Jul 22, 2008 4:20 pm US/Mountain
Study: Not Always A Good Idea To Remove Ovaries
DENVER (CBS4) ―
During a routine hysterectomy, most women have their ovaries removed as well as their uterus. Now a new study says that common practice may do more harm than good.
Hysterectomies are one of the most common surgeries done in America -- there are about 800,000 operations a year.
"The thinking for decades has been, you're in there anyway doing a major surgery, why not just take the ovaries so a woman will never have to worry about ovarian cancer in the future?" CBS4 Medical Editor Dr. Dave Hnida said.
Hnida said that would seem to make sense, except it is now known that a woman's ovaries continue to function well after menopause and can help prevent a number of life-threatening diseases.
The study found removing healthy ovaries increases a woman's risk of heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis and even Alzheimer's-type dementia.
"We now know even if a woman has gone through menopause, the ovaries continue to work for another 20 years or more," Hnida said.
The ovaries still produce small but effective amounts of estrogen that protect women from other more common deadly diseases well into their 70s and 80s.
"Saving the ovaries isn't an across the board recommendation," Hnida said. "Let's say you have risk factors for ovarian cancer such as a family history. In that case, removing the ovaries might be a wise choice."
Hnida said if a surgeon says it's a good idea to remove the ovaries but cant give a solid reason, it's time for a second opinion.
(© MMIX CBS Television Stations, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
316,000 Bongs Disguised As Ornaments
Obama Sculpture Does A Cool Trick
Slideshow: Colorado's Weirdest House
Stumble It!
Reporting
Comments