Ovarian cancer

Arguments in favor of EO:

Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of death among women in US with estimated 22,280 new cases and  14,240 deaths in 2016. A woman’s lifetime risk of ovarian cancer is 1 in 70 or 1.4% with no known effective screening method that could diagnose it at very early stage. Researchers have estimated   that 1000 new cases of ovarian cancer could be avoided if EO is performed in women undergoing hysterectomy in women 40 years and older.

In women at high risk for ovarian cancer (especially with familial history or genetic predisposition,BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations) risk-reducing oophorectomy (RRO) reduced cancer specific mortality.

In general population RRO is an ideal treatment for the prevention of ovarian cancer in women who have known risk factors like being white, never having been pregnant, late age of menopause, and a long estimate number of years of ovulation in absence of effective screening strategies.

EO leads to avoiding the risk of second surgery after hysterectomy due to adnexal disease or masses.

Effective replacement therapy available to prevent osteoporosis, cardiac and sexual dysfunctions is being put as a valid argument in support of EO, specifically after the beneficial results of hormone therapy from Women’s Health Initiative studies.

A recent study by Trabuco et al published in the May issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology has concluded that even if ovaries are spared at the time of hysterectomy, it affects the ovarian reserve as evident by declining levels of Antimüllerian hormone. The study also reported that women undergoing hysterectomy became menopausal 1.9 years earlier than referent patient who has not undergone any surgery.

Despite all these arguments studies have recently documented that of all the hysterectomies performed for benign reason 36%-38% were deemed unnecessary and histologically normal.

So, the decision for EO should be made according to each woman’s individual genetic test results and her risk for developing ovarian malignancy. Age at the time of benign hysterectomy is an important decisive factor. In 2010, recommendations from the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists state “Ovarian conservation before menopause may be especially important in patients with a personal or strong family history of cardiovascular or neurological disease. Conversely, women at high risk of ovarian cancer should undergo risk-reducing bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy.”

A women’s risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, osteoporosis, and family history must be taken into account before decisions for EO or ovarian conservation are made in woman considering hysterectomy.