Hysterectomies and Ovarian Cancer

I have often come across this question with female patients. Despite us coming a long way with modern medicine, there still has yet to be an effective screening test to detect ovarian cancer. This is so disappointing.

There are some myths behind hysterectomies and ovarian cancer prevention. So I wanted to share this information from the Mayo Clinic:

Partial hysterectomy or total hysterectomy. A partial hysterectomy removes your uterus, and a total hysterectomy removes your uterus and your cervix. Both procedures leave your ovaries intact, so you can still develop ovarian cancer.

• Total hysterectomy with salpingo-oophorectomy. This procedure removes your cervix and uterus as well as both ovaries and fallopian tubes. This makes ovarian cancer less likely to occur, but it does not remove all risk.

  You still have a small risk of what's called primary peritoneal cancer. The peritoneum is a covering that lines the abdominal organs, and is close to the ovaries. Since the peritoneum and ovaries arise from the same tissues during embryonic development, it's possible that cancer could result from the cells of the peritoneum.

  (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ovarian-cancer/expert-answers/ovarian-cancer/faq-20057780)

There is currently HRD testing (homologous recombination deficiency) which is an important biomarker of advanced ovarian cancer. However, this is to test for advanced. By the time most women are diagnosed with Ovarian cancer, it is already in these advanced stages. There are options for transvaginal ultrasonography and testing for a serum tumor marker, cancer antigen (CA)–125 to detect ovarian cancer, however these are usually not routinely recommended or covered on health insurance.

We need to find a better solution.

I also want to share this from the HERS (Hysterectomy Educational and Resources )Foundation - https://www.hersfoundation.org/facts/

FACTS

FACT:  Women report a loss of physical sexual sensation after hysterectomy.

FACT:  A woman’s vagina is shortened, scarred and dislocated by hysterectomy.

FACT:  Hysterectomy’s damage is life-long. Among its most common consequences, in addition to operative injuries are:

• heart disease

• loss of sexual desire, arousal, sensation and uterine orgasm

• weight gain

• osteoporosis

• bone, joint and muscle pain and immobility

• painful intercourse, vaginal damage

• displacement of bladder, bowel, and other pelvic organs

• urinary tract infections, frequency, incontinence

• chronic constipation and digestive disorders

• debilitating fatigue

• loss of stamina

• altered body odor

• loss of short-term memory

• blunting of emotions, personality changes, despondency, irritability, anger, reclusiveness and suicidal thinking

FACT:  No drugs or other treatments can replace ovarian or uterine hormones or functions. The loss is permanent.

FACT:  The medical term for the removal of the ovaries is castration. 73% of women are castrated during hysterectomy.

FACT:  The uterus and ovaries function throughout life in women who have not been hysterectomized or castrated.

FACT:  Armed with information, 98% of women HERS referred to board-certified gynecologists after being told they needed hysterectomies, discovered that, in fact, they did not need hysterectomies.

FACT:  Gynecologists, hospitals and drug companies make more than $17B dollars a year from the business of hysterectomy and castration.

HERS is the only independent, international, 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to the issue of hysterectomy. HERS advocates for fully informed medical decisions by women.

It is up to us to take our health in our own hands and the first step is educating ourselves. Please send me your input/comments or any other medical information you would like to share regarding this topic.

Dr A