In the journals

Routine ovary removal during hysterectomy ill-advised for most women

Every year, about 600,000 women in the United States undergo hysterectomy — mostly for noncancerous conditions, such as fibroids and endometriosis. More than half will have both ovaries removed as well, in a procedure called bilateral oophorectomy, which is performed chiefly to reduce the risk for ovarian cancer. Women at high risk for breast cancer may also undergo bilateral oophorectomy to eliminate the ovarian production of estrogen, which fuels the growth of most breast cancers. A study calls these routine oophorectomies into question. Its conclusion: while almost eliminating ovarian cancer risk and reducing breast cancer risk, ovary removal increases the likelihood of fatal and nonfatal heart disease, lung cancer, and death from all causes. These findings add to the growing body of evidence that ovarian hormones are important to a woman's health as she ages and that oophorectomy should not be routinely recommended, particularly for women at no more than average risk for ovarian or breast cancer.

A group of researchers led by Dr. William H. Parker of the John Wayne Cancer Institute at St. John's Health Center in Santa Monica, Calif., analyzed data on 29,380 women participating in the Nurses' Health Study. All of the women had undergone hysterectomy for noncancerous conditions; more than half (16,345) had both ovaries removed, while the rest kept their ovaries. The investigators analyzed health changes over a 24-year period, focusing on chronic conditions, such as heart disease, stroke, hip fracture, and various cancers. They also evaluated causes of death and calculated overall death rates for the two groups. Multiple risk factors and estrogen use were taken into account.