Ovary Removal in Young Women Raises Premature Death Risks

A recent study conducted by scientists at the Mayo Clinic found that women under 45 years of age who go through bilateral ovariectomy are more prone to early death than older women. Bilateral ovariectomy refers to the surgical removal of both the ovaries in a woman as a preventive measure to ward off other serious health complications.

Writing in the Lancet journal, Oncology section, Mayo Clinic researchers stated that bilateral ovariectomy is very dangerous for younger women and they should receive an appropriate hormone replacement therapy after the surgical intervention.

The findings of the study showed that women under 45 who had both their ovaries removed are 1.7 times more likely to experience premature death from all causes. But they are most at risk from early death caused by cardiovascular disorders, neurological and neurodegenerative conditions (such as Parkinson's disease, dementia) and estrogen-related cancers.

The study was led by Walter Rocca, M.D., neurologist and epidemiologist at the Mayo Clinic. Bobbie Gostout, M.D., gynecologic surgeon at the same clinic, commented on Dr. Rocca's findings: "We don't see a dramatic increase in risk for early death from any one condition, but Dr. Rocca's study did show some increase in risk of death from breast and uterine cancers, and neurologic and vascular conditions.

Collectively, this information tells us that a procedure that previously looked advantageous in protecting women's health may actually have disadvantages. We need to be very thoughtful about ovariectomy, as it may put younger women at risk for an earlier death."

The results of the study indicate estrogen as being crucial for the health of the entire organism, because estrogen deficiency can lead to cardiovascular disease and neurological disorders. However, estrogen's key-role seems to decrease with age: if the hormone is vital for a younger woman's health, it becomes less important after menopause.

"Our results confirm that estrogen is probably protective of the brain and cardiovascular system. They also further establish that the effects of estrogen are age-dependent: estrogen may be clearly useful and protective at younger ages, but it may become less important after menopause and then may have no effect or may be disadvantageous if given as treatment in later years," concluded Dr. Rocca concluded.