Oophorectomy
is the surgical removal of
ovaries. The ovaries are responsible for storing and
releasing eggs for fertilization and producing female
sex hormones. Removal of ovaries is often a necessary
part of the treatment in pelvic diseases such as ovarian
cancer or severe endometriosis. In the
Oophorectomy
may also be recommended when the hormones produced by
the ovaries cause diseases such as breast cancer or
endometriosis to worsen. In some cases, the ovaries are
removed in an attempt to reduce the possibility of
developing ovarian cancer in the future. This is called
a prophylactic
oophorectomy. Women with certain abnormal
genes (BRCA1 and BRCA2) have a heightened risk of
developing ovarian cancer. The hormones produced by
women with these genes also increase the risk of breast
cancer. In these cases removal of the
ovaries considerably reduces the chances of
developing these cancers.
On the
other hand, removal of ovaries of women with no
discernible risk is fraught with danger. Oophorectomy
before a woman's natural age of menopause may increase
the risk of osteoporosis, cardiovascular diseases, and
even dementia along with hot flashes and other
menopausal symptoms. Premenopausal women who have their
ovaries removed are often put on estrogen replacement
therapy, but it is not clear if hormone treatment is as
beneficial as ovary retention. The ovaries continue to
produce hormones even after menopause that may be
protective against many diseases. If there is no
increased risk of ovarian cancer or another disease that
requires the removal of the ovaries, the benefits of
keeping them far outweigh the risks of keeping them.
For women
at high risk of ovarian cancer, including those with a
strong family history of the disease and those with a
genetic predisposition to get the cancer, the benefits
of ovary removal are clear. But for the vast majority of
women who do not have these risks, removal of the
ovaries during hysterectomy is not justified. Most
gynecologists do not recommend the routine removal of
ovaries in women under the age 40-45. Removal of healthy
ovaries at any age requires an adequate informed
consent.
The ovaries, at all stages of a woman's life, produce many poorly understood hormones which cannot always be replaced. Hence unless the disease is life-threatening, it is advisable to retain the ovaries or at least one of them. This is where holistic medicine is of great help. It does not concern itself with symptoms but approaches the body as a whole. This brings about a sense of well-being and return of health.
