title: Attitudes and clinical practice of Italian gynecologists towards prophylactic oophorectomy during hysterectomy for benign conditions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the attitudes of Italian gynecologists towards prophylactic oophorectomy in women who underwent hysterectomy for benign conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  A postal questionnaire was sent to 490 physicians in charge in 42 obstetric and gynecologic centres affiliated to the Association of Italian Obstetrics and Gynecologists.
  
  
  RESULTS
  About 80% of gynecologists perform prophylactic oophorectomy for women aged more than 50, but this percentage decreases to 50% for patients aged 45-50. Most gynecologists avoid prophylactic oophorectomy in women aged less than 40.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study confirms the wide variability in attitudes of gynecologists towards prophylactic oophorectomy in women aged 40-50 who undergo hysterectomy for benign conditions.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Ricercne Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mezzopane
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chatenoud
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cisternino
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chiantera
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Parazzini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009774:Obstetrics; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014591:Uterine Diseases / Q000601:surgery*