Surgery in Group 1 (open hysterectomy) After the induction of the anesthesia and before the skin incision first venous blood sample was collected. Abdominal access was performed with Pfannenstiel incision. One of the ovaries was excised at the initial step. Contralateral utero-ovarian ligament and bilateral round ligaments were then ligated and transected. After the identification of the anterior and posterior leaves of the broad ligament, bladder flap was developed and bladder was moved off the lower uterine segment. Bilateral vascular uterine pedicles, and sacro uterine ligaments were ligated and transected. After performing circumferential colpotomy vaginal cuff was closed. At the final step, before closing the abdominal incision contralateral ovary was excised. Both ovaries were macroscopically evaluated by an expert pathologist immediately after their excision. Before the preparation of the ovaries for histopathological evaluation, 1 cm3 piece of each ovary was excised for biochemical evaluation of the malondialdehyde (MDA) level. Second blood sample was collected immediately after the skin closure.