Annals of Internal MedicineLong-term Health Consequences After Ovarian Removal at Benign Hysterectomy

The study followed nearly 143,000 women who underwent hysterectomy for a benign condition over a 20-year-period and compared outcomes between those who had bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO) and those who didn’t. Younger (under age 45) women who had BSO had a higher 10-year cumulative risk of hospitalization for CVD. Women aged 45 to 54 with BSO had a higher 10-year risk for developing cancer. Based on the findings, the authors suggest a cautious approach to ovarian removal in postmenopausal women and recommend preserving ovaries in premenopausal women without a high risk for ovarian cancer.