OBJECTIVE The objective was to evaluate the relative effects of a standardized surgical incision performed with scalpel, CO2 laser, or microelectrode on ovarian tissue and function. METHODS Thirty sexually mature female rabbits were randomly assigned to one of three surgical groups. The injury consisted of a linear incision along the long axis of both ovaries, from the cortex to the hilum, followed by immediate unilateral oophorectomy for evaluation of the acute tissue damage. The opposite ovary was left in situ to evaluate subsequent healing, steroidogenesis, folliculogenesis, and ovulation. RESULTS Minimal damage was observed after surgery with either laser or microelectrode. The ovarian stroma and follicles adjacent to the surgical site appeared normal both immediately and 15 days after all surgeries. Steroidogenesis, folliculogenesis, and luteinization were similar among the three groups. The number of ovulated oocytes after human chorionic gonadotropin was significantly reduced after scalpel and laser surgery compared with microelectrode (P less than 0.05). The former groups appeared to have a higher incidence of unruptured luteinized follicles with untrapped oocytes, which were often covered with a cellular fibrous membrane. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that surgical trauma is well tolerated by the ovaries and does not impair subsequent ovarian function. However, rupture of the preovulatory follicle and its release of the oocyte may be influenced by the presence of ovarian adhesions and/or surgical trauma.