Acquisitions (Details) $ in Thousands			1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Aug. 06, 2014 USD ($)	Jul. 11, 2012 USD ($)	Jul. 31, 2012	Apr. 30, 2013 USD ($)	Jul. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Aug. 01, 2014 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Jul. 11, 2012 NOK / shares
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill						$ 2,197,077	$ 2,220,921		$ 1,387,600
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life						12 years
CooperSurgical [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill						$ 369,500	359,400		$ 339,100
Goodwill deductible for tax purposes						$ 93,500
Customer Relationships [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life						14 years
Technology [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life						11 years
Sauflon [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Acquisition, Effective Date of Acquisition	Aug. 06, 2014
Cost of acquired entity, cash paid	$ 1,073,200
Cash paid, net of cash acquired	1,063,100						1,063,077
Loan notes issued	$ 58,000						$ 57,954
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Cash and Equivalents								$ 10,100
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Property, Plant, and Equipment								83,900
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Deferred Tax Liabilities Noncurrent								56,700
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Financial Liabilities								85,100
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Intangible Assets, Other than Goodwill								279,400
Goodwill								$ 856,200
Sauflon [Member] | Customer Relationships [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life	15 years
Sauflon [Member] | Technology [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life	10 years
Origio [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cost of acquired entity, foreign cash paid (in NOK per share) | NOK / shares										NOK 28
Percentage of voting interest acquired		97.00%
Cost of acquired entity, cash paid		$ 147,400
Cash paid, net of cash acquired		143,600
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments				$ 12,400
Purchase price allocation, working capital		8,500
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Cash and Equivalents		3,800
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Property, Plant, and Equipment		22,400
Purchase price allocation, net other liabilities		1,900
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Deferred Tax Liabilities Noncurrent		25,600
Purchase price allocation, noncontrolling interest		22,100
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Financial Liabilities		45,400
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Intangible Assets, Other than Goodwill		107,700
Goodwill		103,700
Acquisition costs					$ 4,900
Origio [Member] | CooperSurgical [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill deductible for tax purposes		13,100
Origio [Member] | Customer Relationships [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquired intangible asset		82,100
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life			15 years
Origio [Member] | Technology [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquired intangible asset		17,400
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life			10 years
Origio [Member] | Trade Names [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquired intangible asset		$ 8,200
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life			17 years