with this new approach compared to the standard method of removing everything at once.

AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 29, 2026 · Not medical advice

Trial locations(9 sites)

United States

Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts

Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota

WU St Louis, St Louis, Missouri

Mount Sinai Health System, New York, New York

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York