title: Prevention of ovarian cancer: a survey of the practice of prophylactic oophorectomy by consultant gynaecologists in Ireland.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate attitudes to prophylactic oophorectomy among practicing consultant gynaecologists in Ireland. An anonymous questionnaire was sent to 90 practicing consultants. A total of 68 replies were received (76%). Of these, the number who said they would remove apparently normal ovaries at the time of abdominal hysterectomy from premenopausal women in age groups < 35, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49 and > 49 years was 0 (0%), 0 (0%), 4 (6%), 29 (43%), and 46 (68%) respectively; and from postmenopausal women 60 (88%). Only 2 (3%) routinely considered oophorectomy when performing a vaginal hysterectomy. The majority of respondents said that (i) they would prescribe hormone replacement therapy in premenopausal oophorectomised women (98.5%); (ii) they did not consider unilateral oophorectomy to have a role in the prevention of ovarian cancer (84%); and (iii) they routinely discussed the question of prophylactic oophorectomy with their patients preoperatively (82%). Only 19 (27%) believed that the established figure of 10-15% of ovarian cancers could be prevented by oophorectomy at the time of hysterectomy for benign disease. 43 (63%) would perform prophylactic oophorectomy as a primary surgical procedure in women with a strong family history of ovarian carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: National Maternity Hospital, Dublin.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Geary
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Geoghegan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Foley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000601:surgery; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010820:Physicians; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires