OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to examine whether bilateral oophorectomy is related to depressive symptoms. STUDY DESIGN: A secondary analysis of data collected from a cohort study of 1047 premenopausal women undergoing hysterectomy with or without concomitant oophorectomy for benign indications was performed. Data on depressive symptoms, based on the Profile of Mood States survey, were collected presurgically and 12 months postoperatively. RESULTS: The effect of bilateral oophorectomy on postoperative depressive symptoms varied, depending on the presence of baseline depressive symptoms. Bilateral oophorectomy was associated with a decrease in risk of depressive symptoms in women without baseline depressive symptoms (risk ratio [RR] 0.36 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.17, 0.78]) and did not change significantly in those with baseline depressive symptoms (RR 1.21 [95% CI, 0.73, 2.00]). CONCLUSIONS: Bilateral oophorectomy, in comparison with unilateral or no oophorectomy, is associated with less risk of postoperative depressive symptoms in women without baseline depressive symptoms undergoing hysterectomy.