If there is a problem with one or both of your ovaries, it makes sense to have these removed during the hysterectomy. But even if your ovaries are normal, some specialists still recommend removing them. If you have already reached the menopause and your periods have stopped, the ovaries may no longer be serving any useful function.
Since there is a small risk of cancer developing in them, it is wise to have them removed. Some specialists suggest that even pre-menopausal women should have their ovaries removed if they have a hysterectomy. This is because it is now easy to replace the oestrogen the ovaries were produclng with oestrogen replacement therapy (HRT).