Researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota, US, have found that a hysterectomy alone without ovary removal is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and metabolic conditions.
Published in Menopause, the study found that women who had a hysterectomy without any ovary removal had an increased risk of lipid abnormalities, while 13% had increased risk of high blood pressure, 18% were at risk of obesity and 33% increased risk of coronary artery disease.
Study author and Mayo Clinic OB-GYN Shannon Laughlin-Tommaso MD, said: “This is the best data to date that shows women undergoing hysterectomy have a risk of long-term disease even when both ovaries are conserved.
“While women are increasingly aware that removing their ovaries poses health risks, this study suggests hysterectomy alone has risks, especially for women who undergo hysterectomy prior to age 35.”
2,094 women were identified in the study who were aged 18 years or older when they had a hysterectomy with ovarian conservation for a benign disease between 1 January 1980 and 31 December 2002.
Laughlin-Tommaso said: “Hysterectomy is the second most common gynaecologic surgery, and most are done for benign reasons because most physicians believe that this surgery has minimal long-term risks.
“With the results of this study, we encourage people to consider nonsurgical alternative therapies for fibroids, endometriosis and prolapse, which are leading causes of hysterectomy.”
