| December 2009 · Vol. 21, No. 12 Comment & Controversy
Why conserve the ovaries
if they are likely to fail?
“UPDATE ON MENOPAUSE”
ANDREW M. KAUNITZ, MD (MAY)
Dr. Kaunitz talks about the increased risk of cardiovascular death in women younger than 45 years who undergo oophorectomy but do not initiate hormone therapy. He recommends that the ovaries be spared at the time of hysterectomy, if at all possible. He does not mention a significant study that evaluated the time from hysterectomy to ovarian failure.1 After hysterectomy, the ovarian vessels spasm, leading to an 84% decrease in ovarian perfusion. Twenty-five percent of ovaries fail within 6 months, and 40% fail within 3 years. I think this significant information should be taken into account along with the patient’s age and pelvic pathology when considering whether or not to preserve the ovaries.
|
