Angelina Jolie has her ovaries removed

Angelina Jolie has revealed that she had her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed last week.

Jolie, who had a double mastectomy in 2013 after finding out that she carries a gene which can increase the risk of developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer, wrote an open letter in the New York Times explaining her decision.

Writing in The New York Times, Jolie explained that the removal of her ovaries has forced her into menopause.

“I lost my mother, grandmother and aunt to cancer,” she said. “I wanted other women at risk to know about the options.”

The 39-year-old was told by her doctor that some of her inflammatory markers were elevated two weeks ago, which could be an early sign of cancer.

Further examinations and an ultrasound showed that she had not developed anything concerning, but made the decision to remove her ovaries and fallopian tubes to prevent future risk.

“The day of the results came,” she wrote. “The PET/CT scan looked clear, and the tumour test was negative.

“I was full of happiness, although the radioactive tracer meant I couldn’t hug my children. There was still a chance of early stage cancer, but that was minor compared with a full-blown tumour. To my relief, I still had the option of removing my ovaries and fallopian tubes and I chose to do it.”

She went on: “Regardless of the hormone replacements I’m taking, I am now in menopause. I will not be able to have any more children, and I expect some physical changes. But I feel at ease with whatever will come, not because I am strong but because this is a part of life. It is nothing to be feared.”

Jolie also revealed that she “broke down” on meeting with her surgeon, who had treated her mother through cancer and who she had last seen on the day she passed away.