Elective oophorectomy in the gynecological patient: when is it desirable?
OBJECTIVE
Oophorectomy is electively performed in approximately 300,000 US women per year who are having hysterectomy for benign disease.


RESULTS
New studies have suggested that elective oophorectomy may not be advisable for the majority of women, as it may lead to a higher risk of death from cardiovascular disease and hip fracture, and may result in a higher incidence of dementia and Parkinson's disease. Women with known BRCA 1/2 germ-line mutations clearly benefit from oophorectomy after childbearing.


CONCLUSIONS
Prophylactic oophorectomy should be undertaken with caution in the majority of women with an average risk of ovarian cancer who are having a hysterectomy for benign disease.
Parker
William H
WH
UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA. wparker@ucla.edu
Shoupe
Donna
D
Broder
Michael S
MS
Liu
Zhimei
Z
Farquhar
Cindy
C
Berek
Jonathan S
JS
D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000379:methods; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D010052:Ovariectomy / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors