New Study Shows Removing Ovaries with Hysterectomy Harmful to Women’s Health

Posted on April 28, 2009 in Consumer Goods, Health & Medicine

For many years the majority of women who undergo hysterectomies have also had their ovaries removed. This was done to lessen the risk of breast or ovarian cancer. Now a new study has shown that removing women’s ovaries actually puts them at greater risk of a fatal illness.

The Harvard Nurse’s Health Study followed 29,380 women who had undergone hysterectomies, of whom 16,345 also had their ovaries removed. The results contradicted the popular belief that removing ovaries helps a woman live longer.

While the women without ovaries were 25% less likely to develop breast cancer, and 96% less likely to develop ovarian cancer, they were still 12% more likely to die during the period of the study. The reason for this was an increased risk of heart disease and lung cancer, both of which appeared at a greater rate in women whose ovaries had been removed.

While the exact reason for higher rate of heart disease and lung cancer is still unknown, researchers observed that women who took estrogen supplements after the hysterectomy were less likely to develop these health problems. This contributes to the theory that estrogen, which is produced by the ovaries, can play an important role in preventing heart disease and other illnesses.

This does not mean that all of the 600,000 women who have hysterectomies every year should retain their ovaries. Women with a family history of breast or ovarian cancer and are in a higher risk category may elect to have the ovaries removed. Women should discuss the risks and benefits with their doctors in order to choose the procedure that is right for their particular age, family history, and health factors.